Emanuel at Kennedy Center Friday night

On the eve of one of the most important votes of the Obama administration's domestic agenda, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) went to the theater.

The pols were spotted at the Kennedy Center, where they attended a performance of Tennessee Williams's dark masterpiece, "A Streetcar Named Desire," starring Cate Blanchett. Warner was with his wife and daughter; Emanuel was with a small group.

The unlikely sighting comes as fellow Democrats are working late into the night, whipping support in the House for Saturday's scheduled 6 p.m. vote on healthcare reform.

Following the show, Emanuel's black suburban was waiting for him outside the historic venue. Warner and his family shared a cab with ITK, where they raved about Blanchett's portrayal as Blanche duBois.