For decades, Steppenwolf has been synonymous with muscular, athletic and gritty performances. Perhaps unconsciously, these words are often coded as male or masculine.

Well, on the first day of rehearsal for POTUS, 26 female and femme artists gathered around the table to start the work of bringing this muscular, athletic, and gritty farce to life. What a gift to stage this play with this entirely femme team against the backdrop of a world that seems to grow more toxic - and hostile to women - by the hour.

At Steppenwolf, we invest in plays that challenge both our artists and audiences. Stories that challenge our actors, designers, and production teams to create with rigor, integrity, courage and compassion. Stories that challenge our audiences to be in conversation with their beliefs, and to perhaps discover pieces of themselves they didn’t know existed. We strive for our storytelling to be laced with power and passion.

Okay, yes, that, and... Sometimes, we also just want a good laugh.

Luckily (and incredibly), Selina Fillinger’s POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive is a play that manages to do both. Here we have a script that provides immense challenges to the performer, while also challenging an audience to join the ride and pick up the pieces of a day that takes a sharp turn for the worse.

Selina has drawn an intricate farce that focuses on the female support staff in the shadow of a presidency gone awry. But if you zoom out, POTUS transcends national politics; it sets its aim squarely on patriarchy and on gender politics as a whole. We see a group of women who have decided to invest in a man who they once believed could do great things. And now these women, brilliant and accomplished, are confronted with the reality that the system they have dedicated their lives to change has once again betrayed them.

We hope you have as much fun experiencing this show as we had creating it. Laughter is serious business here and we’re so happy you’ve come along for the experience.

Sincerely,

Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis

STEPPENWOLF PRESENTS

POTUS

Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

By Selina Fillinger
Directed by Audrey Francis^†

FEATURING

Karen Aldridge*, Chloe Baldwin*, Celeste M. Cooper^†*, Audrey Francis^†* (December 16-17), Meighan Gerachis, Sandra Marquez^†* (through December 15), Caroline Neff^†*, Karen Rodriguez^†*

CREATIVE TEAM

Regina García+ Scenic Design 
Raquel Adorno+ Costume Design 
Heather Gilbert+ Lighting Design 
Pornchanok Kanchanabanca+ Sound Design and Original Music
Almanya Narula Fight Choreographer
Maya Vinice Prentiss Intimacy Choreographer
Kate DeVore Vocal Coach
Patrick Zakem Creative Producer
Tom Pearl Producing Director
JC Clementz, CSA Casting 
Laura D. Glenn* Production Stage Manager
Kathleen Barrett* Assistant Stage Manager

“POTUS” IS PRESENTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CONCORD Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com 

Originally produced on Broadway by SEAVIEW 51 ENTERTAINMENT GLASS HALF FULL LEVEL FORWARD, SALMAN AL-RASHID RUNYOLAND PRODUCTIONS SONY MUSIC MASTERWORKS ONE COMMUNITY JAY ALIX AND UNA JACKMAN JONATHAN DEMAR IMAGINE EQUAL ENTERTAINMENT LUCAS KATLER DAVID J LYNCH LEONID MAKARON MARK GORDON PICTURES LIZ SLAGER TED SNOWDON NATALIE GORMAN/TISH BRENNAN THROOP 
And THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION 
MARK SHACKET, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

This Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

† member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble.
* member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
+ member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829 of the IATSE.
‡ member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

CAST

Karen Aldridge*  Margaret
Chloe Baldwin*  Dusty
Celeste M. Cooper ^†*  Chris
Meighan Gerachis Bernadette
Sandra Marquez ^†*  Harriet
Caroline Neff ^†*  Stephanie
Karen Rodriguez ^†*  Jean


UNDERSTUDIES

Sydney René Cox Dusty
Olivia D. Dawson* Margaret
Ana Ortiz-Monasterio Draa Harriet
Amanda Fink Stephanie
Aneisa Hicks* Chris
Arti Ishak Jean
Morgan Lavenstein Bernadette

ADDITIONAL STAFF

Raquel Torre Assistant Director
Daphne Agosin Assistant Lighting Design
Emily Hayman Assistant Sound Design
Gianni Carcagno Production Assistant
Tracy Sefl Political Consultant
Bel Kiely Research Associate
Mary Townsend Cahoon Run Crew
Jeanette Rodriguez Costume Assistant
Melissa Wilson First Hand
Kyra Pan, Veronica Stark, Riley Sullivan Stitchers
Josh Derby, Billy Earnesse, Kenny Faust, Tim Martin, Kat Taylor, Carolyn Voss Additional Carpenters 
Camille Toshiko Peotter Additional Properties 
Sarah Lewis Scenic Charge Artist
Zhanna Albertini, Amy Couey, Marcus Klein Additional Paint

This play lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. 

As a courtesy to the actors and your fellow patrons, please turn off your cell phones before the performance. The taking of photographs and the use of any type of recording device are not allowed in the theater during performances and is a violation of state and federal copyright laws; digital media will be deleted, and tape or film will be confiscated.

Entry and re-entry into the theater after the performance begins is not guaranteed.

The theater reserves the right to limit admission of children younger than the age of six.