Grant Woods becomes senator — in a Tempe stage play, that is

Just weeks after musing publicly about a possible 2020 run for the U.S. Senate, Grant Woods is making something of a public audition for that role, starring onstage in a play he’s co-written titled “Dear Senator.”

A collaboration with Valley playwright and Democratic activist Marcelino Quiñonez, the play runs Oct. 26-28 at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Woods plays a traditional conservative politician who strikes up a friendship with a progressive Latino activist, played by Quiñonez, only to have their relationship tested by the rising partisan rancor of the Trump era. So, yes, this collaboration is definitely a case of “write what you know.”

Woods, who runs a private legal practice in Phoenix, began his political career in 1983 as chief of staff to thenU.S. Rep. John McCain. He was attorney general from 1991-98 but later broke with the GOP establishment by endorsing some Democrats in local elections — and now by considering running as one.

“I hope it shows that people from very different backgrounds and differing views on the issues can still find common ground,” Woods said.

“I do believe we give both sides a fair representation. You don’t often see the conservative side argued at a high level in theater, or in entertainment in general. So I hope we do justice to that argument.”

Woods has long moonlighted in creative endeavors, including music and theater. He got to know Quiñonez — a former Roosevelt School District board member who made an unsuccessful run for the state legislature in 2014 — while his daughter Ava was a student at Arizona School for the Arts, where Quiñonez teaches theater.

“I’ve always had an affinity toward him because I don’t know too many other artist-politicians or politicianartists — whichever term you want to use first,” Quiñonez said.

“We just started a conversation and artists and community members, and I think there was always a mutual desire to work together given our backgrounds and interests. So he gave me a call. He had this idea, and I jumped on it. I thought it was a tremendous opportunity, not only for myself, but for the community to hear these two distinct voices collaborate on a message.”