Ryan Knapper as Doug & Meka Clifford as Kayleen.
Panelists recommended the production as “One of the best college productions I have seen…a haunting mixture of humor and tragic elements written with a fresh voice.” Ryan Knapper, as Doug, was commended as “outstanding, detailed, powerful, amusing, and believable,” while Mika Clifford, as Kayleen, was also praised for her excellent performance in a demanding role: “She was able to get the audience to join her on her journey throughout the play.”
The play follows the characters of Kayleen and Doug, who meet as eight-year-olds in a school nurse’s office, beginning a lifelong intimacy revealed through the physical and emotional injuries they sustain over 30 years. The SecondStage production was directed by Robert Stimmel, senior theatre major.
The play was written by Miami alum Rajiv Joseph, a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.” He is the book writer and co-lyricist for the new musical “Fly,” an adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. He is the co-screenwriter of the upcoming football film “Draft Day,” and he was a writer on the Showtime series “Nurse Jackie.”
For more information on Miami’s program and season go to http://miamioh.edu/sca/academics/departments/theatre/
League of Cincinnati Theatre panelists evaluate productions on a 5 star scale and recommend shows at either a 4 star or 5 star level. Nominations for LCT awards will be determined and announced at the end of the season and winners awarded at the annual LCT gala in the spring.
The League of Cincinnati Theatres was founded in 1999 to strengthen, nurture and promote Cincinnati’s theatre community. LCT provides its member companies and individual members with education, resources and services to enhance the quality and exposure of the theatre community in Cincinnati and increase community awareness, attendance and involvement. More information about the League can be found at www.leagueofcincytheatres.com.
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