Mae Whitman and Alexis Bledel will star as Karl Rove and Lee Atwater in a live staged reading of Wes Jones’ script “College Republicans,” which topped the Black List in 2010.
Tyler Hoechlin, Skylar Astin, Chace Crawford, Zach Woods and Shannon Woodward will also star in the reading, which will take place at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood on April 23, 2016 at 8 p.m.
In Jones’ buddy comedy based on true events, aspiring politician Karl Rove (Whitman) wants to become the next national chairman of the College Republicans — but the odds are stacked against him. He and his new campaign manager Lee Atwater (Bledel) set off on a road trip to drum up support before the vote and discover some dirty tricks along the way before ending up at the contested College Republican National Convention.
In a further twist, given the current political climate and questions about gender in Hollywood looming large, the lead roles of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove have been gender flipped, with Whitman and Bledel starring as the Republican political operatives.
“At this moment in American political history, there is quite literally no more appropriate script for a Black List live reading than Wes Jones’ ‘College Republicans.’ And given the GOP’s record on women’s issues, gender flipping Atwater and Rove feels particularly appropriate,” said Black List founder Franklin Leonard. “Wondering what a contested GOP convention might look like in July? Come find out on April 23.”
Jones, who will also direct the reading, currently writes for Showtime’s “Billions.” “So excited to be a part of the Black List and bringing this script to life on the stage! As the 2016 election cycle has laid bare the absurdities of our system, there’s no better time for ‘College Republicans,’” said Jones.
Warby Parker will support the 2016 Black List Live! reading series as a co-presenter. The lifestyle brand shares the Black List’s commitment to celebrating literature and the arts. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to support storytelling,” says co-founder and co-CEO Neil Blumenthal. “The Black List is doing that in an ingenious way, discovering and supporting talented writers with tools and resources they can use.” Together, the brands will shine a spotlight on emerging talent through this year’s series.
Readings are cast by Lisa Zagoria of Aquila Wood Casting. Poster art is designed by Gravillis, Inc. Black List Live! is also supported by media sponsor 89.3 KPCC.
General Admission tickets for “College Republicans” are available online at http://collegerepublicans.