Gehling’s "Dave" is a Politician Everyone Likes

Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Drew Gehling is pleasing both sides of the aisle, starring in an apolitical story about politics. Gehling, a 2005 graduate of the School of Drama , is starring in " Dave ," a new musical which is premiering at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Based on the 1993 movie starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, "Dave" is the story of what happens when philandering U.S. President Bill Mitchell suffers a stroke and is covertly replaced by a look-alike. Dave is a high school history teacher whose innocence and idealism happen to make him a perfect leader. "'Dave' offers something very very pure and simple," Gehling said. "..[the idea that] the basic actions of a human being trying to do the right thing are at the heart of what our government should be." Ever since Gehling was cast, he swore off watching the movie. He didn't want to imitate Kline's performance but, rather, to focus on capturing the overall spirit of the role.