46 Plays for America’s First Ladies
Produced by Nextstop Theatre Company
Written by: Chloe Johnston, Sharon Greene, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Bilal Dardai, and Andy Bayiates Director: Megan Behm Choreographer: Janine Baumgardner Scenic Designer: Megan Holden Lighting Designer: Hailey LaRoe Costume Designer: Imari Pyles Projections/Media Designer: Taylor Verrett Properties Designer: Liz Long
Full Digital Program can be found here
Photos By DCorrey Photos
Nextstop describes this play as “A rollercoaster ride through American HER-story!” and I truly couldn’t say it better. “Forty-six mini plays, in just over two hours, that cleverly and concisely introduce each of the women who served alongside the highest office in the land. Devised by the Neo-Futurists (a Chicago-based theater collective), this fast-paced comedy offers a unique perspective on American history. These ladies will make you laugh, cry, and illuminate the pressures inherited with a ceremonial and often under-appreciated role.”
Working on this show (or rather these 46 plays) was a delightful, contemplative, and empowering experience. You do not want to miss this show!
A Few Favorites
In a show, thats actually 46 different shows, its hard to pic a small collections of photos to represent the true breath and scope of the production. The stories of these 46+ ladies is told through songs, classical and modern dance, stand up comedy, audience interrogation, horror plays, comedy, and tragedy. In order to express all that, and to include as many Ladies as possible, I’ve selected perhaps far too many photos, so I wanted to start by highlighting a few favorites.
#1 Martha Washington a "humanitarian..." who loves slavery
#2 Abigail Adams, live in concert, a rockstar who reminds us to "remember the ladies"
#6 Louisa Adams "Adventures of a Nobody"
#13 - Abigail Powers Fillmore, feeding ducks and getting angry
#22 - Frances Preston, The white house is open to the public for the first time
#23 - Caroline Harrison brings electricity to the white house
#30 - Grace Coolidge, bringing raccoons to the white house
#32 - Eleanor Roosevelt writes the declaration of human rights
#33 - Bess Wallace Truman and the atomic bomb
#38 - Betty Ford, in Modern Dance
#42 - Hillary Clinton, and the make-believe horror stories we tell about her
#46 - Jill Biden, an educator after 4 years of ignorance, & VP Kamala Harris, the first woman VP
Full Show Gallery
Thank you to this incredible team of creative ladies!
Photo (left to right): Hanna Smaglis (Asst. Stage Manager), Imari Pyles (Costume Designer), Liz Long (Properties Designer), Sam Rollin (Stage Manager), Taylor Verrett (Projections/Media Designer), Megan Behm (Director), Charlotte LaNass (Artistic associate), Megan Holden (Scenic Designer), Hailey LaRoe (Lighting Designer), Janine Baumgardner (Choreographer).