Digital Program: Potus
The Footlight Club Presents
POTUS
or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
By Selina Fillinger
“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, Salma al-Rashid, Runyonland 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 Snowdown, Natalie Gorman/Tish Brennan, THROOP and The Shubert Organization Mark Shacket, Executive Producer”
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited
Time: Present Day
Location: The White House
Potus runs for approximately 2 hours. There will be a 15-minute intermission.
CONTENT WARNING: Drug use, Offensive language, Sexual Situations, Strobe Effect
A roaring comedy, where we examine the many women who work together to prop up ONE dumbass man...in The White House. They risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to protect the nation's reputation.
Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Information: 617-524-3200
The Footlight Club is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the state of Massachusetts administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Footlight Club is also supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events.
Our newly accessible Eliot Hall, completed in February 2021, is supported by grants from
the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund, the Community Preservation Fund, and the George B. Henderson Foundation.
Cast
Harriet: Katherine Light
Jean: Vivian Liu-Somers
Stephanie: Elizabeth Bean
Dusty: Margaret McLoughlin
Bernadette: Talia Bashan Fahy
Chris: Juliette McClendon
Margaret: Joanne Loetz
Production Team
Director: Maryann Zschau
Producer: Michael Colford
Assistant Director: Natalie Farina
Stage Manager: Bea Life
Assistant Stage Manager: Cassidy Guimares
Technical Director: Paul O’Shaughnessy
Set Designer: Kristin Loeffler
Set Dressing & Props Designer: Jasmine Santos
Master Carpenter: Sinead Bergeron
Lighting Designer: Frank Furnari
Sound Designer: Mike McHugh
Sound Board Operator: Mike McHugh/Jasmine Santos
Costume Designer: Kathleen Carroll
Violence Support: Shira Cahn Lipman
Run Crew: Adi Krishnan, Jesse Lipschutz, Rebecca Marks, Glenn Singer, Ellen Wolfson
Set Construction Crew
Don Bergeron, Zach Best, Jonathan Carlson, Michael Colford, Chad Fisher, Sonia Lee, Bea Life, Jennifer Lippay, Derek Linville, David López, Vance Raiti, Dayna Reichert, Walker Simmons, Glenn Singer, Jeffrey Snyder, Hannah Xu
Special Thanks
Jennifer Bean, Chanters – “The Ladies from Matilda”, Brian Crete, Kara Chu Nelson, Valerie Tracy
Cast and Crew Biographies
Talia Bashan Fahy (she/her - Bernadette) is ecstatic to be making her Footlight Club debut as Bernadette in POTUS. She holds a BA in Theatre from Suffolk University and had the privilege of studying with Robert Brustein and Wesley Savick. Her favorite roles include Portia in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Old Woman in Candide, and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She extends her love and thanks to the whole cast and crew and sends a special thank you to friends and family for all the love and support. Finally, she wishes to thank her favorite scene partner, Ryan Fahy, for always running lines with her. Let’s go, Prostitots!
Elizabeth Bean (she/her - Stephanie) is elated to be working among such amazing, strong, and fiercely talented individuals with POTUS. Liz first arrived at FLC in 2008, after a nine-year theatre hiatus to audition for Singin’ in the Rain, and now she’s the President of the Footlight Club. Some favorite Footlight Club roles include Sylvia (Steppin’ Out), Ida (Honk!), Bird Girl (Seussical), Nun Ensemble (The Sound of Music), a Phantom (The Rocky Horror Show, DASH Award Winner, Specialty Ensemble), Ensemble (Singin' in the Rain), and performing in the Cabar7A as part of the Footlight Club’s 7A Black Box Series. Producer credits include The Odyssey, and See Rock City & Other Destinations (Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018, with Ragnarok Productions), as well as RENT, The Three Sisters, Frankenstein, August: Osage County, Bat Boy: The Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Legally Blonde the Musical (Footlight Club). Stay C*NTY everyone.
Sinead Bergeron (they/he - Scenic Painter) This is Sinéad's third show with the Footlight Club. They grew up in theater building sets and enjoyed working with this team and the challenge of a more realistic set. Enjoy the show!
Shira Cahn-Lipman (she/her – Violence Support) is thrilled to be back at the Footlight Club where, most recently, she choreographed the bar fight in Sweat and rocked her fierce granny wig in Tuck Everlasting. Over the past fifteen years Shira has had the privilege of performing onstage, and choreographing violence for others to perform, in numerous shows all over the Metro-Boston area. She was last seen onstage at the BCA in Treehouse Collective's production of February House. Grateful for this community and for everyone's willingness to let her play. Thank you, as always, for the trust.
Kathleen Carroll (she/her - Costume Designer) is thrilled to have worked on POTUS! As a lifelong politics nerd and recovering former federal employee, Kathleen is convinced this play is a work of nonfiction. Most recently, she designed costumes for the Footlight Club's production of The Prom and will be continuing her streak of back-to-back productions with Matilda in the fall. Special thanks to her husband, Bryce, her dog, Jackie, and all of her family and friends for their unwavering support.
Michael Colford (he/him - Producer) is excited to be producing this outrageous show!. His past directing work includes Sweat, Xanadu, and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike on the mainstage; three 7A shows, Proof, The Great God Pan, and Marion Bridge; co-directing Honk!, and assistant directing Heathers: The Musical. In addition, Michael has produced several memorable shows at the Footlight Club, including Promises Promises, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play, The Rocky Horror Show, Clybourne Park, and Yellow Face. Michael would like to thank all the directors with whom he has worked that have informed many of his choices going forward. Michael is the Footlight Club Board Vice President, and serves on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee. He is the President of the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film (http://chlotrudis.org), the Board Clerk for the Provincetown Film Society, and the Director of Library Services for the Boston Public Library.
Natalie Farina (she/her - Assistant Director) is enjoying her first show with the Footlight Club, and she couldn't ask for a better team to work with. She has loved learning more about the art of directing through a hilarious show process, and can't wait for her next production with the Footlight Club. She would also like to say, "Hi Mom!"
Selina Fillinger (author) is an LA-based writer and performer. Original plays include The Collapse; Something Clean; Faceless; and The Armor Plays: Clinched/Strapped. Selina recently made her Broadway debut with her seven-woman farce, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. Her plays have been developed at Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, McCarter Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Old Globe Theatre, Alley Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre and Northlight Theatre. She’s currently commissioned at South Coast Repertory and Roundabout. She was a Hawthornden Fellow and a resident of McCarter’s Sallie B. Goodman Artist’s Retreat; Something Clean is the recipient of the 2019 Laurents/Hatcher Award and Clinched/Strapped received the 2019 Williamstown Theatre Festival's L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award. POTUS was on the 2019 Kilroys List. Selina writes for the third season of Apple TV's The Morning Show and is developing a feature for Chernin/Netflix.
Frank Furnari (he/his - Lighting Designer) is excited to be back at the Footlight and working with a great group! Frank has designed several shows with The Footlight Club including Xanadu, The Rocky Horror Show (EMACT DASH Nomination), Bat Boy, and RENT. Frank has worked on a number productions with different theatre troupes over the years as an actor, director, stage manager, run crew member, and, of course, has done lighting. Love always to Thomas.
Cassidy Guimares (she/her - Assistant Stage Manager) is proud to return to the Footlight as a part of the production team for POTUS! Stage management credits include Yellow Face (Footlight Club), A Fun Play About How Scary Climate Change Is (La Plaza Cultural), Seasons of Love and The Long White Line (Lime Arts Twenty by Twenty Fringe), and Alight (Golden Hour Theatre). Acting credits include Alice/Susannah (The Book of Will, Curtain Call Theatre), Kay (Out of Sight, Out of Murder, Footlight Club), P.B. (One Slight Hitch, Arlington Friends of the Drama), Andy (Stepping Out, Footlight Club), and Echo (Eleemosynary, Curtain Call Theatre). Cassidy is also a writer and proud member of The Dramatists Guild of America. (@cass_guimares)
Bea Life (she/her - Stage Manager) is happy to be back at The Footlight Club, continuing to haunt as many productions as she possibly can. She would like to thank Cassidy for agreeing to be her ASM and this wonderful cast & crew for making this show such a fun experience. She would also like to thank her friends, especially Milka and Robbie, for continuing to support her crippling theatre addiction and emotionally supporting her through the unpredictable, cascading effects it has on her life.
Kristin Leoffler (she/her - Scenic Designer) Credits include The Hombres, Tiny Beautiful Things, Gloucester Stage; Alba, Teatro Chelsea; The Treasurer, Lyric Stage; Photograph 51, Central Square Theater; Bat Boy, Stupid Kids, SpeakEasy Stage; Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Off the Grid; Moby Dick, New Rep (IRNE Award). Education: M.F.A. Carnegie Mellon; B.A. Stanford University.
Katherine Light (she/her - Harriet) is thrilled to be playing Harriet, and equally glad that she never went into politics in real life. Recent credits include M’Lynn (Steel Magnolias) at Riverside Theatre, Maggie Dalton (Into the Breeches) plus the 24 Hour Play Festivals in 2024 and 2025 with Walpole Footlighters, Titania/Hippolyta (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Mistress Overdone (Measure for Measure) at Mass Arts Center and Mrs. and Blair Daniels (Sunday in the Park with George), Jane Throttle (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Herb (Godspell), plus ensemble in Chess: The Musical, Jekyll & Hyde, and Oliver with Norton Singers. Katherine has a BFA in Theater Performance from University of Cincinnati, CCM. Thank you to Maryann and this amazing cast and crew for helping us laugh nonstop while the whole f**cking world is on fire. Thank you to my friends and family for the love and support that makes it all worth doing.
Vivian Liu-Somers (she/her - Jean) Vivian is thrilled to return to the Footlight Club, years after playing the Head Nun in House of Blue Leaves, and most recently appearing in Yellow Face. Based in the Boston area, Vivian is an actor, writer, and director, and a proud member of the Asian American Playwright Collective (AAPC). Her collaborative work spans productions with AAPC (including the inaugural Boston Fringe Festival), Asian American Theater Artists of Boston (AATAB), Newton Theatre Company, Yorick Ensemble, TC Squared, The Nora Theater Company, Umbrella Stage Company, Company One, Chuang Stage, Fresh Ink, Pao Arts Center, Boston Theater Marathon, Boston One Minute Play Festival, SlamBoston, commercial work for the Boston Celtics and others, and several independent short films She wrote and performed Secret Menu for the Boston Theater Marathon XXVI. More of her work can be found at rebrand.ly/vliusomers. Love to Jeff, who would absolutely break out of prison for her.
Joanne Loetz (she/her - Margaret) is delighted to make her Footlight Club debut! Joanne recently played Truvy in Steel Magnolias at Riverside Theatre Works and The Lady of Ridicule in Cinderella at The Norwood Theatre. Favorite theatre roles include Toinette in The Imaginary Invalid, Belle in A Christmas Carol, Hattie in Laundry and Bourbon, and DW in Arthur Writes A Play. Over the years, Joanne has also appeared in regional and national commercials for Hasbro, Dunkin’ Donuts, Stop & Shop and others. Joanne would like to thank the cast and crew for all the mangoes and devil boobs. A special thank you to Ron, Jolie, and Ronald for their continued love and support! Enjoy the show!
Juliette (Jules) McClendon (they/them - Chris) is so excited to be a part of this hilarious production! Jules has been on the Footlight stage many times, most recently last season in Bright Star (Edna) and Out of Sight…Out of Murder (Minna). Most recently they made their directorial debut in the Footlight 7A show, Cut. Jules would like to thank their loved ones for always being supportive of their art. Special shout out to Lizet for watching the kids on rehearsal nights!
Mike McHugh (he/him - Sound Designer) This is Mike's fourth show at the Footlight Club after designing sound for Miss Holmes, A Man Of No Importance, and Bright Star. Mike is a relative newcomer to theater, but has a background as a performing musician, is a mobile DJ, and has a professional career in the audio industry. A big thanks goes out to the staff and community around FLC for being so welcoming!
Matt McKee (he/him - Poster Photography) is thrilled to be creating posters and character portraits with the amazing talent (both on and off stage) at The Footlight Club. With over 80 Footlight Club poster productions, and counting, spanning 25 years, every new production brings an opportunity to help show the world live theater. He loves applying the imaging and marketing principles he uses for his corporate clients to promoting the performing arts. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the amazing world that is the Footlight Club!
Margaret McLoughlin (she/her - Dusty) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Footlight Club! Margaret is a graduate of Emerson College with a BFA in Theatre and Performance. Recent stage highlights include Jo March (Little Women), Miss Willie (The Curious Savage), Phoebe (As You Like It), and Chris Gorman (Rumors). On screen, she has appeared in Good Burger 2 (Paramount+) and The Society (Netflix). You might even spot her in a few local commercials! She is represented by Stefanie Talent and Entertainment in New York City. Margaret would like to thank the entire cast and crew for making this such a fulfilling, hilarious, and joyful production to be a part of! A special thanks to her family, friends, coworkers, and mentors for their continued love and support!
Jasmine Santos (she/her - set dressing/props) is excited to be a part of the talented POTUS production team. This is her third Footlight Club production, and she is eager to support the creativity behind its rich story. Jasmine is grateful for this opportunity.
Maryann Zschau (she/her - Director) is honored to have had the privilege to direct the 7 outstanding women in this show. She has directed a myriad of productions that include Steel Magnolias (Riverside Theatre Works) Chicago (Vokes Theatre), The Pajama Game & Fiddler on the Roof (Weston Friendly), A Little Night Music (Metro Stage), Nunsense & Dracula (Company Theatre) as well as countless high school musicals and corporate presentations forFidelity Investments and Winchester Hospital. In addition to her love for directing, Maryann is an active Boston-area performer, and her credits include National tour: Nunsense (w/Georgia Engel), Boston Companies: Menopause the Musical & Nunsense. Area roles: Mamma Mia (Rosie) w/ Norwood Theatre, Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider) w/ Moonbox Productions, Chicago (Mama Morton), & Mame (Vera) w/ Lee Meriwether at Reagle Music Theatre; Urinetown (Pennywise), & Dirty Blonde (Mae West) at Lyric Stage Company; Les Miserables (Mme Thenadier) at Company Theatre; Gypsy (Mama Rose) & Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett) at Publick Theatre. Concert appearances: Follies (Phyllis) w/ Len Cariou & Songs for a New World w/ Jason Robert Brown. She is a 3-time Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) award recipient for Best Actress for Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers), A Little Night Music (Desiree), and Sunday in the Park with George (Dot). Maryann is a graduate of Boston College and currently resides on the South Shore. Already looking forward to 2026 – Maryann has plans to direct The Full Monty at RTW and help plan daughter Em’s wedding for Halloween night 2026!
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Bean, Michael Colford, Zach Best, Chris Stuck-Girard, Jim Ansart, Jerry Wheelock, Rachel Veto, Val Tracy, Meredith Weaver, Elizabeth Curran, Courtney Breslin, Juliette McClendon, Paul O’Shaughnessy, David Alger, Ryder Nguyen
Board of Trustees
Paul Campbell, Shannon Daly, Shelly Norton, Stephen Lussier, Lorie Komlyn, Jerry Wheelock, Jason Sheehan, Bill Shamlian, Matt McKee
Promotions and Publicity
Elizabeth Curran, Promotions Director
Kristin MacDougall
Michael Colford
David Alger
Matt McKee, Photographer
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Juliette (Jules) McClendon, Michael Colford, Kara Chu Nelson, Ally Rzesa,
Amanda Bedford, Melissa Paz, Mordecai Choi, Steven Key
Special thanks to all our dedicated volunteers who continue to help keep the Footlight Club running day in and day out, from front of house, to club clean-outs, we appreciate you!
If you are interesting in becoming a volunteer, please contact us at volunteers@footlight.org
And to our loyal members and patrons, thank you for continuing to support the Footlight Club!
Thank You to Our Footlight Family
We Are So Grateful for Your Support
As you walked in this evening, you no doubt noticed the beautiful new accessible entrance to the Footlight. This project – a new exterior ADA-compliant ramp and interior elevator to all four floors of Eliot Hall – ensures that all our guests can fully access all our spaces. Along the way, extensive repairs needed to be made to the foundation and existing chimneys. New spaces in our basement and on the third floor will provide essential props storage, and we’re already feeling warmer with an upgraded furnace system.
These upgrades were only possible through the generous financial support of our community partners. We extend our thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund, the Community Preservation Fund, and the George B. Henderson Foundation. Most of our funding came from donations large and small from our Footlight Family. Thank you to everyone who donated.
Our most urgent need is clear: We need to restore our exterior façade, [carpentry, building envelope repairs, and painting] to ensure the historic character of Eliot Hall is preserved and to keep our building strong and safe. Our goal is to complete this work by January 2027, our 150th Anniversary!. This work will improve energy efficiency, safety and security; present the building as a welcoming neighborhood landmark; and ensure future generations enjoy the benefit of this important community resource. The Board of Directors voted to approve this approach in April 2024.
The continued revitalization and restoration of Eliot Hall will always be one of Footlight’s top priorities. Your contributions will continue to make it possible to take on large-and-small-scale restoration projects, as well as maintaining the day-to-day operations of the building.
Every Gift Counts
If you are thinking about making your first gift, now is the time to make a gift in any amount.
Please give now at: www.footlight.org/donate
Or mail a check payable to The Footlight Club to:
Treasurer, The Footlight Club, 7A Eliot Street , Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Other Ways to Give
Email Treasurer@Footlight.org to make a gift of stock.
Become a Footlight Club Monthly Sustainer. For gift of over $500, your donation will renew, and your credit or debit card will automatically be billed each month. Please email Development@Footlight.org for more details.
