Topeka, Kan. – The Washburn University theatre will present the first show of their 2023-24 academic season, “Gruesome Playground Injuries” by Rajiv Joseph 7:30 p.m., Sept. 28, 29, 30 and 12:30 p.m., Sept. 29 in the Neese-Gray Theatre in the Garvey Fine Art Center, on the Washburn University Campus. In this tragi-comedy play, “Gruesome Playground Injuries” tells the story of two friends, Kayleen and Doug, whose struggles are physically shown through their various injuries over the course of their lives. It is very fast paced, flowing through thirty years of Kayleen and Doug's lives in a non-chronological format, allowing the audience to learn about the characters out of order, further disjointing the characters' already destructive stories. Although the play is very short, it gives the audience a brief glance into these characters in a way that makes you sympathize with them and makes you wonder what happens in between the scenes to put the characters in these situations.
This play contains scenes with strong language, references to bodily harm, visuals of self-harm and references to sexual assault.
What: Washburn University theatre presents “Gruesome Playground Injuries”
When: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 28, 29, 30 and 12:30 p.m., Sept. 29
Where: Neese-Gray Theatre in the Garvey Fine Art Center, on the Washburn University Campus
Tickets: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/76242 prior to performances or at the Washburn Theatre Box Office
“Gruesome Playground Injuries” is directed by Tiffani Brooks Hagan, with costume design by Emily Wolfe and set design by Deb Bruner. The cast features two student actors, Joseph Coddington and Beetle Hatch.
Hagan stated, “As the director, my goal is to help the actors find the means to connect these out of order scenes together to best tell the story of two characters whose lives are marked with constant injuries. How do these individual moments in these characters' lives connect, and why do we as the audience want to know more?”
Tickets may be reserved at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/76242 prior to performances or at the Washburn Theatre Box Office. Tickets are a suggested $10 donation for general seating, and free for Washburn students, faculty and staff. All donations will go toward Washburn theatre scholarships. For more details, visit the Washburn University theatre webpage at washburn.edu/theatre.
- 30 -
For further information, contact:
Joy Bailes
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Telephone: (785) 670-2153
Cell: (785) 230-1648
Email: joy.bailes@washburn.edu
