‘POTUS’ play pamphlet design (Cummings/LION).

Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong in “POTUS”, a play directed by Audrey Francis and written by Selina Fillinger that highlights the women behind the President of the United States.
This two hour farce takes place over the course of a day in the White House, as seven women do everything in their power to stop chaos from erupting, and save the Commander in Chief from himself. With a cast made up of only seven women, the Steppenwolf Theater production discusses female identity, power, and self confidence through comedy.
“I hope the audience leaves with just a small tiny sliver of hope on what our country could be if we open up our minds, engage with women in leadership, and reexamine the things we have been doing,” actress Chloe Baldwin ‘13 said. “It is a chaotic play [that] ultimately shows how strong and hilarious people can be regardless of gender.”
In “POTUS”, Baldwin takes on the role of Dusty, the President’s mistress. Dusty is a fun loving young girl who owns herself and cares deeply about the people around her, Baldwin said. She lives in the moment, which causes conflict at the start of the play, but by the end the audience has a better understanding of her inner empowerment and motivation.
“This is one of the first times I have worked with a female director, and with such a fem-heavy ensemble and crew,” she said. “It was such a cool experience to have and to get to see women in artistic leadership, especially Audrey Francis, who is one of the most collaborative people I have ever met”
After seeing “POTUS” in November as a bonding experience with her daughter, Bridget Healy enjoyed the lasting feeling of hope the performance left behind.
“Women are pretty amazing, because we do have that ability to laugh at ourselves as well as teach lessons and pass on knowledge in a fun way,” Healy said. “It is kind of how we go through life. If we can laugh at it, it doesn’t make it so scary.”
While “POTUS” was more explicit than expected with strong language and sexual innuendos, the overall performance was thoughtfully crafted and definitely should be seen, she said.
“We all know how the boys club can operate, hiding the women in the background,” she said. “‘POTUS’ reminds us that women do have a strong influence in how things play out, and even if it’s in the background, [that] doesn’t mean it is less important. Sometimes it might even give you more power. You don’t always have to be front and center.”
After graduating from LT, Baldwin went to theater school at Depaul for intensive training, Baldwin said. Upon graduation, she got an agent and now works in both Chicago and LA, where she has grown as an actress and taken part in TV shows like “Shining Girls” and “Utopia”. Recently, she produced the film, “Morning Is Broken”, which has won seasonal awards. She hopes to continue working with Steppenwolf, as well as one day be a lead in a fantasy TV show and be a part of a creative team as a showrunner.
“One of the biggest things that I learned from the LT Theater program is that there are so many different  things you can bring into being an artist, it doesn’t have to be one thing,” she said. “I absolutely love acting, but I am also a fight choreographer. I remember taking Mr. [Lawrence] Keller’s playwriting class and I learned that I could also write and that doesn’t make me any less of an actor; it just adds to what I can do.”

Baldwin began acting at 8 years old in her community theater, and since then the passion has grown, she said. She took part in many LT performances, her favorite being Tens by Teens. During high school, she also played soccer, which she now channels in the context of acting through fight choreography, satisfying the jock side of her heart.
“The biggest advice I would give to students looking to pursue performing is to create your own work,” Baldwin said. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make your own stuff. Being able to express your own artistic voice will not only allow you to find your people, but also fulfill your artistic soul that will allow you to walk into any room feeling empowered.”
After debuting on Oct. 26, “POTUS” leaves Steppenwolf theater with a final showing on Dec. 17.