Monthly Archives: May 2021

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts presents Rajiv Joseph’s dark comedy “Gruesome Playground Injuries” to continue the 2020-21 Theatre + Dance academic season. “Gruesome Playground Injuries” will be available on-demand through ShowTix4U May 21-25, 2021.

“Just like our two main characters in the play, our real-life theatrical experience has been damaged. I didn’t want to hide the fact that we have an empty house with no audience members, rather I wanted every part of the theatre space and theatrical process exposed for its beauty and simplicity,” said director Corrie Danieley. “The aim of this pandemic show experience was to film a theatre piece without hiding behind smoke and mirrors. We are story makers. We tell stories about our human experiences, our connections and disconnections, and about our common joys and struggles.”

• What: “Gruesome Playground Injuries” by Rajiv Joseph
• When: May 21-25, 2021
• Where: Online at ShowTix4U
• Admission: $4 for On-Demand 48-hour rental

Two childhood friends, Doug and Kayleen, intersect at the most bizarre intervals. These scar-crossed lovers meet at different times of their lives, brought together by injury, heartbreak, and their self-destructive tendencies. With great compassion and humor, Rajiv Joseph (Broadway’s “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo”) creates a compelling and unconventional love story about the intimacy between two people when they allow their defenses to drop and their wounds to show.

The NKU cast features Timothy Belton, Natalie Hayslett, and Sabrina Mack. Norse Media and Chris Strobel graciously provided filming and editing support during the production process.

“We are in the middle of a world-wide pandemic, so I embraced this fact and filmed this piece of theatre reflecting where we are,” said director Corrie Danieley. “Although wearing masks and social distancing was quite challenging, it is my hope that the story shone through and speaks to our connected human experiences of pain, hope, and love.” Creating theatre with COVID restrictions required the team to think outside the box and develop creative solutions. This primary goal was to safely create theatre while incorporating new experiences. The entire process was in compliance with the Norse Nine guidelines.

About NKU:  Founded in 1968, we are a growing metropolitan university of more than 15,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus near Cincinnati. Located in the quiet suburb of Highland Heights, Kentucky—just seven miles southeast of Cincinnati—we have become a leader in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky by providing a private school education for a fraction of the cost. While we are one of the fastest growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students’ names. For more information, visit nku.edu.

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