Happy Birthday, Madam President

Everyone knows about the breathy, seductive rendition of Happy Birthday that Marilyn Monroe sang for President John F. Kennedy at his 45th birthday party in 1962. For this piece, I wanted to flip the narrative 200 years into the future and imagine a birthday party for Marilyn Monroe as President herself. Through the power, comfort, and ease in the way Marilyn breaks the fourth wall, I wanted to call attention to the times in Marilyn's past where she took control and shattered boundaries throughout the Hollywood system. It is this blase gaze that evokes Marilyn's resolution. She risked everything and broke her contract with Fox Studios, demanded equal pay, commanded advance approval of her di...View all