President Obama was sworn in yesterday, but you probably didn’t even notice. Well, it wasn’t real President Obama, and he wasn’t really sworn in.

Yesterday government employees and members of the U.S. military took part in a massive dress rehearsal for next week’s inaugural festivities, with stand-ins playing the roles of everyone from Obama to special guests and soldiers lining Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade as they will next Monday, reports the Post:

After the rehearsal parade marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, the political stand-ins returned to the stage on the Capitol’s west side for the “swearing in.”

The stage overlooking the Mall was filled with government employees in casual dress, wearing signs indicating whom they were playing: Senators, pop stars or other dignitaries.

They didn’t look like them. Often, they weren’t even the same gender.

“We’ve changed since we got out of office,” quipped a dark-haired young woman wearing a sign that read, “Former Senate Majority Leader and Mrs. Tom Daschle.” She said she was not authorized to give her real name or position.

A young woman next to her, whose sign read, “Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Guest,” added: “We all get along now.” That sent a young woman playing Mr. and Mrs. Newt Gingrich nearby into giggles.

“Beyonce!” someone yelled as a woman walked by who did not look like Beyonce.

Two 11-year-olds from suburban Maryland — Marie Clare Paxton and Quincy McElhaney — played first daughters Sasha and Malia. They were volunteered by Marie’s father, a Senate employee.

The inauguration and the parade are a significant logistical undertaking: some 10,000 people take part, including 5,500 members of the military. Still, the main concern for organizers is something they can’t control: the weather. So far, it’s looking good for next week.