A blue background with large white text stating "POTUS". To the left, an image of woman's foot wearing black hosiery and red high hill stepping on the White House. To the right, text reads, "Or, Behind Ever Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive, By Selina Fillinger, September 27-October 13". Below is a Brown banner with gold accents and text stating, "WMU Theatre ALIVE 2024 2025 Season".

POTUS

Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive

BY SELINA FILLINGER

POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on April 27, 2022. Directed by Susan Stroman, the production featured Lilli Cooper, Lea DeLaria, Rachel Dratch, Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura, Julie White and Vanessa Williams.

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

Director: Kate Thomsen

Costume Designer: Molly Lewis*

Lighting Designer: Hannah Cowgill*

Stage Manager: Lauren Myers*

CAST

Jean/Margaret U/S: Holly Berman-Carter

Harriet: Nadya Beyar

Bernadette: Morgan Bodie

Margaret: Brie Bradley

Dusty: Kara Downey

Harriet U/S: Lexi Gratton

Dusty/Stephanie U/S: Lilli Gray

Jean: Laura Nguyn

Bernadette U/S: Emma Pop

Chris U/S: Cedar Rock

Chris: Treasure Rose

POTUS: Nathan Savinsky

Stephanie: Kate Wilen

PRODUCTION STAFF

Assistant Stage Manager: Griffin Achondo*

Production Assistant: Ashton Bahr*

Props/Scenic Coordinator: Lily Bashara*

Costumer: Alex Damm*

Hair & Wig Designer: Garrylee McCormick

Technical Director: Patrick Niemi

Voice & Movement Coach: Elizabeth Terrel

Fight Choreographer: Elizabeth Terrel

Intimacy Director: Elizabeth Terrel

Cultural Competency Consultant: Arizsia Staton

Light Board Operator: Ashton Bahr*

Sound Board Operator: Sylvia Stephens*

Wardrobe Crew Head: Madison Warnke*

Wardrobe Crew: Lataevaya Severe*

Run Crew: Sylvia Stephens*

 

*It is with great pride that we recognize the creative efforts of our students.

BIOS

Holly Berman-Carter (Jean/Margaret U/S): is a junior from St. Louis, MO. Her previous credits include: House Mover/Mrs. White U/S, Clue; Ensemble, Julius Ceasar; Ensemble, The Rocky Horror Show.

Nadya Beyar (Harriet): is a senior from Budapest, Hungary. Her previous credits include: Ensemble/Dance Captain, SpongeBob the Musical; Skit Performer/Understudy, The Thanksgiving Play; Muse, Emilia.

Morgan Bodie (Bernadette): is a senior from Indianapolis, IN. Her previous credits include: Cinna, Julius Caesar; Katherine, I Hope it All Burns; Morris Dancer/Winnifred U/S, Witch; Sailor/Rebel/Old Woman U/S, The Old Man and The Old Moon.

Brie Bradley (Margaret): is a sophomore from Southfield, MI. POTUS is Brie’s acting WMU debut! Her previous credits include: Assistant Director, Argonautika; Four, What To Send Up When It Goes Down; Asha, Blood at The Root.

Hannah Cowgill (Lighting Designer): is a sophomore from Portage, MI. Her previous credits include: Float Technician, Boardwalk Nights (Cedar Point); Assistant Lighting Designer, The SpongeBob Musical; Lighting Designer, Oklahoma!.

Kara Downey (Dusty): is a junior from Novi, MI. Her previous credits include: Julie Jenkins, Museum; Yvette U/S, Clue.

Lexi Gratton (Harriet U/S): is a sophomore from Traverse City, MI. POTUS is Lexi’s WMU debut! Her previous credits include: Maude Mix, A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking (cut version); Emily Webb, Our Town; Lilli Vanessi, Kiss Me Kate.

Lilli Gray (Dusty/Stephanie U/S): is a junior from Michigan. Her previous credits include: Ms. Peacock Understudy, Clue; Molly, More Fun Than Bowling.

Laura Nguyn (Jean): is a senior from Lansing, MI. POTUS is Laura’s WMU debut! Her previous credits include: Understudy, Argonautika; Tybalt Capulet, Romeo and Juliet; Somebody, Everybody.

Emma Pop (Bernadette U/S): is a junior from Macomb, MI. Their previous credits include: Trebonius, Julius Caesar; Doctor Sister, We Lovers.

Cedar Rock (Chris U/S): is a freshman from Detroit, MI. POTUS is Chris’s WMU debut! Her previous credits include: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth; Fred, A Christmas Carol; Hermia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Treasure Rose (Chris): is a sophomore from Detroit, MI. POTUS is Treasure’s acting WMU debut! Her previous credits include: Assistant Stage Manager, Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea; Assistant Stage Manager, Intimate Apparel; Assistant Stage Manager, Winter Dance Gala Concert 2024.

Nathan Savinsky (POTUS): is a sophomore from Wayland, MI. His previous credits include: Zetes, Argonautika; Arthur Roeder, Radium Girls; Chad, High School Musical.

Kate Wilen (Stephanie): is a senior from Naperville, IL. Her previous credits include: Carpenter/Caesar’s Servant/Artemidorus, Julius Caesar; Assistant Director, Argonautika; May/Assistant Director/Costume Consultant, Museum.

PLEASE NOTE

  • POTUS is a non-partisan performance.
  • This performance contains adult content including sexual content, explicit language and situations.
  • Photography and recording of any kind is prohibited by law.
  • There will be one, 15-minute intermission.

Special thanks to our donors for their endless support!

COMING NEXT

A red image with a black silhouette of tree branches on the bottom and to the right, a black silhouette of a house sitting on top of a person's head. To the left, there is text reading, "HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE; based on the novel by Shirley Jackson; Adopted into play by F. Andrew Leslie; OCTOBER 25-NOVEMBER 3".