A First Lady's Guide to Killing the President (Opening Night)
CL RECOMMENDS
CRITIC'S PICK:
Fri., May 8 -Sun., May 17
A First Lady's Guide to Killing the President, Out of Box Theatre - The first lady in question is Florence Harding. She's having to contend with her hapless husband, the "always charming, useless Warren," during a nationwide train ride that becomes increasingly untenable. Hopping aboard are a pair of blackmailing chatelaines, a coercive second lady, an ineffectual surgeon general, a depraved newspaper publisher, and an obstreperous pet squirrel. Atlanta playwright Topher Payne came up with the story, and the production is directed by Matthew Busch; the cast is headed by Leigh-Ann Campbell as Florence and Rial Ellsworth as the president. "Once the train leaves the station, it never slows down," says Busch. "It's bold, it's ridiculous, and it hits closer to home than you might expect." - Kevin C. Madigan
From the venue:
MAY 8–17, 2026
BY TOPHER PAYNE
DIRECTED BY MATTHEW BUSCH
It’s 1923, and Florence Harding has a problem: her husband, President Warren G. Harding. Under the hanging threat of his sex scandals and financial misdeeds, the Hardings embark on a cross-country train tour to generate good press. But trouble comes along for the ride in the form of two of Warren’s blackmailing mistresses, a scheming Second Lady who’s looking to move up, an incompetent herbalist who somehow became Assistant Surgeon General, a debauched newspaper publisher convinced she’s suffering from the curse of the Hope Diamond, and an ill-tempered pet squirrel named Handsome Pete.
And the source of all the chaos is always charming, useless Warren… whom Florence might just have to deal with once and for all.
A First Lady's Guide to Killing the President... | 05/08/2026 7:30 PM