Wonder Years-Style Family Comedy Leaving Iowa
American Theater Company (Chicago, IL)
Rated 3.0 by 14 members who went.
In the tradition of TV's The Wonder Years, comes this nostalgic, feel good comedy hit about family vacations. Leaving Iowa is an old-fashioned family comedy that will tickle your funny bone, while tugging at your heart strings. A Chicago Tribune Critic's Choice!
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More Details About Leaving Iowa
Quotes & Highlights
- Highly Recommended --Chicago Sun-Times
- "A must see comedy!" --WGN
- "A sold-out hit!" --Playbill
More Information
"If you've ever been on one of those long road trips with your family, touring the majestic but not exactly action-packed heartland of America in a station wagon, you've already reached midpoint on the way toward an appreciation of Leaving Iowa, the hilarious and heart-tugging family comedy by Chicago playwrights Tim Clue and Spike Manton." --Playbill
Strong reviews and great word of month have Leaving Iowa moving into American Theater Company (ATC) for an eight week summer run starting June 10th. Producer Spike Manton says, "We are excited to have our comedy about family road trips run during the summer, the season of family road trips."
After Leaving Iowa's recent successful run at Theater Building Chicago, the writing, directing and producing team of Tim Clue and Spike Manton is taking their show to the next level in Chicago, and is also preparing for some Midwest tours already scheduled.
Nominated by the Detroit Free Press for Best New Play in 2004 for the American Theatre Critics Association, Clue and Manton hope to continue their record of pleasing both traditional and nontraditional theater-goers of all ages with their wonder years-esque comedy.
The story follows a journalist home to Winterset, Iowa, and then to every rest area, historical mile marker, and tourist trap between a grocery store parking lot in Mount Union and a hog farm in the alleged center of the United States.
Clue says, "The spark behind the play comes from having parents that were members of the 'Greatest generation.' Leaving Iowa is an homage to their idealism and character."
Manton adds, "I was kid number three and I lived in the 'way back' of the station wagon until I was 13. This play is a comic tribute to the American obsession with the annual family road trip."
"A simply beautiful comedy," said Jeff Daniels when the show premiered to critical praise and record sales in its debut at his Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, MI.
In addition to being written by Chicagoans, Leaving Iowa also features an original score by Bruce Roper from Chicago folk icons, Sons of the Never Wrong. Roper says, "It was a unique experience, but traveling music is part of every folk singer's repertoire. When it's over, the audience will feel like they went on a trip and I hope the score has a lot to do with that."
Leaving Iowa is Directed by Clue and Produced by Manton. Clue says "Keeping the show close to the vest as director, producer and writers gives us the best chance for the show to find a national footing."
This Chicago cast of Leaving Iowa includes: Chris Blumer, Chris Garrett, Howie Johnson, Brian Simmons and Karen Vaccaro.
