Annual ‘Will on the Hill’ pokes fun at 2020 race

Washington notables took the stage on Monday night for the annual “Will on the Hill” production, delivering a night of laughs.

The annual play, hosted by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, allows lawmakers, media figures and Hollywood stars to come together to show off their acting chops and poke fun at politics.

This year’s performance, “Good Morrow America,” written by Michael Trottier with assistance from the West Wing Writers and directed by Craig Baldwin, highlighted the hijinks at a morning television show.{mosads}

The performance featured Reed Birney, who is best known for his role as Donald Blythe on the hit TV show “House of Cards,” and his wife Constance Shulman, who plays Yoga Jones on Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” In the production, the pair played Lord and Lady Macbeth, respectively, the co-anchors of a morning show.

The couple butt heads throughout the show, with Lady Macbeth wanting the broadcast to focus on hard-hitting news, while Lord Macbeth wants to focus on light-hearted stories.

Among the segments which had the audience laughing were traffic news, a cooking segment, sports report and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) delivering real-life weatherman Al Roker’s signature catchphrase: “Now, here’s what’s happening in your neck of the woods.”

But many of the show’s biggest laughs came when the cast took on the 2020 race.

Shulman as Lady Macbeth delivered a prediction. “HBO has announced its ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff. Many possible great queens running for the Iron Throne, but a boring man will win it all,” she said.

Later on in the play, when one member of the cast announced they would be running for president in 2020, every other cast member also stood up to announce they were running as well.

The Hill was a sponsor for the event and saw two of its own perform. Editor-at-Large Steve Clemons played a lawyer representing stars caught up in the college admissions scandal, while Editor-in-Chief Bob Cusack played an overly romantic boyfriend, named “Corey B.,” who was receiving relationship advice. 

In one scene, a candy “engagement ring” broke in half, forcing Cusack to improvise and “propose” by asking “Will you accept this half ring pop?” to laughs.

This year’s event raised almost $500,000 for the Shakespeare Theatre Company, which will be used to support the company’s Education and Community Engagement Program.

It was a star-studded affair, with lawmakers from both parties, and many political notables, including Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

Among the lawmakers who were new faces at “Will on the Hill” were Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Pete Olson (R-Texas), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Donna Shalala (D-Fla.).

Kevin Hassett, chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, and Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, were among the administration officials taking part.

Updated at 5:05 p.m.