Winter 2019 reading of Julia’s play, “Keeping Up Appearances” at the Helene Center Galleries at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

This play examines the deaths of her parents, 25 years apart, to understand what they concealed in order to protect Julia and her sister. Secrets are uncovered that re-frame their father’s suicide so that shame and guilt to be transformed into love and acceptance.

Actors include Tracy Salter, Gary Heisserer, Tom Woldt, Catherine Clifford, and Julia’s own daughter, Skye.

The play was supported by the Iowa Arts Council and scheduled to debut at the Oskaloosa Art Center in March 2020 but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Photographs by Brittany Brooke Crow.