US Fall Play

Fall Play: Leaving Iowa

by Lucas Oland ’22

Leaving Iowa, by Spike Manton and Tim Clue, is an unforgettable comedy focused on the intimate dynamics of family road trips. It's the story of Don Browning, an aspiring writer from Winterset, Iowa, who we see reminisce on his childhood vacations during a remarkable road trip of his own. Don brings the audience along with Sis, Mom, and Dad, as they venture across the American Midwest. The highlight of the show is the memorable array of zany characters they meet along the way, each with their own story and quirks.

Returning to Dorrance Auditorium—after a hiatus due to COVID-19 protocols—meant an exciting new season of stage building and sound design for the show. Leaving Iowa included a massive raised wooden platform at the center of the stage, painted—appropriately—as a vintage roadmap of Iowa. Additionally, professional sound effects were used throughout the show, fully immersing the audience in Don’s story. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, PCDS has continued to accommodate for the safety of both audiences and performers. Our audiences in Dorrance were asked to be masked, and each performer was tested for COVID prior to the show. Actors were also allowed to wear masks during rehearsals and performances according to their own personal needs.

I played the role of Don Browning, the son in Leaving Iowa’s family. My favorite part about playing Don was the creative logistics of his portrayal. Our production split Don into two characters: Young Don, a naive boy on a trip to Hannibal, Missouri, and Old Don, a mature, yet equally naive man struggling to stay focused on an adventure of his own. Acting as Old Don allowed me to hone in on the challenges and joys of transitioning into adulthood, which felt personally familiar as I cherish my final year of high school. The role also allowed me to rehearse a broad spectrum of monologues, which built upon my acting range through comedic and dramatic performances.

Left to right, top to bottom: Aaron Wang ’23, Abby Caplan ’23, Annika Almquist ’22, Jack Dahl ’22

Top row, from left: Richard Humphreys ’23, Max Cabianca ’23, Bijan Atri ’24, Lucas Oland ’22, Aaron Wang ’23, Jack Dahl ’22, Siena Liljegren ’22, Katie Eckerman ’23, Seth Osorio ’23. Middle row: Sophie Valente ’25, Harrison Whitfill ’24, Ujji Bathla ’22, Elliott Ernster ’22, Taylor Jarvis ’24. Front row: Dale Nakagawa, Lily Gentry ’25, Nora Palermo ’24, Miranda Jarvis ’23, Annika Almquist ’22, Abby Caplan ’23, Laurie Reyes ’22, Rohin Kumar ’24, Caleb Humphreys ’23, Keith Burns

Lucas Oland ’22, Siena Liljegren ’22

In my eyes, Don Browning is a character designed for the audience to live through; I learned to not just read my lines, but to truly empathize with their meaning. During the shows, I felt like I was speaking to each individual as Don Browning from Iowa—not just Lucas Oland the actor—and that level of authenticity elevated the experience for both me and our audiences alike.

Leaving Iowa was another exceptional PCDS theater production that I will never forget. The cast and I cannot wait to bring what we learned from this play into future productions. n

Caleb Humphreys ’23

Harrison Whitfill ’24