Members of Congress, media personalities, consultants and actors dressed up and pretended to get along last night, but it wasn’t for the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Instead, the Shakespeare Theater Company hosted the annual tradition, Will on the Hill, where notable Washingtonians take to the stage and act out classic theater with a modern political twist.

The jokes were better and the outfits were more garish than at the correspondents' dinner, but Donald Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE was still not in attendance.

Joining the Capitol’s denizens were Maulik Pancholy, known for playing Alec Baldwin’s assistant Jonathan on the NBC series "30 Rock;" Ian Kahn, who stars in the AMC series "Turn: Washington’s Spies;" Emily Swallow, a successful actress on the theater circuit who has appeared in shows like "The Mentalist" and "How to Get Away With Murder;" and Santino Fontana, another decorated stage actor who recently voiced “Hans” in the Disney animated film “Frozen.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The cast poked fun at the president and themselves in their production, “Met by Moonlight,” a take on Midsummer Night’s Dream, in which Oberon (Kahn), a forest deity, and his assistant, Puck (Pancholy), encounter two park rangers (Swallow and Fontana), and the four then try to stem the flow of people fleeing the heat of D.C. in the summer.

These people include a class of congressional interns desperate to upgrade the outdoors in hopes of a great resume line to help them get into Yale, a group of staffers fleeing their Congress members, who are hot on their trail after smelling “Red Bull and tears,” and a pack of self-reverent journalists headed for Hollywood, with nothing of note to cover in D.C. during the summer.

Joining them were a few of the city’s best baristas and an office of Washington bureaucrats, who fled the comfort of their offices and their beloved paperwork to avoid the rush of summer tourism to D.C.

Those tourists, sporting socks, sandals, Minnesotan accents and dad jokes, are convinced that the Washington Monument retracts into the ground at night, and constantly stand on the left side of the Metro’s escalators.

The cast frequently referenced the audience. The first time this happened and Pancholy asked, “Are we really breaking the fourth wall this soon?” Kahn responded, “Yes, and we’re going to make the audience pay for it!”

The Hill’s own editor-in-chief, Bob Cusack Robert (Bob) CusackThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Big 10 votes to resume football season MORE performed as well, and one of Cusack’s jokes landed particularly well with the audience.

“Have you seen a documentary called 'Weiner?'” he asked after another cast member stressed the importance of a well-secured email server.

“I’m not sure I want to,” Kahn said.

The show ended when the two park rangers realized that Oberon and Puck were the real tourists and sent them away. Santino then professed his love for his fellow park ranger, Swallow, and serenaded her with “Love is an Open Door,” the song his character sang in “Frozen,” and the two retire for a romantic getaway at Martha’s Vineyard.

Before the show, Pancholy said that after he was offered the chance to participate in this year’s Will on the Hill, the decision was a “no-brainer.” He was unconcerned with the prospect of performing with amateur actors. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“I’m excited. I can learn so much from them diving head first into the text,” he said, and “potentially making fools of themselves.”

The event raised a total of $510,000 for the Shakespeare Theatre Company, which will use the money to fund education and community outreach programs, according to a press release.

The Washington-based cast members included U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke Ryan Keith ZinkeTrump extends Florida offshore drilling pause, expands it to Georgia, South Carolina Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Trump flails as audience dwindles and ratings plummet MORE, British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch and many Members of Congress including Sen. Chris Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates MORE (D-Del.) and Reps. Joyce Beatty Joyce Birdson BeattySharpton, police reform take center stage at National Mall Sanders raised over 0,000 for candidates in Tuesday primaries The Hill's Campaign Report: Progressives raise expectations ahead of big primary night MORE (D-Ohio), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Suzanne Bonamici Suzanne Marie BonamiciOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House passes sweeping clean energy bill | Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials | Corporations roll out climate goals amid growing pressure to deliver Pelosi, Blumenaur condemn 'egregious abuses of power' by Trump against Oregon protestors Federal agents deployed to Portland did not have training in riot control: NYT MORE (D-Ore.), Gerry Connolly Gerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyJudge issues nationwide injunction against Postal Service changes House panel advances bill to ban Postal Service leaders from holding political positions Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' MORE (D-Va.), Ted Deutch Theodore (Ted) Eliot DeutchShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' Florida Democrat introduces bill to recognize Puerto Rico statehood referendum Matt Gaetz, Roger Stone back far-right activist Laura Loomer in congressional bid MORE (D-Fla.), Debbie Dingell Deborah (Debbie) Ann DingellOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid Races heat up for House leadership posts MORE (D-Mich.), Daniel M. Donovan (R-N.Y.), Jim Himes James (Jim) Andres HimesMany Democrats want John Bolton's testimony, but Pelosi stays mum SEC's Clayton demurs on firing of Manhattan US attorney he would replace Democrats face tough questions with Bolton MORE (D-Conn.), George Holding George Edward Bell HoldingGOP lawmaker says US-UK negotiators working 'fast and furious' on trade deal Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Whiskey, workers and friends caught in the trade dispute crossfire MORE (R-N.C.), Hank Johnson Henry (Hank) C. JohnsonFive takeaways as panel grills tech CEOs Lawmakers, public bid farewell to John Lewis Johnson presses Barr on reducing Roger Stone's recommended sentence MORE (D-Ga.), Carolyn Maloney Carolyn Bosher MaloneyPelosi, Democrats unveil bills to rein in alleged White House abuses of power Government watchdog recommends creation of White House cyber director position Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton Eleanor Holmes NortonHopes for DC, Puerto Rico statehood rise Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' DeJoy defends Postal Service changes at combative House hearing MORE (D-D.C.), Jared Polis Jared Schutz PolisMore than 1,000 gather at Colorado racetrack to protest governor's coronavirus orders Over 300 LGBT leaders endorse Biden for president : 'The most pro-equality ticket in US history' Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders MORE (D-Colo.), Jamie Raskin Jamin (Jamie) Ben RaskinOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House passes sweeping clean energy bill | Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials | Corporations roll out climate goals amid growing pressure to deliver On The Money: House panel pulls Powell into partisan battles | New York considers hiking taxes on the rich | Treasury: Trump's payroll tax deferral won't hurt Social Security House panel pulls Powell into partisan battles over pandemic MORE (D-Md.), Darren Soto Darren Michael SotoHopes for DC, Puerto Rico statehood rise Florida Democrat introduces bill to recognize Puerto Rico statehood referendum Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE (D-Fla.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Dina Titus Alice (Dina) Costandina TitusShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' Safe, responsible casino gaming supports state economies at crucial time Biden to tear into Trump over coronavirus, school reopenings in Delaware remarks MORE (D-Nev.), Michael Turner (R-Ohio) and Peter Welch Peter Francis WelchShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' Vermont Rep. Peter Welch easily wins primary Vermont has a chance to show how bipartisanship can tackle systemic racism MORE (D-Vt.).

Other illustrious cast members included Marla Allard, Wa'el Alzayat (Executive Director, EmergeUSA), Gregory Angelo (President, Log Cabin Republicans), Jess Bravin (Supreme Court correspondent), The Wall Street Journal), Ron Christie (Political Strategist), Steve Clemons (Editor At Large, The Atlantic), Maggie Coons, Bob Cusack (Editor in Chief, The Hill), William Christian (Director of Government Affairs at Citizens Against Government Waste), Johanna Derlega (Publisher, The Hill), Karen Dunn (Partner at Boies, Schiller, & Flexner LLP, consultant for House of Cards), Dr. Michael Eric Dyson (Georgetown University professor, host of The Raw Word, and author), Rich Edson (Fox News correspondent), John Feehery (Political Communications Strategist), Paula Fitzgerald (Executive Director, Ayuda), Lee Goodman (Member and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission), Rick Klein (Political Director, ABC News), Maria Teresa Kumar (President, Voto Latino), Dana Milbank (Columnist, The Washington Post), Erica Moody (Deputy Editor, Washington Life), Grover Norquist (Americans for Tax Reform), Hilary Rosen (Partner and Managing Director, SKDKnickerbocker), Christina Sevilla (Deputy Assistant, USTR), Rina Shah (Political consultant at Run with Rina), Ari Shapiro (Host, NPR), Pamela Lynne Sorensen (Pamela’s Punch), Kelly Jane Torrance (Deputy Managing Editor, The Weekly Standard), and Crystal Wright (Editor of the blog Conservative Black Chick and communications consultant at Baker Wright Group).