The Bully Pulpit

Theodore Roosevelt’s defining political and personal battles are resurrected in The Bully Pulpit, a one-man biographical play staged at Florida Studio Theatre. Written by and starring Michael O. Smith, the production places the 26th president center stage as he recounts his journey from a sickly child to a Rough Rider and progressive reformer. The script bypasses simple historical reenactment, delving into the specific grief of losing his wife and mother on the same day, and how that trauma fueled his relentless ambition. The performance relies entirely on the actor's ability to command the Keating Theatre, delivering a nuanced portrait of a complex, larger-than-life American figure.