The light above stage-right illuminates Kay Brazell (‘25)’s character as she steps forward. “Hi, I’m Penny. I’m a f**k-up.” Suddenly, she looks down at the audience. “Hi. You guys can say hi!” The audience returns her greeting in a cheery, lighthearted chorus. This is the start of “Bike America.”
Written by award-winning playwright Michael Lew, “Bike America” took the stage at Annie Russell Theatre from October 3 to October 6. Five percent of ticket sales went to support All Hands and Hearts (AHAH), an organization providing relief to communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
Running approximately 95 minutes with no intermission, the play centers on Penny’s search for a place that feels like home. Alongside a group of bikers, she visits cities and towns across the mainland U.S. on a cross-country pedal from Boston to Santa Barbara.
Rachel Kalski (’25), Associate Director of “Bike America,” spoke on how Penny represents complex female characters grappling with difficult decisions. She said, “We don’t get to see women on stage who often make wrong decisions and deal with the consequences of them. It’s interesting to watch a female protagonist grapple with who she is and who she wants to be.” On ways that viewers can connect with the protagonist, Kalski said, “Penny is relatable because her indecision and fearfulness of moving on is something you grapple with in college.”
Kalski acknowledged the challenge of having actors on bikes that are both stationary and in-motion. The cast had to transition between acting like they were biking and not biking to assure they could be heard. She described the end result as “surrealist” and said, “If two characters have to have a conversation and their bikes are across the stage, someone just hops off their bike and walks over. They’re still biking but they can walk also. I really like it, and I think it’s pretty fun.”
Besides working with the bikes, Kalski discussed the difficulties of balancing the characters’ different styles of humor. While working on earlier versions of the play, it was necessary to figure out what moments were funny, what wasn’t funny, why some things worked, and why some things did not work. She explained that while Ryan and the Man with the Van, portrayed by Eamon Kimball (’25) and Ollie Gasparini (’26), mostly incorporated dry humor in their roles, Rorie and Annabel, portrayed by Ani Henry-Walker (’25) and Eli Contreras (’25), performed more sophisticated humor. Kalski pointed to the benefits of this approach, saying, “Every character is funny, but in a different way, so hopefully there is something that will make everyone laugh.”
Kalski recalled how the cast built upon her ideas, noting that the actors applied their talents to craft something that preserved what she wanted but was more far-reaching. Offering advice to future associate directors, Kalski said, “Don’t silence yourself. If you have an idea, say it. Always speak up and always be ready to collaborate.” She emphasized the value of being flexible and receptive to others’ suggestions, describing how collections of diverse ideas gradually meld together to form something new.
The Annie Russell Theatre showcased “Bike America” from October 3 to October 6. For more information on the play and upcoming productions, please visit the Annie Russell’s 2024-25 season page.
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