Adams State Senior Theatre Major Kathylee Duran chose her directorial debut after connecting with the material on a deep and meaningful level. Duran’s mother died a year ago and “You are What You” really hit home for her. “I have struggled with over eating, mental health issues and now this new hurdle of trying to get back into my life after my mom has been gone.”
Adams State University Theatre presents the dark comedy “You are What You” written by Mora V. Harris and directed by Duran. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. October 27 through October 30, in the Xperimental Theatre. While the play has lots of emotion, there are also a lot of laughs.
“You are What You” is about competitive eater Francie who is desperate to find a way to help her younger sister Trisha eat. When celebrity chef Electra Sinclair arrives on their doorstep, she thinks she may have found just the thing to set Trisha on the road to recovery. Yet Trisha’s illness worsens as she begins seeing visions of a talking Pot Roast, and Francie becomes distracted by an ex hell-bent on exploiting her in a cogent work of non-fiction. The sisters struggle to take care of each other and nourish themselves in this comedy about learning from the things we crave.
Directing the show has been a cathartic and healing experience for Duran. She also relates to the all-female cast. “It was great to give the women of the theatre here an opportunity to be in a room full of women while working on this show.”
Duran says the show is about family, and how after tragedy and real struggles with mental health that people deal with daily, family can still prevail. “Whether they are blood-related or not they all find a way to fill and nourish their souls.”
Public performances of “You are What You” run at 7:30 p.m. October 27 through October 30, in the Xperimental Theatre.
Tickets are $9 for general public, $8 for seniors and students, and free to Associated Students and Faculty with current Adams State identification. The production is recommended for age 16 and older. All audience members are required to wear masks while inside of the Theatre Building. The box office number is 719-587-8499.
