Here Lies Joyland
By Mitchell J. Ward
Westport Coffee House | Summer 2017
*Performed as part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival
Winner of "The Best of Fringe ' in the Westport Coffee House, Here Lies Joyland made its world premiere as a thriller play set in the ruins of a real-life, abandoned amusement park. This play marked Ward's Kansas City debut as a playwright. The story surrounds three teens as they break into the infamous Joyland in Wichita, Kansas in search for the spirit of an old friend. Using dark lighting, flashlights, environmental sound design, and audience immersion, Joyland takes viewers on a haunting journey into the past. At its core, this play is a ghost story.
Photo by KC Fringe
Photo by Bailey Eisenbraun
Photo by KC Fringe
Photo by KC Fringe
See more production photos in Gallery.
Featuring
Darrington Clark (H.)
Alex Leondedis (Avery)
Gabby Browne (Sam)
Bailey Rose Steinke (Jenna)
Production Team
Producers: Hannah L'Abri Miller, Darrington Clark, Mitchell J. Ward
Sound Design: Jae Shanks
Stage Manager: Emily White
Director: Hannah L'Abri Miller
"The story is inspired by the sort of legends that crop up around such places, and dutifully follows the usual story beats. Good use of sound and lighting direction definitely adds to the suspense, and the ending has a satisfactory quality to it. We don’t get many horror plays, as a rule, so fans of the genre will want to be sure and catch this one.
Kelly Luck | Fringe Reviewer
"A little monologue heavy, and some of the dialogue goes “clunk” in the night, but this premiere takes a good stab at bringing a thriller to the stage."
Teresa Leggard | Fringe Reviewer
"Good show. Very talented cast, who delivered some heavy material well. Good script about a (creepy) real-life place some of us may remember going to as kids!"
John Adams