In the compelling and intimate play GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES by Rajiv Joseph, two kindred spirits find their way back to each other across a lifetime of scraped knees, broken bones, and beautifully imperfect moments. Beneath the play’s sharp wit and darkly comic edge lies a tender story of love, resilience, and the quiet ways we hold on to one another. With humor that sparkles and a connection that feels achingly real, this production invites audiences to laugh, swoon, and recognize the fragile, extraordinary bonds that shape us all.
Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 pm
Sundays at 3:00 pm
Select Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00 pm
$55 Adult
$45 Seniors 62+
$45 Students/under 25
Single tickets incur $5 service fee per ticket
SEASON SUBSCRIPTION: 30% discount and no service fees when you build a package with Adult tickets for 5+ mainstage shows before August 31!
FLEX PASS: Get a 5-ticket Flex Pass for just $250 and no service fees when you buy before August 31! Choose your show dates and seats later – use tickets however you like, for one show or five.
GROUP SALES: $10 off per ticket and no service fees when you buy 10+ tickets to a single performance.
RUSH TICKETS: On sale at the door, when available, starting 1 hour before showtime.
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission
Please note that this production features the use of flashing lights and fog/haze and includes simulated vomiting, depictions of self harm, and graphic descriptions of injuries and illnesses.
August 21, 2026 | Happy Hour @ 7:00 pm, Show @ 8:00 pm
Patrons under 30 years old are invited to purchase discounted Happy Hour tickets, which include 1 drink coupon, exclusive access to our mezzanine for mingling, and a seat for the evening’s performance.
August 23, 2026 | 2:30-6:00 pm
Parents can join us for the matinee performance and register their Pre-K to 5th grade children for onsite child care with Keegan PLAY-RAH-KA Teaching Artists during the show. (Limited capacity and all children must be registered in advance. Show ticket sold separately.)
August 23, 2026 | Following the matinee performance
Free and open to all patrons!
August 30, 2026 | Following the matinee performance
Free and open to all patrons! Join us for a moderated discussion with invited local community leaders about getting through tough times — together. Coffee and sweets provided by Au Lait Cafe.
September 2, 2026 | 8:00 pm
Discounted $20 tickets are available for the September 2 performance to current students with a valid student ID (to be checked at the door) — just use promo code 30Gruesome at checkout.
Washington Post Review
“Then there are the compelling performances. Hamilton masters Kayleen’s standoffish flirtation. Bartlebaugh expertly plays Doug as a free spirit who can’t help but eventually break. Together, they prove well balanced — like two sides of a seesaw.”
Broadway World Review
“What begins with the harmless charm of childhood quickly unfolds into something far more expansive, tracing the messy, tender, and often painful ways two people can orbit each other over the course of a lifetime… this production embraces that journey with both humor and heart.”
DC Theater Arts Review
“Rajiv Joseph’s gut-wrenching two-hander reveals the beauty and brutality of a relationship across 30 years. Its humorous and cheerful moments contrast with later darker encounters, until, ultimately, these two unlikely BFFs — the quiet girl and the reckless boy — grow up and break your heart.”
Metro Weekly Review
“Alternately brooding and lighthearted, the play hovers between heartfelt coming-of-age drama, star-crossed romance, and persistent gallows humor surrounding Kayleen and Doug’s preponderance of painful, sometimes gruesome, ills and injuries.”
MD Theatre Guide Review
“Hamilton’s Kayleen is at once sharp-edged and the perennially scared little child… Meanwhile, Bartlebaugh brings a loose, comic physicality to Doug. His recklessness provides the play’s more humorous moments, but with an underlying darkness that perfectly counters Kayleen’s more in-your-face aggression.”
Irene Hamilton (Kayleen) Previous shows include: Keegan Theatre: Webster’s Bitch (Ellie - Helen Hayes Supporting Performer Nomination), Apropos of Nothing (Lily), Merrily We Roll Along (KT); Studio Theatre: Downstate (Effie); Constellation Theatre Company: Or (Nell); Adventure Theatre: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (Lucy/Witch - Helen Hayes Lead Performer Nomination), Not Your Mother’s Goose (Itsy - Helen Hayes Supporting Performer Nomination), Charlotte’s Web (Charlotte), Sing Down the Moon (Witch), Frosty the Snowman (Geraldine); Imagination Stage: Dory Fantasmagory (Mary), The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (Blue); Spooky Action Theatre: Agreste (Ensemble); Taffety Punk Theatre Company: Macbeth (Lennox/Witch); PG Shakespeare in the Parks: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia); Rorschach Theatre: Angel Number Nine (Christa). Irene is a company member at Arts on the Horizon and Synetic Theatre. @irene_h44
Jimmy Bartlebaugh, he/him (Doug) Previous shows include: Keegan: The Play That Goes Wrong (Max), Seussical (Wickersham Brother); Imagination Stage: Winnie the Pooh (Winnie the Pooh), A Year with Frog and Toad (Swing); Adventure Theatre: You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown), Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Luke/Ares).
Susan Marie Rhea (Co-Director) is the Artistic Director of The Keegan Theatre, where she has directed The Minutes, Webster's Bitch, Lifespan of a Fact, Yoga Pay, Boy, The Baltimore Waltz, Parade (co-director: Christina A. Coakley, 7 Helen Hayes noms, including Direction and Musical), What We’re Up Against, All My Sons, The Crucible, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Elizabeth Rex, A Man for All Seasons, Agnes of God, and True West. Working alongside Keegan’s Founding Artistic Director Mark A. Rhea, Susan co-directed the musicals Chicago (8 Helen Hayes noms, including Direction and Musical), American Idiot, Hair, Full Monty (3 Helen Hayes noms), Spring Awakening (5 Helen Hayes noms, including Direction and Resident Musical), National Pastime, and RENT (5 Helen Hayes Awards, including Direction and Resident Musical). Susan has also acted in dozens of Keegan productions and received a Helen Hayes Award in 2023 for her performance in THE OUTSIDER. Susan received her post-graduate theater training at Circle in the Square, NY/NY.
Kurt Boehm (Co-Director) is a Helen Hayes Award Winning Actor/Director/Choreographer. He currently serves as the Resident Casting Director & Manager of Patron Services for The Keegan Theatre. Kurt is also the Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre MTC. At Keegan he has Directed/Choreographed numerous productions including: Seussical (Helen Hayes Awards for Direction, Choreography, and Outstanding Production), Falsettos, The Bridges of Madison County, Next To Normal (HH Award - Outstanding Production), RENT, Spring Awakening, Dancing at Lughnasa, A Man of No Importance, Working, National Pastime, and Dogfight. Regional Credits include: The Lightning Thief, Charlie Brown, Children of Eden, The Snowy Day, Spot's Birthday Party (Adventure Theatre MTC), Lyle The Crocodile, Dr. Dolittle (Imagination Stage), RENT (Toby's Dinner Theatre), A Grand Night For Singing (Washington Savoyards), Meet Me In St. Louis, Spamalot, Falsettos (Montgomery College), A Little Night Music, Nine, Cabaret, and Die Fledermaus (Catholic University), The Full Monty (Mac-Haydn). As an actor he has appeared at The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Arena Stage, Alliance Theatre, ArtsEmerson, The Broad Stage, Ford's Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Shakespeare Theatre, Imagination Stage, Monumental Theatre Company and Adventure Theatre MTC. He holds a Bachelor's Of Music from CUA. @kurtb617
Coming soon!
Josh Sticklin he/him (Scenic Designer & Technical Director) is a multi-hyphenate theater maker that brings that perspective to his creative work on all fronts. As a director, his Keegan credits include JOHN DOE, EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL, WOMAN IN BLACK, HAND TO GOD, GOOD PEOPLE, and AS YOU LIKE IT. As a designer, his credits include SEUSSICAL (Helen Hayes Award Winner for Outstanding Set Design) and every scenic design this season and in the 29th Season, including THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. As an actor, Sticklin has performed in 22 productions at Keegan including HAIR, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S RIOT, CUCHULLAIN, BASRA BOY, STONES IN HIS POCKETS, and AMERICAN IDIOT. Josh is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer Society and holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre and Political Science from American University.
Hailey LaRoe she/her (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be back at Keegan for this show! Hailey is a lighting and projection designer based in the DC area since 2018, and is currently pursuing an MFA at UMD. Recent Lighting designs; The Play That Goes Wrong, Apropos of Nothing, and Everything is Wonderful (Keegan Theatre), House of Bernarda Alba, Botiquin de Bolaros, Las Hermanas Palacios (HHA Winner) (Gala Hispanic Theatre), Cullud Wattah (HHA Nom) (Mosaic Theatre), Guards at the Taj, DROWNER, The Last 5 Years, Native Gardens (Nextstop Theatre), The Tale of the Fisherman and the Golden Fish (Synetic Theatre), Dragon Play, and Human Museum (Rorschach Theatre). Recent Projection designs include; El Ciclón (UMD), Trinity (Baltimore Center Stage), The Lightning Thief, Dragons Love Tacos, She Persisted (HHA Nom), Knuffle Bunny (HHA Nom) (Adventure Theatre), American Fast (HHA Nom), Poetry for the People (Theater Alliance). Enjoy the show! Haileylaroedesigns.com.
Brandon Cook (Sound Designer) is a local Washington DC Sound Designer and excited to return to Keegan Theatre. Recent credits include: “Look Both Ways" The Kennedy Center National Tour, “Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat" Wick Theatre, "Woman In Black" Keegan Theatre, “Book of Everything” George Washington University, ”Reefer Madness" NextStop Theatre, “Tell Tale Heart” Synetic Theatre, "Knuffle Bunny" Adventure Theatre, "Seussical The Musical” Keegan Theatre, “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” Theater Alliance, "La Revoltosa" Gala Hispanic Theatre, "'Tis Pity She's A Whore / The Winter's Tale / Hedda Gabler” Shakespeare Theatre Company ACA Rep.
Amy Kellett she/her (Properties & Set Dressing Designer) Previous props design credits include: Studio Theatre: Love Love Love, The Colored Museum, Fun Home, The Hot Wing King and Props Supervisor for the ‘24-‘25, ‘25-‘26 and upcoming ‘26-‘27 seasons; Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Incendiary; Rep Stage: Falsettos and Things That Are Round; Theater Alliance: The Trans-Atlantic Time Traveling Company, This Girl Laughs.., Do You Feel Anger?, The Blackest Battle, and Day of Absence; Theater Alliance and the Kennedy Center TYA co-production: Look Both Ways; American Stage: The Figs; 1st Stage: Postcards from Ihatov and The Mamalogues; Constellation Theatre Company: Desperate Measures, Moon Man Walk, Orlando, and Once On This Island; Faction of Fools: The Moors; NextStop Theatre Company: An Act of God; ArtsCentric: Dreamgirls and Rent; Pointless Theatre Company; Visions of Love, Rite of Spring, Don Cristobal, and King Ubu; Gala Hispanic Theatre: Príncipe y Príncipe and Que Las Hay, Las Hay; The Hub Theatre: American Spies…,The Burn, The Late Wedding, and Peekaboo!; Howard Community College: Percy Jackson, Heathers, and She Kills Monsters; Synetic Theater: The Immigrant, The Three Musketeers and A Tale of Two Cities; and Baltimore Center Stage: Young Playwrights Festival 2022 (set and props).
Alison Samantha Johnson she/her (Costume & Hair/Makeup/Prosthetics Designer) Two time HH Award nominee. This is Alison's 15th production with Keegan! Keegan highlights: Next to Normal, Legally Blonde, Chicago, Top Girls, and The Undeniable Sound of Right Now. Other local credits include: Is God Is (MU Design - Constellation), Into the Woods (MU Design - Signature), Ada and the Engine (Avant Bard), Maple and Vine (Spooky Action), The Revolutionists (Prologue), Under the Sea with Dredgie McGee (1st Stage). For more: www.alisonsamantha.com
Jared H. Graham he/him (Production Manager) is a DMV based performer, educator, administrator, and director. Jared holds an MFA in Physical Theatre from the Accademia dell’ Arte in Arezzo, Italy and a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Memphis. He is the Director of Production and Education at Keegan Theatre and has appeared on several local stages. Previous credits in the DMV area include Keegan Theatre: The Play That Goes Wrong, Noises Off, N, An Irish Carol; NextStop Theatre: Frankenstein; Solas Nua: The Honey Trap; 4615 Theatre: Macbeth, Dinner, Betrayal; Adventure Theatre: The Fisherman and his Wife; PG County’s Shakespeare in the Park: Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing; Chesapeake Shakespeare: Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet; Olney Theatre Center/ National Players: Othello, The Great Gatsby, Alice in Wonderland; Brave Spirits: As You Like It, The Changeling, The Duchess of Malfi; Rainbow Theatre Project: Blue Camp; Spooky Action: Sonnets for an Old Century, The Lady from the Village of Falling Flowers; and The Team Room Foundation: The Team Room.
Mikayla Setzer she/her (Stage Manager & Revolve Progammer) Mikayla is excited to be returning to The Keegan Theatre, having previously stage managed John Doe. She also has previous stage management work with IN Series including Ethiopia, Saint John the Baptist, The Delta King’s Blues, Only The Air, Passio, For Women Serving Time, and The Song of Sakuntala.
Coming soon!
Christopher Gagliardi he/him (Lead Electrics Technician) is an electrician and lighting designer in the DC area. Recent credits include: Dance Place: Flight! (Lighting Designer); Monumental Theatre Company: The Rocky Horror Show (Production Electrician); Forbidden Planet Productions (GWU): Anastasia (Lighting Designer), Alice by Heart (Lighting Designer), Legally Blonde (Lighting Designer), 19th Annual Cabaret (Production Electrician, Co-Lighting Designer), Next to Normal (Lighting Supervisor, Production Electrician). chrisgagliardi.com.
Coming soon!
Pamela Cárdenas she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) Previous credits include: Keegan Theatre: John Doe (ASM), INSeries Theatre: Passio (ASM) and so on. Pamela is excited to be back for her second Keegan Theatre production!
*Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
