From the stunning beaches of Maui to the endless plains of the midwest, Seabury Hall’s spring play was sure to bring you on a crazy adventure. In the school’s production of Leaving Iowa, many audience members followed the unpredictable Browning Family on their annual family road trip as they faced wacky characters, death, love, and the chaotic shenanigans that occur when you’re stuck with your family in the car for days on end. 

       Behind this family-friendly comedy was a cast of hardworking students who have devoted long nights and countless hours in order to produce entertainment and laughs for the Maui community. The young thespians spent roughly 15 hours a week rehearsing for their roles and many more off stage memorizing lines and perfecting their characters to create a cohesive and exceptional play. 

[Courtesy of Bryan Berkowitz]

       “I think that the spring play helped me grow as an individual and improved my acting abilities,” says Molly Ann Murray, who played the character of Mom in the play. This experience has “also helped me make new friends that I wouldn’t have been able to make before and that is probably the most important and rewarding thing about this process.”

[Courtesy of Bryan Berkowitz]

       Preston Summit, who played the careful and reminiscent Don Browning, thoroughly relished his time in the play. “The spring play was a wonderful send-off to finish my Seabury acting career. In fact, I’d say that it was the most well-written and funny show that I have done here at Seabury Hall.” Summit plans to continue his acting career as he states that “I really enjoyed myself and I can’t wait to do more productions in college!”

[Courtesy of Bryan Berkowitz]

       From an inside perspective, I know that I have enjoyed my experience exploring the characters within this play. Playing the character of Dad, I felt that I was able to temporarily leave my body to live and breathe as this new fictional identity which was a really gratifying experience. As someone who has not taken part in a full-length production since the seventh grade, it was amazing to feel a part of a community who had fun and took acting risks that everyone in our Maui community had the opportunity to see. I encourage everyone to see future productions within the Seabury Hall performing arts department and implore students to potentially take the risk of being part of future plays.

[Courtesy of Bryan Berkowitz]

       The cast put on three shows on March 4, 5, & 6, 2022. For those of you who were unable to attend the shows in person, videos of this impressive performance will be available on the Seabury Hall website soon!

Congratulations to everyone who played a major part in producing this successful production! 

Leaving Iowa

By Tim Clue and Spike Manton

Directed by Marsha Kelly

Cast

Don    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Preston Summit ‘22

Dad    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Evan Lipetz ‘22

Mom   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Molly Ann Murray ‘23

Sis       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Elena Parente ‘24

Fruit Cart Guy, Cart Chaser, Amish Guy,   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Max McManus ‘24

Civil War Guy, Hotel Clerk, Wayne

Bob, Uncle Phil, Grandpa, Joe Hoefingers,   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Zachary Brunner ‘23

Jack Singer, Fred

Aunt Phyllis, Grandma, Museum Assistant,   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Bobby Goldyn ‘25

Jamie, Jessie

Judy, Fruit Cart Gal, Shopping Lady,   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catherine Hampe ‘25

Amish Gal, Drunk Lady