Elemental Theatre Collective presents 44 Plays For 44 Presidents

95 Empire Black Box 

95 Empire St, Providence, RI   (view map)

The debates are over, the pundits are posturing, and the citizens will finally stagger to the polling places on November 6 to exercise that thing called democracy. So the time is right for the skewed perspective offered in 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, a two-hour lightning round of biographical sketches of the guys who have called 1600 Pennsylvania Ave their home. It was hatched in 2001 (when the count was 43) by the Chicago-based Neo-Futurists; here’s their mission statement: “Theater that rides a unicorn into a frothy sweat and then shoots it and guts it to sleep inside.” (Ahem.) Five members of the Elemental Theatre Collective will stage it at the 95 Empire Black Box in Providence; they note that the piece “embraces a melting pot of theatrical styles as it tells the story of this country through the lives of the men who (for better or worse) have led us to where we are today, at our national moment of choice,” from Ben Franklin roasting Thomas Jefferson to a mini-musical about dirty campaigning starring George Bush I. Shows are today through the 3rd and on Election Night at 7 pm and on the 4th at 2 pm | $15 | elementaltheatre.org

A two-hour play by the Chicago Neo-Futurists