CAUCUS!
a musical comedy with book, music & lyrics by Robert John Ford
ABOUT THE SHOW
"Caucus! The Musical" is an irreverent look at the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses, offering audiences an entertaining opportunity to see how one undersized state plays such an oversized role in the presidential selection process. When an Iowa farmer and his family are dubbed “the typical Iowa caucus-goers” by the media and political machines, the candidates plot to do anything to win their votes!
From 2004 to 2016, "Caucus! The Musical" was presented in Des Moines during each election year, attracting more than 10,000 audience members and extensive national and international media attention. It was called “the hottest new musical in the country” by The Washington Post, and was the subject of feature stories in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Time Magazine, and on CNN, NPR, ABC World News Tonight and the CBS Morning Show, to name just a few.
In 2020, RJF wrote an entirely new caucus-themed musical "Adore Us! Line," a political parody of "A Chorus Line." The premiere production was presented by Iowa Stage Theatre Company in January 2020. For information about this version, click here.
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
The 2024 version will premiere in January 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. More information about the production will be announced on this website in November 2023 - be sure to check back at that time.
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2016 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (10 performances)
2016 - Newton Community Theatre, Newton, IA - full production (6 performances)
2012 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (11 performances)
2012 - Red Oak Community Theatre, Red Oak, IA - full production (3 performances)
2008 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (16 performances)
2008 - New Hampshire Theatre Project, Portsmouth, NH - full production (6 performances)
2004 - Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines, IA - staged reading (1 performance)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2016 - ABC World News Tonight - feature story: click here
2016 - ABC World News Tonight - photos: click here
2016 - Reuters - feature story: click here
2016 - The London Times - feature story: click here
2016 - BBC News - feature story: click here
2016 - NPR's "Here And Now" - feature story: click here
2016 - NPR's "Weekend Edition" - feature story: click here
2016 - NPR Politics Podcast - feature story: click here
2016 - Iowa Public Radio's "Talk Of Iowa - feature story: click here
2016 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2016 - Cityview Magazine - review: click here
2016 - KCCI-TV - feature story: click here
2016 - KGAN-TV - feature story: click here
2016 - KansasCity.Com - feature story: click here
2016 - BroadwayWorld - feature story: click here
2012 - CBS Morning Show - feature story: click here
2012 - BBC News - feature story: click here
2012 - Playbill.com - feature story: click here
2011 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2011 - Variety - feature story: click here
2011 - CSPAN - feature story: click here
2008 - The Long Road To The White House - book: click here
2008 - The Guardian - feature story: click here
2008 - The Huffington Post - feature story: click here
2007 - CBS News - feature story: click here
2007 - ABC News "Nightline" - feature story: click here
2007 - The Washington Post - feature story: click here
2007 - NPR's "All Things Considered" - feature story: click here
2007 - The Los Angeles Times - feature story: click here
2007 - The Washington Post - review: click here
2007 - The New York Times - feature story: click here
2007 - BBC America - feature story: click here
2007 - The Denver Post - feature story: click here
2007 - Minneapolis Star-Tribune - feature story: click here
2007 - The Chicago Tribune - feature story: click here
2007 - The Seattle Times - feature story: click here
2007 - Variety - review: click here
2007 - The Huffington Post - review: click here
2007 - The Washington Post - review quote: "The hottest new musical in the country."
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2016 - Cloris Leachman Awards - Best Musical & Best Scenic Design (Tim Wisgerhof) nominations
2007 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
GALLERY
For photos and video, click here.