The First Gentleman is a classic fish-out-of-water musical comedy, set in the most iconic of American settings—the White House. 

The action begins when West Virginia’s Governor, Kathryn Cassidy, is approached by two Washington players who ask her to run for President of the United States. They tell her she’s just what the nation needs: someone who’s effective, dignified, and hasn’t sexually assaulted anyone.

When Kathryn and her husband Russell discuss this overwhelming proposition, Kathryn is surprised with Russell’s willingness to go along with the idea. In the song, “I Got This,” Russell assures Kathryn that as a modern couple, they can cope with anything. And in a musical recap of the election, “This is History,” Kathryn is elected and becomes the first female President of the United States.

Suddenly, instead of running his contracting business, Cassidy Construction, Russell is choosing presidential china and hosting teas at the White House. Kathryn’s staff is constantly looking over his shoulder, critiquing his every word and action, and turning Russell’s life into living hell.

And things aren’t much better for their fifteen-year-old son, Steven, who hates the limelight and finds his entire life being documented by the media. At one point, Steven tells his parents, “Our lives are never going to be normal ever, ever again!”

As part of an assignment for their media class (and in an act of mischievous rebellion), Steven and his new girlfriend Leah place secret video cameras in the White House, hoping to document “The White House’s Funniest Videos.” Though their resulting project is more a prank than an attempt to undermine his mother’s administration, their video catches his parents speaking all too candidly about her political enemies.

When Kathryn is made aware of the video by Steven’s principal, she is livid and embarrassed. She forbids Steven to show it to anyone and insists he break up with Leah. But as Kathryn jets off to Mumbai for a G-20 summit, Steven emails the video to three of Kathryn’s enemies, in an act of adolescent defiance.

Steven realizes what a terrible mistake he’s made and desperately tells Russell the truth. When Russell tries to console him, Steven says, “Dad, she’s the President of the United States! She’s going to ground me for the next two terms!”

Realizing just how damaging the video could be (to both Kathryn’s presidency and their family), Russell makes a midnight call to the ladies of the First Gentleman’s office. And the story climaxes as they put together an outrageous “black op” to get the emails deleted before they are opened.

While The First Gentleman captures the grandeur and portent of the American Presidency, it is essentially a story about an ordinary family negotiating the most extraordinary of circumstances.