From witty comebacks to a White House scandal, the play “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” brings viewers on a fast-paced day-in-life of seven women trying to keep the president’s image from falling apart.
The LSU School of Theatre & Film is preparing for its first show of the school year with “POTUS,” a satire featuring only women who are forced to clean up the president’s reputation after he makes a series of poor decisions.
When the women are faced with a snowball of events that threaten years to put years of hard work at risk, they refuse to let it all come crumbling down.
Director Lori Elizabeth Parquet said that the show has a lot to say, especially when it comes to reflecting the reality we are living today.
“In 2026, one has to work really hard to make something that is satire appear as satire in a world that already feels highly satirical, given the figures that are in power and the decisions that they are making that affect all of our lives,” Parquet said.
Parquet is a professional staff member. Outside of her directing role, she is a professor, and has worked in various roles in the theater world from performer to writer. She said that her insight from each of these roles has allowed her to zoom out and see the bigger picture while also being able to work out the fine details of the show.
Stage manager Lio Smith, a junior theater technology and design major, said the play is unique in that only women worked on it until their technology week.
“I think ‘POTUS’ is a story that is needed right now, and it is one of the few stories that I have been able to witness where it is all women on stage,” Smith said. “I think that is a very important story to tell, especially when the story that they’re telling has to do with conflicts being caused by a man.”
Rehearsals began on the first day of the semester, only giving the students a month to get the show together. Despite the short time frame, everyone involved in the show worked diligently to get the production up and running for the show’s preview, which took place on Thursday.
Ashari Harper, a senior theater performance and communication studies double major, plays Margaret, the first lady. She is a Black woman married to a white man, and Harper said these traits lead her to get overlooked at times, despite desperately wanting recognition for her work.
For Harper, this role is more than just acting experience.
“When being in different productions, you get to work with different directors and professionals who are in the industry, even student workers, and we’re all learning together,” Harper said. “And when it’s a collaborative process like that, it allows not only room for growth and development, but enhances your mind into what you can do.”
Liberti Jackson, a senior kinesiology major, plays Harriet in the play. Harriet is the president’s chief of staff, and she is an accomplished woman who makes sure the President has everything he needs. She writes his speeches, manages his schedule and ensures he is prepared for anything.
Through playing Harriet, Jackson has found that her perspective, as well as the way she carries herself, has changed.
“She had to do so many steps to get to where she is, and I have goals for myself, and so internally, I’ve just been like, ‘You know what? If I can play this character, I can damn well be this character.’”
Senior animal science and theater double major Madison Dumas plays Jean, the press secretary, in “POTUS.” Throughout the play, Jean holds press conferences to try minimize the damage caused by the president’s scandals. However, with more and more things piling on top of each other and things being hidden, her job gets harder as the play progresses.
Dumas invites everyone to see the show, as everyone involved in the play has put a lot of work into putting the production together.
“I’m very proud of the show,” said Dumas. “I’m very proud of the work we’re doing, and I am very excited to show it to my peers as a student.”
Vastine Stabler, the managing artistic director for LSU Theatre and Swine Palace, said productions such as “POTUS” are a vital part of the theater program because of the way students transform through their roles.
“It’s why I go to every audition,” Stabler said, “I like to see them when they get here and when they leave.”
Other actors featured in the show include Sydney Fuqua, Layla Brown-Collado and Priya Hildebrand.
Tickets for the show can be purchased on PurplePass, with student tickets costing $20 and general admission costing $45. The show will be performed in the Shaver Theatre on Sept. 25, 27 and 30 and Oct. 1, 2 and 4 at varying times.
With the show being a satire, there are instances of vulgar language and scenes of intimate nature. The show has a strobe light warning, and there are realistic weapons seen on stage.
