Asoula 'Jasmine' Avegalio
Margaret
Ran September 11 - 26, 2026 | Live Oak Theater
POTUS
Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
Dates
Sept 11 - 26, 2026
Schedule
Fri/Sat 8 PM · Sun 2 PM | Special 2PM Matinee, Sept 26
Venue
Live Oak Theater, Berkeley
Status
Closed
A Farce With Teeth
The Royal Underground Theatre Company presents POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Selina Fillinger’s breakneck political farce about power, damage control, survival, and the women forced to clean up the mess. It’s sharp, chaotic, profane, and built for a room full of people who know exactly how ridiculous leadership can become when competence is left to everyone except the person officially in charge.
One questionable comment is about to cause chaos at the White House. This fast paced, political farce follows the seven women closest to an incompetent and unseen President, as they scramble to maintain public image. Over the course of one chaotic day, these women navigate political crises, personal conflicts, media disasters, and unexpected mishaps, all while trying to protect their own sanity and futures. This play highlights the often overlooked labor, intelligence, and resilience of the women operating behind the scenes of power.
In her production of POTUS, Anna Oglesby - Smith is drawn to not only the play’s sharp political satire, but also to its reimagining of the traditionally male dominated genre of farce. Historically, farce has centered on a masculine hero. Placing their mistakes, ambitions, and misadventures at the heart of the comedy. Playwright Selina Fillinger boldly subverts that tradition by placing seven women at the center of the chaos. Although the President sets the events of the play into motion, it is the women around him who drive the story, navigating an increasingly absurd crisis with intelligence, resilience, and humor. Oglesby - Smith’s vision embraces the fast paced physicality, heightened theatricality, and escalating stakes, that define great farce while grounding the characters in authentic human relationships. Through laughter and mayhem, this production celebrates women occupying space both in politics and comedy.
LAUGH. OUT. LOUD.
One questionable comment is about to cause chaos at the White House. This fast paced, political farce follows the seven women closest to an incompetent and unseen President, as they scramble to maintain public image. Over the course of one chaotic day, these women navigate political crises, personal conflicts, media disasters, and unexpected mishaps, all while trying to protect their own sanity and futures. This play highlights the often overlooked labor, intelligence, and resilience of the women operating behind the scenes of power.
We’re pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Royal Underground’s fall 2026 production.
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
Production photography by Jerianne Banson
CREATIVE TEAM
Written bySelina Fillinger
Directed byAnna Oglesby-Smith
Assistant Directed byCourtney Sutherland
Produced byJerianne Banson and Enrico Banson
Stage Managed byHayley Kennen
Assistant Stage ManagersMichael Carlos, Maggie Carpenter
Costume SupervisionMaggie Brennan
Casting byMaria Banson, MFB Casting
CAST
Michele Rabkin
Harriett
Karla Acosta Ormond
Jean
Raven Douglas
Chris
Jules Weiss
Stephanie
Hannah Martínez-Crow
Dusty
Nicole Naffaa
Bernadette
(She/Her) Asoula Jasmine Avegalio has been performing for over 20 years across various stages throughout the country. She took a pause to serve in the Marine Corps,deepen her roots in motherhood, publish a book and is grateful to have returned to her love of theatre again. Avegalio’s recent works include Beverly in Contra Costa Civic Theatre’s production of Fairview, The Lady of The Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot the Musical done by Ghostlight Theatre, Shug Avery in Pittsburg Theatre Company’s The Color Purple Musical and Trish/ Lauren (U/S) in Throckmorton theatre’s musical production of Kinky Boots. Stay connected with her on instagram @ulaaa_fierce
(She/Her) Michele Rabkin, MFA, is an Oakland-based writer and performer. Recent roles include King Alonso in The Tempest (Berkeley Shakespeare Company) and Taylor in Yoga Moms (Town Hall Theater, Young Playwrights Festival). Her performance in POTUS is inspired by all the bad-ass female chiefs of staff she met during her years in higher education administration, as well as the politically savvy women who shaped her growing up in Berkeley, including her mother, who is still waving protest signs at age 90. michelerabkinperforming.com
(She/Her) Karla is delighted to make her Royal Underground Theatre Company debut as Jean. Recent credits include God of Carnage and Rumors (Pacifica Spindrift Players), Prelude to a Kiss (Masquers Playhouse), and The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon (Plethos Productions). She thanks BBD for keeping real-life crises far less chaotic than this one.
(She/Her) Raven is delighted to make her Royal Underground debut. Other credits include Marianne (Constellations, The Pear), Keisha (Fairview, CCCT), Pascal (The Pear), Nettie (The Color Purple, PTC), Emily Cratchit (world premiere of Scrooge, CCCT), Alice (Alabaster, Town Hall), Laertes (Hamlet, CCCT), and Cha Cha/Ms. Lynch/Radio Singer (Grease, Altarena Playhouse). New to theater, Raven’s appeared in commercial and film projects, and performed as a lead singer touring southeast Asia. She’d like to thank Bay Area theatre for embracing an outsider so warmly, and overthank her partner for their graceful flexibility throughout her non-adultlike shenanigans. In her free time, Raven enjoys dancing, traveling, and volunteering with community-based organizations.
(She/Her) Jules was born in San Francisco and grew up in Marin County. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, received her B.A. in Drama from San Francisco State University, and she graduated from The Meisner Technique Studio in 2024. She has performed in theatre shows around the Bay Area, including Stretchmarks, an Edinburgh Fringe Festival play, and Men On Boats. When Jules isn't performing on stage, she is teaching creative movement, dance and yoga to children around Marin County.
(She/Her) Recent credits: Rumpleteazer/Dance Captain in Cats (Berkeley Playhouse), Ensemble/Wednesday u/s in The Addams Family (Berkeley Playhouse), Ensemble/Dance Captain in Jesus Christ Superstar (Berkeley Playhouse), Margot in Legally Blonde (Ray of Light Theatre), Lilibet/Swing in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Ray of Light Theatre). SDSU MT ‘23. IG: @hannahmartinezcrow
(She/Her) Nicole is thrilled to make her debut with The Royal Underground Theatre Company and this amazing cast and production team! Recent credits include Improvised Clue (Synergy Theater), Hagar in A Country Made of Salt (Golden Thread Productions), Jean in Good People (Altarena Playhouse), which won SFBATCC Awards for Best Ensemble and Best Entire Production – East Bay, Marvalyn/Waitress in Almost, Maine (Backyard Players), and Natasha Pendleton in Summer of Peace Love and Murder (Plethos Productions). She performed with The Berkeley Players improv troupe for over 10 years and has appeared in short films, web series, and commercials. See her again this November in TRU's Come From Away!
IN THE PRESS
PLAYBILL
Read the full digital playbill for POTUS, with the cast and creative team, director's note, and special thanks.
Open Digital PlaybillContent Advisory
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive contains strong adult language, sexual references and innuendo, mild intimacy, comedic violence, mild drug use, depictions of blood, references to vomiting (including sound effects), and the presence of firearms. This production is intended for mature audiences.