POTUS on Parade

There can't be any connection, can there, between the fact that we're in an election year and the miniature rash of presidential themed plays?

Nah!

I just spent the better part of two hours with #7, AKA Old Hickory, aka Andrew Jackson. The musical/satire "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" presented by Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, imagined Jackson as a moody, mopey rock star of a president who championed the common man unless he was of Indian descent, in which case he was butchered or sent packing.

"BBAJ" features appearances by John Quincy Adams, James Monroe and Martin Van Buren. As a Twinky-eating Van Buren, Brian Hostenske was a scream. (213) 628-2772, www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

About to start previews with an opening Feb. 8 will be "Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln" with Granville van Dusen doing a solo turn as Honest Abe. Van Dusen has been touring this particular role for years, but he'll park at the Falcon Theatre through March 2. (818) 955-8101, www.Falcontheatre.com.

Nor must we forget John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin (OK he wasn't a president) and the rest of the Continental Congress mixing it up in "1776" at the Actors Co-Op in Hollywood, also beginning Feb. 8. (323) 462-8460.