West Side Show Room’s next play takes on the White House with an outrageous political farce

October 15, 2024|By Kevin Haas|In Rock River Current, 815 News, Rockford, Trending, Entertainment, Things to Do
Actors rehearse a climactic scene from “POTUS” at the West Side Show Room in Rockford. From left to right are: Melissa Bice, Karlee Dodd, Ahnikah Bachleitner, Stella Adams, ValMarie Black, and Kira Dolan. (Photo provided by West Side Show Room)
Rock River Current
Get our free e-newsletter

ROCKFORD — The next production of the West Side Show Room satirizes the behind-the-scenes chaos in the Oval Office.

“POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” is billed as a side-splitting political farce that tells the story of the fierce women trying to save the country from an oblivious and scandal-ridden commander in chief. The play by Selina Fillinger debuted on Broadway in April 2022, and now it’s being produced in Rockford with a cast of local actresses.

The production will debut Friday, Oct. 25 and run through Nov. 17 at the West Side Show Room, 1414 N. Main St., Rockford. It is the first play of West Side Show Room’s sixth season.

The play centers around a PR nightmare that threatens to topple the presidency as the women who actually run the White House must pull off a series of absurd maneuvers to keep everything from falling apart.

“The West Side Show Room’s production of POTUS promises to be an uproarious and timely theatrical experience that will resonate with audiences who enjoy smart, fast-paced comedies with a dose of political satire,” the theater said in a news release. “Directed by Epic Jones, the show features an ensemble cast of powerhouse women who bring heart, humor, and wit to this razor-sharp script.”

Public access tickets are available free of charge starting Wednesday at wssr.org. Early bookings are recommended because seating is limited. The play contains profanity and vulgar language.

West Side Show Room is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to making room for everyone to participate in the performing arts and ensuring that live theater is accessible to all.

Its productions are intended to challenge traditional norms and encourage audiences to engage with performances that expand their view of the world.

Know before you go | POTUS

What: “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” a political farce directed by Epic Jones and written by Los Angeles-based writer and performer Selina Fillinger.

Where: West Side Show Room, 1414 N. Main St., Rockford

When: 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 4 p.m. Sundays Oct. 25 through Nov. 17

Tickets: Free; donations accepted

Info: wssr.org

Karlee Dodd as “Bernadette,” the president’s sister, ValMarie Black as “Margaret,” the president’s wife, the First Lady. (Photo provided by West Side Show Room)