POTUS Presents Timely Female-led Hilarity at PACA

Diggit Dave Schroeder

The folks at PACA are bringing a timely comedic drama to the stage this month with POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. The all-female cast, led by all-female directorship, will help audiences find similarities to current, past, and possibly even future administrations.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 18*

In a political climate where every headline feels like satire and every press conference teeters on the edge of absurdity, one four-letter word is all it takes to push the White House over the brink. In POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, the president's latest verbal fumble sparks a PR nightmare with global implications, leaving seven brilliant, exasperated women scrambling to clean up the mess, preserve democracy, and keep their sanity.

Originally exploding onto Broadway in 2022 at the Shubert Theatre under the direction of Susan Stroman, POTUS made waves as a whip-smart, all-female tour de force. Now, the chaos comes to Erie, as PACA presents this witty comedy with a dynamic, all-female cast and crew. Directed by Kate Neubert-Lechner and assisted by Erica Stripp, the production isn't just about showcasing women onstage, it's about creating an intentional space powered entirely by female energy, from the ground up. "Given the message of the piece, it felt necessary to have it developed with only female energy in the room," said Neubert-Lechner. "Out of that, we've had a process that has felt very organic, thoughtful, supportive, and caring. These women have each other's backs, in the rehearsal room, in performance, and offstage."

Audiences will recognize some familiar PACA favorites, including Nora Schillinger, Kat McMahon, and Nicole Schneelock. They're joined by newcomers Natalie Waddell Rutter, Robin Baranski, and Renee Tellers. And in a long-awaited comeback, Chatiqua Keyes Carr returns for the first time since 2018, bringing her magnetic presence back to the stage after stepping away to focus on raising her two daughters.

The play is a sprint through one day in the White House, where the president (unseen but definitely felt) accidentally launches a PR snafu that teeters on the edge of a full-blown international incident. The seven women who keep the administration functioning must put out fires, navigate exploding egos, dodge scandal, and keep their sanity intact, all while decked in heels fighting the patriarchy. While it doesn't set out to depict any particular president and their administration, audiences will certainly be able to draw some similarities to current, past, and possibly even future administrations.

Fair warning: the language is just as bold as the women speaking it. It's used in a comedic way but, definitely something to be prepared for. Above all, POTUS is a show for every woman who's ever rolled her eyes from the sidelines while holding everything together behind the scenes. – Amy VanScoter

Thursdays through Saturdays, Sept. 18 through Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. // Sundays, Sept. 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. // PACA, 1505 State St. // $20 // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com

*The premiere date has changed since the publication of our print issue. This opening date is accurate.