POTUS: Theatre On The Edge

A farce can be silly, sharp, and still feel like a mirror, and POTUS pulls that off in a way that had us laughing while also nodding a little too hard. We sit down with director Paige and cast members Mary and Ren from Chino Community Theatre’s Theater on the Edge Festival to talk about why Selina Fillinger’s POTUS is more than a “day in the White House.” For us, it becomes a story about the work women do, the credit they do not get, and the way communities survive by taking turns holding each other up.

We get personal about the paths that bring people back to the stage: Mary’s journey from childhood acting to a theater degree to environmental law, and Wren’s return to community theater after stepping away for school and shyness. We also unpack what makes community theater so powerful for both artists and audiences, especially when it may be someone’s only chance to experience live performance close to home.

From directing nerves and ensemble trust to physical comedy, last-minute casting changes, and the behind-the-scenes miracle of props, sound, lights, and stage management, this conversation is a love letter to the village that makes theater happen. If you’re local, POTUS plays May 16, 22, 30 at 7:30 p.m. and May 17, 23, 31 at 2:30 p.m., with tickets at chinocommunitytheater.org. Subscribe, share this with a theater friend, and leave us a five-star review so more people can find Steps to the Stage.

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Transcript

Taking Turns Holding It Together

SPEAKER_02 0:00

We take turns having breakdowns in the show, particularly, right? Somebody's like, that's it, I can't do it, I'm done. And then someone else is like, nope, I'm gonna pick this up, I'm gonna raise you up, we're gonna figure this out, and we're gonna do it together. And throughout the show, it happens constantly. Somebody's somebody's up, someone else is down, and then you ri switch roles, and like that's what we do as women, right? We're like, okay, you're having a hard day, I got this for you. Yeah, let me help carry some of the burden for you.

SPEAKER_05 0:27

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Welcome to Steps to the Stage, a 7th Street community theater podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Hey there, theater friends. Welcome to Steps to the Stage, where we talk to the community theater professionals you know and love. My name is Kirk Lane, and I'm gonna be your host today. We're very excited. We're gonna be talking about the second production in our Theater on the Edge Festival, and it is POTUS. And with us today, we have Paige, Mary, and Wren, and they're going to um have a little discussion with us about their journey through this. So welcome everyone.

SPEAKER_03 1:06

Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

And Paige, we're gonna start with you because you are directing this wonderful piece.

SPEAKER_03 1:12

Yes, I am, standing here beside myself.

unknown 1:14

So excited about it.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

And Paige, is this your first time directing?

SPEAKER_03 1:18

No, I have directed many other productions, but this is my first time directing at Chino.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

Ah, wow.

SPEAKER_03 1:24

So that makes it a little bit uh little bit more scary for me because I love this company, I love this whole community here, and I don't want to let people down. So I'm thrilled to be directing here, but uh I'm also a little nervous, but I am so proud of you. You're doing a great job, thank you, darling.

Paige On Directing And Choosing POTUS

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Well, I think nerves are really good. You know, I I still perform pretty regularly uh, you know, as a musician. And if there's ever a show that I go into and I don't feel like a nervous wreck and anxious, then I it's usually not a good show. I agree. So it keeps the energy up, you can channel that good energy and and and that. So so was this something that um you were familiar with before POTUS? Because I know it's a fairly new um, it's a new new farce, if I'm not correct, if I'm not mistaken, right?

SPEAKER_03 2:16

It's a farce, but we also consider it sort of a documentary.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it was written by Selena Fillinger, and um again, I know it's fairly recent that that it has come about, but tell us about your journey to becoming director for this particular production.

SPEAKER_03 2:33

Well, I had not heard of the play yet, but I regularly get the email from the theater about for prospective directors, and I have never applied to direct, but I saw this show on the list, and I thought, I of course did a little research and I went, okay, well, I either want to act in that show or I want to direct it. So I decided to apply to direct and I thought, well, if I get it, that's great. And if not, I'll audition for it.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

And you've been in our Theater on the Edge festival in the past as an actor, if I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_03 3:10

Yes, I have multiple times. Yeah.

Mary And Wren On Finding Theater

SPEAKER_01 3:12

Yeah. And that's great. I think that that brings a good perspective to it. And and um, we actually just had a chance to talk with some of the casting crew of Dead Man's Cell Phone, and and um one of the gentlemen that was on, he was new to our our stage, and he was just really um excited about the fact that you know our theater takes some chances on some things and and we and we do go on the edge as the name uh as the name implies. So um that's fantastic. Mary, I want to learn more about your story and not just with POTUS, but let's hear about your acting story and when it started and some of the other productions you've been on.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

How long do we have? Um I'm Mary, I'm playing Harriet, who is the chief of staff for the president. And um, I started acting when I was 10, um, you know, just community theater and things when my teacher told my mom, you need to channel this dramatic energy somehow. Fantastic. And uh fell in love with it. So I majored in theater in college, I got a bat uh BFA, and then um, you know, tried to came out to I grew up in Ohio, came out to LA and tried to, you know, do it professionally for a few years, and then ended up thinking I'm gonna do something else for my job. So um went to law school. So I'm an environmental lawyer, my day job. And then um relatively recently uh got back into performing when my kids were older. I was like, once they can kind of go to sleep on their own, then I can get back in. So it's been this is my third show here at Chino, and it's been such an amazing. I agree with Paige, it's just an amazing community and group of people, and I'm just thrilled to be able to be a part of this show.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Well, thank you so much for sharing that with us and welcome to our wonderful stage. And we're so thankful that you are a part of this production.

SPEAKER_05 5:05

So thank you.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

Um, Ren, welcome.

SPEAKER_05 5:08

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 5:08

Yeah, let's let's hear a little bit about your journey as well.

SPEAKER_05 5:11

Yeah. Um, it's so funny. We were actually talking about this with some of the other the other girls the night before of how we all got started. And my first role was in a kindergarten production of Do You Think I Look Ridiculous?

SPEAKER_01 5:23

Was that on Broadway or off Broadway?

SPEAKER_05 5:25

It was regional, no.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Okay, all right, all right.

SPEAKER_05 5:27

Um no, and I was the the fairy that helped transform the hippos into a ridiculous creature. Yes, it's it's a it's a scintillating way for for young young ones. Um and then I kind of did like after school drama programs as a kid, but I was really shy, so I never really did did much. Um I was kind of just you know, you you put them on stage and you hope they shine, and that's it. Um and then in high school I got more involved with drama, completely fell out of it with college, and then like two, three years ago, I started auditioning for community theater again and had loved it. And this is my first production with Chino and with Paige and Mary, and I'm having a great time, guys. The bar is so high.

The Village Behind Community Theater

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Well, welcome to our stage. And and you know, I I get the chance to talk with, you know, all the productions that come on our stage for the last couple of years, and I'm always really, really touched and moved by hearing the stories about um, you know, someone, oh yeah, I I was in kindergarten or in high school and I haven't done it in. We've had we've had actors that have come on that haven't done it in 30 years. And they've come and decided, you know, to come back to our stage or to another one of the inland empire stages. So I love hearing those stories, and I love that you find that work-life balance, right? Because we aren't driving up here in our limousines and and and you know, we're not we're not flying out in helicopters, and you know, w we have our day jobs, we have to take care of our children, and and and and sometimes we have lots of other things that are on our plates that we have to deal with. And so to be a part of the community theater family and and and to put on these productions, it takes such a village.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

Absolutely, right?

SPEAKER_01 7:08

And and it's not just and and this is no slag to the directors and the actors, but it's everyone, right? It's it's everyone on the cast and crew, it's those that are taking the tickets at the front door. Absolutely. It's those that are in in the booth that are running the sound and the lights, and and um it's just so wonderful though, isn't it? It's just it just leaves you with such a fantastic feeling. And then more importantly, we get to take this art and and these stories and we get to present them to our community, right?

SPEAKER_02 7:42

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So um it could be the only chance for some of these people to really go see live theater, you know. They're not gonna go down to the Pantages or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

So And then, you know, this is something that I talk about because we get a chance to also talk to some of our local um uh high schools and the theater drama departments that they have. And um, you know, you never know when you're doing your performance and that there's someone in the audience, and they might be a kid or they might be an adult that's well into their adulthood and and go, I like the way this makes me feel. And I would love to be able to get up on that stage and do that. And I'm very inspired by that actor that's there right now, and I'm gonna go and audition for my local community theater or high school, and and so it just creates this wonderful um stage for us to share those talents.

SPEAKER_03 8:36

And I feel like what we get at community theater is really sort of pure passion, because there is nobody here because we're getting any financial gain. We're not, you know, we're here simply because we love it. And that's across the board. That's everybody in the booth, that's everybody doing the lights, that's everybody changing the marquee. Everybody is here because we want to be here, and because we have this deep desire to share stories, to be in community, and it's there's a quality to it that I don't think you find even in professional theater.

SPEAKER_04 9:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:12

I think and and the fact that we're all out living our lives, raising our kids, going to work, and still putting the time and energy and effort into creating these productions. It's it kind of just gives me a little chill and a thrill when I think about uh the people involved in community theater.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

And then you decide to take on POTUS behind every great dumbass are seven women trying to keep him alive. Yes, and this just really we could just finish the podcast right now after reading that, because that is just kind of, you know, I think a declaration of what's happening in life. So we've got all kinds of things going on in our world, and so you have this piece of art that you're presenting. And so I would love to know a little bit more about what went in, what influenced, and and how you're going down that route.

SPEAKER_03 10:00

Absolutely. Well, what really resonates for me with this play is that yes, it's a day in the White House and the women who work there, but it's really more about the lives of women and the work that women do. Like every character is sort of an icon for some woman out there in the world. I really believe every woman in our audience is going to find something that is very familiar about their own lives. Absolutely. I mean, we've got working moms trying to make it in their chosen field. We've got incredibly accomplished women who have no confidence in themselves in the professional world. We've got everything from people trying to live up to standards that is impossible to achieve, and people who just want to succeed. Yeah. And it's so it's not um it's it's it's not just isolated to this uh created environment that the story takes place in. It really is representative, I feel like, of women's experience across the board. And that uh is how we've chosen to sort of approach it. We're entering into it from a place of realism, that these characters are real people and we want to play them as real people. The farce comes in with the uh environment or the uh what's the word situations, the situations that these women are confronted with. And that also kind of ring true. I mean, there's no mom who hasn't had some baby pee or poop on them, right? Uh that is looking back, boy, that was really funny. But in the moment, it's not fun at all. And uh, so it's um hilarious. We are laughing all the time during rehearsal.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

I feel like in real life you kind of have to laugh at this unfortunate patriarchal society that we've lived in and just not getting the um there's so much attention, credit. Um I mean, let's just be straight out honest, and I'm a girl dad, so I have some opinions on this, but we could solve a lot of problems if we just put the women in charge.

SPEAKER_03 12:16

Thank you. Bravo! Marriott agrees.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Mary, I'd love to hear more about your um uh um experience through this.

SPEAKER_02 12:26

Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, I concur with everything um Paige said. Um and I I view it, and this is very much in line with Harriet's character, um, as kind of looking at female empowerment and maybe take trying to take back some of that power that we've not been able to um have uh in all aspects of life. I mean, specifically, you know, this is dealing in terms of politics and in this in the White House and this environment. Um, but you know, there's a character that's uh journalist and she's talking, there's a couple of men that are get, you know, trying to uh take over her job, right? Because we're always at risk because of all of the things that women are responsible for taking care of outside of work, right? Family and relationships and you know, all of the allergies food allergies and dance class and where are the extra wipes? Because they're in the garage, like labeled, labeled. Please just look, use your eyes, you know?

SPEAKER_01 13:30

It's that thing you're holding in your hand, right?

SPEAKER_02 13:32

As I I tell my kid, just move one thing and it'll be there. I promise. Um, so I look at that. Um, you know, my character, she is, you know, chief of staff, she's about as high as you could get without being elected. Um, but she also is very much a wanting to bring other women up, right? So she's not up there trying to push other women down. And I think that like that's what most women, you know, are that we're we're like, we're we're trying to move up in this world, we're trying to claim power in a way that we can do good, right? We can make a difference, and we need to bring each other up and lift each other up. And um, I just I love that about my character that she she's no nonsense, she's you know, focused on getting the job done, but she's also kind of looking at herself as a mentor for those around her and trying to say, like, let's all let's all rise up here and and see what we could do if we were in charge. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:33

Ren.

SPEAKER_05 14:34

What was the question? I'm sorry. I was just really enjoying hearing everyone like yes. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 14:41

How is this role impacting you and in your real-world experience? And how are you using that to be able to communicate to this audience um something that should be obvious to the audience, but obviously it isn't because we live in the world that we live in. But maybe this is a chance to have this piece of art to just um really have uh the audience stop for a moment and and and kind of look at things. So I'd love to know how this experience has been influencing you.

SPEAKER_05 15:11

Yeah. Um well, so when I auditioned, I read for multiple roles, and it's so interesting because I think you go in kind of being like, this is the role I want to play, but you read all of the women in the play, and I think you're able to identify in some way, shape, or form with all of them, which is interesting because I think you have a really everyone kind of represents like a little piece of like the female archetype and personality and like the troubles and triumphs that we go through as a gender through this day and age. Um, and I've really just loved the process of working with everyone because you kind of go in, like, here's how I'm gonna do it, you know, you have your pre your preconceived notions of like how this person is. And everyone brings their own personal experiences and their own little nuances to the character and plays it in a way that is, in my opinion, just absolutely perfect. It's you know, chef's kiss. Um and I've really just been loving learning from all these women, and then we're we're getting very close as a cast, as I'm sure Paige can attest. You know, we're we we talk all the time. Um but maybe too much, right? But um, but we still get our work done. We do.

SPEAKER_02 16:17

That's what women do.

SPEAKER_01 16:18

I was just gonna say, that's what women do, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 16:21

And we leave at a prompt hour. You know, everyone gets home and goes to bed. Um but hearing everyone's experiences just as a woman in this day and age has just been very comforting to kind of hear. Like no one's told a story and someone's ever no none of us have told a story and someone's gone, I can never experience it. I cannot really. We'll say something and everyone goes, oh my gosh, yes. And even if it's not you, you're like front of a friend, had this, and they're like, have you thought of this? And then immediately we try to problem solve, which I feel is very parallel to what goes on the show where we we freak out and then we go, all right, what are we gonna do? Like, women get shit done. That's my takeaway.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

Can I add on a little to that? And one thing that I love about, and I think we do it and the characters, that we take turns having breakdowns in the show, particularly, right? Somebody's like, that's it, I can't do it, I'm done. And then someone else is like, nope, I'm gonna pick this up, I'm gonna raise you up, we're gonna figure this out, and we're gonna do it together. And throughout the show, it happens constantly. Somebody's somebody's up, someone else is down, and then you ri switch roles, and like that's what we do as women, right? We're like, okay, you're having a hard day. I got this for you. Yeah, let me help carry some of the burden for you.

SPEAKER_05 17:35

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

And in a short amount of time, you guys have been able to connect and understand and have commonality in your experience in life, which it which it very much sounds like this pretty much.

SPEAKER_05 17:47

I just felt through the genius of Paige's casting. Oh, a hundred percent.

Building Trust Through Ensemble Casting

SPEAKER_03 17:49

I'd like to say that for a second because this play is uh probably more complex than anything I've directed before. And so when I got hired to direct it, I had a little bit of a panic attack because I was trying to figure out how to enter into the process. And I had some good conversations with people I really respect. And I realized that what I wanted to focus on was building a strong ensemble, making I thought back on the shows that have been most cathartic or life-changing for me as an actor. And I realized that those are the shows that where I felt most connected to my fellow actors, where I felt heard by my director, where I felt like I was able to be a collaborative part of the process. So I kind of switched my focus from what it's gonna look like on stage to what the process of creating it is gonna look like. And that I think shifted. And this, I joke with them because it was really important to me that we start out building connections because I know as actors, you have to understand each other, you have to trust each other, you don't have to be best friends, but you definitely have to be in a place of connection and trust. And that only happens when you have the opportunity to build it. So that's what I started with. And yeah, now they won't shut up.

SPEAKER_01 19:17

And there's nothing wrong with that. No, I'm thrilled. If you can be in an audience where your voice can be heard and you can be seen, then you can thrive and you take that energy on to the next part.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

Exactly. And I feel like that is really showing in this cast. They just took that um idea up and just have run with it, and it's showing in all of their performances. It's a complete delight to see these women work together.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Renan Mary, let's hear a little bit more about your castmates.

SPEAKER_02 19:43

Oh, where do we start? Oh, I know. I talk about perfect casting. Oh my gosh. It's it's just amazing, like the how everyone fits so well with their character. And I I think a lot of us discussed that like it maybe wasn't necessarily the part that we thought we would.

SPEAKER_05 19:59

Yeah, yeah. I think a lot of us came in going, I just really want to be a part of this show. It's such a great show. Here's the role that I would love to go for, but I'll take anything. Like, like, you know, I'll because once again, it's and everyone I think read for different things. And I think you was it you who was saying you were reading for Gene, and then you're like, Oh, oh, I actually Harriet. I really identify with Harriet. Yep, absolutely. Yeah. But yeah, it's perfect casting. Yeah. Perfect casting.

SPEAKER_02 20:25

So we've got um Katie that's uh playing Bernadette, and she's the president's sister. I I don't know how much we can tell. So she's she's in prison at the beginning.

SPEAKER_05 20:37

Um she's kind of the black sheep of the family, and she her physical comedy is on point. On point on point. Um we've got Megan, who's playing Stephanie, who also speaking of physical comedy. Physical comedy on point. Um the choices both of them are making just it's I I don't know, Paige, if you can see, but like I'm like kind of sneaking off on the side, being like, I want to watch it. I'm not gonna be able to see it, but it sounds so funny.

SPEAKER_02 21:06

But yeah, those are we had one of our actors actually that where there's a door, right? And like so a scene was happening. She's behind the door, and we're rehearsing, and she just like peeks out the side of the door, and Paige says, What uh Imani, what are you doing? And she was like, Oh, I've never seen this scene before. And she just wanted to enjoy it because everyone's laughing and having a great time. And she's like, Well, I want to watch it. She's like, Okay, well, you gotta get back to the door. So yeah. Yeah, she um she's a she's a new uh the character, uh Chris. She's the reporter. Okay, and she's a relatively new mom to twins. Oh wow. So she's trying to pump breast milk and she's got the baby food and vomit on her, and she's possibly being pushed out by men, and she's just got juggling so many things, and trying to get a good story and trying to figure out like what can

SPEAKER_05 22:00

Kind of yeah and Chris is Chris has the role of what I I think of as kind of the American public in this day. Yeah. Where she voices a lot of those things we're thinking of, we're like, you let this man in the White House, you know, things like that. And she delivers them so honestly that they really just hit home every time. Yeah. She's like the conscience of the show. Yes. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 22:22

She's amazing, this actor who brings so much just integrity to her role.

SPEAKER_02 22:27

And then we're jaded and we just dismiss it like, yeah, that's not, that's not gonna be work for politicians.

SPEAKER_03 22:33

I have to talk for a minute too about Tajay. Oh my gosh, Taj. So the actor we originally cast to play the president's wife, the first lady, was unfortunately in an accident and unable to continue in the role. She's fine, but she just was unable to continue at rehearsals. So we kind of did a scramble and somebody knew somebody and somebody else knew somebody, and we found the um contact information for this woman that several people had worked with, and she was a thousand percent on board to join, which I was thrilled about because I was a little bit worried that we'd have somebody come in and go, Yeah, well, I'll do you a favor. But no, this woman came in and wouldn't embody that role exactly. And she just from the very first rehearsal she was in, she just was right in with the ensemble, and she is a phenomenal first lady. Like I can't imagine anybody better. And uh She's truly amazing. And she has come in fairly late in the rehearsal process and she's just right on board.

SPEAKER_05 23:35

Her energy, her work ethic. I mean, I had I had told friends I was like, you know, just in case I was like, if you know anyone, like I know it's a far drive, because I have a lot of friends in like West LA, but I was like, if you know anyone, um, and then so everyone checked in, they're like, Oh, how's how's it going with the new actor? I was like, she's really good. I was like, honestly, it's bad for me. I feel like I'm not doing my job. I was like, she came in, she's like almost off. Elevated the knows what he's doing with the character, and I was blown away. And I told Tajay that I was like, oh my gosh, you're incredible. I was like, you raised the bar. I was like, I gotta get my act together.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

We all came in the first time that she was coming in, and we're like, oh, we're like nervous, what's it gonna be? And it was just like, oh my god, you're perfect, amazing, like yeah, already working on being off books. She is phenomenal. That's great. We don't we can't forget Kat.

SPEAKER_05 24:23

We adore Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, Kat Kat, I almost think had the hardest job in the sense of she she and she and Katie had where they they're taking characters that I think are very easy to play as simply the comedic relief and caricature, and they've really turned them into real people raving people, and it's fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 24:45

So Kat plays Dusty, the president's dalliance, I believe is what she's called in the so um the her his mistress, right? And she's from Iowa, and so she brings this young, naive energy, but she is smart, wicked smart and great at problem solving and coming up with innovative solutions and then comes out of nowhere with really insightful, you know, comments about what's happening, and like and she does it like hilariously and authentically, and it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 25:19

And so physically oh comedic, once again. I mean, this woman, it's it's just a delight to see what she does with this character. Like, I've had to do very little directing because these actors have just completely dived into their characters.

SPEAKER_01 25:33

Well, then that means you did a great job casting. I think I did as well too.

SPEAKER_03 25:36

I think I did. I was very lucky. I feel like I was really lucky to have some great choices.

Crew Shoutouts Props Sound Lights

SPEAKER_01 25:41

And what about um production team? Who else is helping you maybe say costumes or some of the other elements?

SPEAKER_03 25:47

Well, we're costuming ourselves, but I will tell you that props, I have to give great credit to Brad Markin, who happens to be my husband, but uh he also is an incredible artist in his own right. And we've got a lot of very specific props and a very low budget for this play. So he has created community theater. He has created some amazing props. For example, there's a uh marble statuette that has to get thrown during the show, and he came up with some beautiful work uh for these. Well, he made two, just in case, just in case. He made some little guns, he made a musket. Wait till you see it, it looks phenomenal. And he also did our set build, so he's been working very hard. He took a vacation this week because he's like, I'm done. But uh, let's see, we've got both Nico and Gwen in the booth for us.

SPEAKER_01 26:44

Yay!

SPEAKER_02 26:45

Gwyn is my daughter. We're so glad to have her.

SPEAKER_01 26:47

I feel like I got to work with her recently on the show when uh we were doing the new sound systems.

SPEAKER_02 26:53

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, she's she's an actress and um a techie now, so she's done sound for a few shows. I love that.

SPEAKER_05 27:01

Well-rounded, exactly well-rounded individual.

SPEAKER_03 27:04

I also have to mention Phil Parker, who's done our soundscape. He's been working all week getting our sound together. I can't wait to hear it. Uh, today's gonna be my first time hearing the whole thing. We've been off and on on the phone for a while. So, and uh, of course, Kylie Reeves is doing our light. So wonderful. And our production coordinator, Chris Deal, who is of course a delight, and Debbie Ming, who keeps us on track, and it's uh and and Michelle Reinhardt doing our programs. I mean, this like you said earlier, it really is. I so appreciate everyone who does kind of what I see as an actor, kind of the thankless jobs, like they don't get the applause, but people put in hours and hours of effort to make any single production come to fruition. And I'm so grateful.

SPEAKER_05 27:52

Oh my gosh. Maddie! Oh my goodness. She sends us our line notes promptly, by the way. Like we're flesh and read, and before we leave the building, she sends you your your line notes individualized to each person by the fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 28:06

I feel very um kind of spoiled because this is the first time I've had a production stage manager who is working with us all through the rehearsal process. I also have a stage crew um led by Aiden King Kittavas, I want to say is his last name. He's one of the high school kids.

SPEAKER_04 28:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 28:25

And he has a crew there doing the stage work, but Maddie is running the show. And um, she is she's a junior at uh Cal Poly, a theater student, and she is just a phenomenal help. Yeah, you know what? So I feel like we just have a team of great, great support and enthusiasm and encouragement, and it's uh it's all gonna show on the stage.

SPEAKER_02 28:50

I feel like it's it's kind I was just gonna say it's kind of like the invisible work that women do all the time that don't get thanked for bringing it all back.

SPEAKER_01 29:00

I love that. And I'll tell you what, you know, we're an audio forward podcast, we don't do video, but the expression on these wonderful ladies' faces as they're sharing the story with me. And the energy, I mean, I really felt the energy like when Maddie and and these other people that have been a part of our theater and have helped out, and that's the magic of community theater. And I love that we get that chance to to talk about it, but also to shine a light, right? To use expression from the theater on these wonderful people, both young and maybe a little bit older, but they're but they're out there and they're putting themselves out there in their art. And I always like to think that when those standing ovations come, that they are clapping not just for the performance on stage, but for everything that it has taken to get to that point. So is there anyone else or anything else you'd like to share with us before we close out?

Truth To Power And Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_03 29:53

I just want to give a little shout out to the playwright, Selena Phillinger, because this is a this is an edgy piece. Um and it really speaks truth to power in a way that we don't see very often. And it doesn't pull any punches. It's in a in a humorous way, it really kind of makes it clear the truly farcical nature of parts of our real lives. Yeah. And I'm so glad that we have this opportunity. I'm so glad that Chino made the decision. I mean, this really I would say this is the edgiest show I've ever seen produced on at Theater on the Edge. And I'm so grateful we have a community theater that is willing to take that real risk of putting a show like this on stage. And I absolutely believe that this cast and this crew is up to the task of doing it justice.

Show Dates Tickets And Support Local Theater

SPEAKER_01 30:52

Well, for those of you out there that are listening, we want to let you know that the performance dates for POTUS are May 16th, 22nd, 30th at 730 p.m. On May 17th, 23rd, and 31st, um, it will be at 230 p.m. You can get your tickets by going online um and buying through our website at chinocommunity theater.org, or you can call the box office at ARICODE 909-590-1149. And we'll have links in the show notes with all of this um information as well. But thank you so much, um you guys. This has been great. It's been great to um again, uh I I I've said it earlier, but just to fill your energy, and um if any of that energy, uh even a small fraction of it, translates out onto the stage, then those of you that are that are gonna go buy your you're in for for quite a treat. So we would really love you to um reach out and get your tickets. And if you only have time to go to one, we we understand that, but you can get a festival pass where you can see both productions. So you can call the box office and find out more information about that, or you can go again to chinocommunity theater.org. So, Paige, Mary, and Ren, thank you so much not only for your time today, but for giving of your time to this theater and to be able to present this art to an audience. So um we ask all of you, uh, if you're local, come and see. And if you aren't, just go support your local theater, whether it is your kids' kindergarten production and they're waddling across the stage, or if it's a high school or if it's a college or any type of community or regional theater, even go and see the good the professional stuff, right? Just go theater, see theater, support it, um, and go out and try it.

SPEAKER_02 32:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

Go out and try it because we always need help. It's not just the people on the stage, there's so much you can do and be fulfilled by that. So we're so thankful for all of you for your time, but also your energy towards this and for um inspiring others and for creating a community that we can talk about this. So thank you so much, Libra.

SPEAKER_05 33:10

Thank you for having us. Thank you. It was a pleasure.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

Thanks for listening to Steps to the Stage, a 7 Street Community Theater podcast. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review and a five-star rating. It really helps. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Special thanks to Chino Community Theater and Chino Community Children's Theater for their generous support. And very special thank you to the listeners. Steps to the stage was created by Joey Rice and Kirk Lane. Logo created by Marley Lane. Original music by Joey Rice. Your host, Kirk Lane. Engineer and producer, Joey Rice. Engineer and executive producer, Kirk Lane.