Theatre brings political farce to Redbud

Nov. 13, 2025 - DENTON - The stages on the TWU campus have seen a few productions based on the fantastical. Greek mythology. Zombies. A vampire bunny.

This isn't one of them. This play is all too real.

"This is about one day in the White House," director Claire Parry said. "The president makes a very off-putting statement about his lovely wife, and it's a domino effect that happens from there. We find out that he has a mistress who shows up pregnant. We also find out his jailbird sister, who is an international drug mule, was given a presidential pardon, and she has a pre-existing relationship with the press secretary. It's the culmination of everything that happens within a 12-hour period all coming to a head and how each relationship with each of the women plays into it and how they handle the situation."

Gee, where did playwright Selina Fillinger ever find inspiration for such a topic?

POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumb*$$ Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, opened on Broadway in 2022, and it comes to TWU's Redbud Theater for six shows Nov. 19-23.

The play is the directorial debut for Parry, a graduate of TWU.

"This is my first solo directing project," she said. "I've been associate and assistant director, but this is the first time I'm the leader. It was a real pinch-me moment because I always told my friends one day I'm going to direct a show at Redbud. Now it's actually happening and it's my first directing experience, it's very special to me because I love TWU. I loved being there at the theater department. Everybody there made my college experience a great time. And I'm very proud to graduate from TWU. This is a beautiful moment for me."

Parry heard that Noah Lelek, PhD, the head of the TWU Theatre division, was looking for a director for POTUS.

"I read the script and immediately contacted Noah saying I would love to direct this show, and it would mean a lot to me because I'm an alum. Luckily, I know all the professors there, so I already have a pre-existing relationship with all of them. He said, sure. And now I'm here."

Parry earned a degree in theater education from TWU in 2020. After graduation, she taught in Grand Prairie until 2023. She took a job at SMU as a record specialist, which allows her the opportunity to direct and perform, including as a voice actor at Crunchyroll, which produces anime.

"I'm no longer teaching because it just didn't serve me," Parry said. "I was teaching theater and not doing anything but teaching theater. I wanted to direct and act more. I taught K through 5, and it was lovely teaching kids, but I think I'm definitely meant to do this. I get to act more often and not be exhausted all the time, so it's been a good transition.

"I love working with adults," she added. "They're college students, so you can talk to them like they know what they're doing. It's still an educational experience, not only for them but for me because I'm learning how to approach things as a director while they're learning the characters and how to become a better actor.

"Directing is very different than acting because you work with the designers and then allow their vision to come through while having your vision come through. You're not just working with the actors, but you're working with every single design element to try to come to an agreement how you both can create something great while also allowing the integrity of the show to shine through. That has been a learning curve for me."

Parry's inaugural play takes place on a box set, the interior of a three-sided room with plenty of doors for entrances and exits by the POTUS's seven actors, a manageable number for Parry's first cast.

"There are some freshmen, we have transfer students and some seniors, so it's a good mix of people who have been there for a while and people that have never worked together," Parry said. "But all of the cast has come together and there's an electrifying chemistry between all of them that really feeds into the play and allows it to, like, naturally grow. That made my directing a lot easier and honestly, a lot more fun experience because I'm not having to create chemistry. It's just organic chemistry."

She's also found chemistry with her assistant director, Adia Best, who made her debut on the Redbud stage in 2024's Eurydice and was in Jane Austen's Emma last season.

"I didn't know her beforehand, and Noah said, hey, this is going to be your assistant director. She's been an absolute pleasure, she's had some really great insights and I've absolutely loved working with her."

What should audiences expect from POTUS?

"People should just come in with an open mind and hopefully we make you laugh," Parry said. "I hope it's a bright spot in people's days."

POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumb*$$ Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Performances
Nov. 19-21, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 22, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 23, 2 p.m.

Tickets
$10 for adults, including TWU faculty and staff.
$5 for students, children and senior citizens.

Cast
Darolyn Nieves - Harriet
Jocelyn Losak - Jean
Alaina Hooker - Stephanie
Chloe Corona - Dusty
Hayley Cavazos - Bernadette
Amyah Starkes - Chris
Mika Lucas - Margaret

Media Contact

David Pyke Digital Content Manager [email protected]