2025 Anonymous Theatre Audition Information
SHOW: POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
REHEARSAL PERIOD: Limited one-on-one rehearsals will be scheduled based on actor availability. All conflicts are acceptable as long as you can attend the performance! (Location of rehearsals vary, but will probably be in Portland)
PERFORMANCE DATE: Monday, August 18, 2025
DIRECTORS: Jamie Rea
STAGE MANAGER:
ABOUT ANONYMOUS THEATRE
Actors cast in Anonymous Theatre do not learn the identity of their castmates until they are onstage in front of the audience, and keep their participation in the event a secret. Actors rehearse one-on-one with the creative team, but do much of the preparation work on their own.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
It’s just another (omg, wtf, lmfao) day at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. When a White House PR nightmare spins out of control, seven brilliant and beleaguered women must risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. A bawdy and irreverent look at sex, politics and the women in charge of the man in charge of the free world. Who knew that global crisis is always just a four-letter word away.
AUDITION DATES AND TIMES
Sunday, May 18 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
Monday, May 19 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
To schedule an audition, go to this sign-up form.
All roles will be cast after the first round of auditions. There will not be callback auditions.
Auditioning in person is preferable. If you are not available for these times or are unable to meet in person, please email beatrice@anonymoustheatre.org to arrange either a pre-recorded or a Zoom audition.
AUDITION PREPARATION
You will receive a link to a folder of sides. Please prepare whatever side(s) you would like! If you choose to prepare multiple sides, keep in mind that due to time constraints it is highly unlikely we would be able to see more than two.
CASTING NEEDS
From the director: “I love to be surprised so please read the script and bring your own vision of the character. We’ve shared one version below and if that speaks to you, lean into it. If you see something entirely else in the character, bring it and teach us something new about the play.”
From the playwright: “Actors can be cis or trans. Age is flexible. Beauty is subjective. So long as they’re fast, fierce, and f@*king hilarious.”
Cast descriptions:
HARRIET – Late 30s-60s. Any ethnicity. Chief of Staff. Harriet is a political force of nature, every decision – from her tailored power suits to her laser-focused demeanor – meticulously crafted for career ascendance. Humor is a foreign language; the only metrics she understands are poll numbers. Her life is a strategic chessboard, and everyone, including herself, is a carefully positioned piece.
JEAN – Late 30s-60s. Any ethnicity. Press Secretary. Beneath the sharp tailoring and collected air lies a hawk-like intensity. Jean possesses a razor-sharp wit and the unflappable ability to navigate any press scrum, sanitizing scandals with practiced ease. Balancing the demands of single motherhood with the high-stakes world of political spin, she's a seasoned professional with a pragmatic cynicism that hints at battles fought and won. Think a world-weary CJ Cregg, seasoned by a few more hard knocks and late-night news cycles.
STEPHANIE – 20s-30s. Any ethnicity. Presidential Secretary. A bright but seemingly small presence in the bustling office, Stephanie carries the weight of immense responsibility with a palpable fear of failure. Despite her brilliance – often hidden beneath layers of self-doubt – she operates perpetually on the precipice of overwhelm. She's a wellspring of untapped potential, a sharp mind waiting for the opportunity to truly shine.
DUSTY – 20s-30s. Any ethnicity. President’s Partner. Dusty radiates a vibrant curiosity and a confident embrace of her sexuality. Beyond the surface, she's a multi-talented individual deeply engaged with the world and driven by a genuine passion for civic duty and democratic ideals. Her enthusiasm to make a positive impact is infectious and unwavering.
BERNADETTE – Late 30s-50s. White. President’s Sister. Bernadette is chaos incarnate. A whirlwind of raw charisma, a volatile temper, and a surprisingly sharp, dark humor, she leaves a trail of minor (and sometimes major) disasters in her wake. Jean's carefully constructed composure often crumbles in Bernadette's disruptive presence. She's a force of nature, unpredictable and undeniably magnetic.
CHRIS – 30s-40s. Black. A Journalist. The exhaustion etched on Chris's face tells a story of too little sleep and too many burdens: the recent upheaval of divorce, the demanding reality of postpartum life, and the ever-present pressure of a shifting media landscape. Yet, beneath the weariness lies a tenacious reporter with everything on the line, driven by a hunger for truth and a desperate fight for relevance.
MARGARET – Late 40s-60s. Black. The First Lady. Margaret embodies an aura of impeccable grace, a seamless blend of high fashion elegance, sharp corporate acumen, and formidable legal intelligence. Her regal bearing and sophisticated composure barely conceal a simmering bitterness and a well of suppressed fury. When pushed, she doesn't hesitate to strike with precision and lethal intent.
Notes:
There will be fights and intimacy in this production. We will have a fight and intimacy coordinator. If you have any questions about this, please let us know!
We aim to have a diverse cast and encourage performers of all ethnicities and abilities to audition for any role. Interested actors with individual needs are encouraged to reach out to discuss how we might facilitate your participation.
PAY
All performers will receive pay, likely approximately $800.
We are open to both Equity and non-Equity performers for this show.
CONTACT/QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS
https://www.anonymoustheatre.org/; admin@anonymoustheatre.org