District 214’s The Theater Lab Announces Cast for ‘Leaving Iowa,’ Closing Production of 2024-25 Season
District 214 Community Education’s The Theater Lab has announced the cast of the closing production of its 2024-25 season, “Leaving Iowa” by Tim Clue and Spike Manton. The production will be a limited four-performance run, Aug. 15-17, at the Forest View Educational Center Theater in Arlington Heights.
“Leaving Iowa” is a critically-acclaimed, hilarious, family-friendly play about a journalist, Don Browning, who decides to finally return to Winterset, Iowa, to take his late father’s ashes to his childhood home, as requested, only to find his childhood home is not quite the same as it was when he left it.
The cast of Leaving Iowa features: Karen Ann Cullotta (Fruit Cart Vendor, Hotel Clerk, Museum Assistant), Karyn Louise Doerfler (Memory Mom), Keri Graham (Joe Hoefingers, Civil War Guy, Wayne), Gretchen Grassl (Aunt Phyllis, Shopping Lady), Peter Grassl (Uncle Phil), Egor J. Gribbet (Bob), Hunter Johnson (Don Browning), Emily Kallas (Memory Sis), Deb Luethy (Present Day Mom, Jamie), Dahlia Meynardie (Jessie), Nancy Morisson (Judy, Drunk Lady, Amish Guy), Carly Mulert (Present Day Sis), Don Olson (Cart Chaser), Diego Rios Brady (Jack Silver, Fred), Guy Sullivan (Dad, Grandpa) and Patricia Tinsley (Grandma, Amish Gal).
The creative team includes John Meyers (artistic and production director), Patrick Zielinski (producer), Chris Good (production and stage manager), Charlie Anderson (sound technician), Teresa J. Arnold (marketing director), Sarah Jane “SJ” Heyman (member and sponsor engagement coordinator), Michael Incardone (sound designer), Sue Lindell (photographer), and Nancy Morrison and Teresa J. Arnold (properties managers).
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, and will take place at the Forest View Educational Center Theater, 2121 South Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights.
Tickets for The Theater Lab’s production of “Leaving Iowa” can be purchased through District 214 Community Education’s registration system at links.d214.org/leavingiowa, by calling (847) 718-7700, or by sending an email to ce@d214.org. When purchased in advance, general admission tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $16 for students. Purchased at the door, general admission tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $18 for students. District 214 Gold Card Members receive 15% off ($17).
To find out about ticket promotions and special performances, learn more about The Theater Lab, and go behind the scenes of its production of “Leaving Iowa,” follow District 214 Community Education’s The Theater Lab on Facebook and Instagram.