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Humanities 101 LLC has announced a dramatic staged reading of the award-winning play “SECRETS,” written by acclaimed playwright Deneal Trueblood. 

This powerful and thought-provoking work will be presented on Saturday, July 13, from 4-5:30 p.m. at Humanities 101 LLC, located at 111 East Main St., LeRoy. The event is free of charge and will include a Q&A session with the playwright following the performance. 

“SECRETS” began as an autobiographical piece in a playwriting class at Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities, where Trueblood and Dawn Holmquist, who owns Humanities 101 LLC met while pursuing their theater degrees. Trueblood graduated in 2020, two years after Holmquist graduated in 2018. During the pandemic lockdown, the two reconnected, and Trueblood shared the exciting news that “SECRETS” had won Metro State’s playwriting contest. Although plans to develop the script into a full production were initially halted by the pandemic, Holmquist offered her experience as a former artistic director to help Trueblood bring her vision to life. 

The resulting collaboration culminated in a powerful production at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis in May 2022, supported by a grant from the Metro Regional Arts Council. SECRETS delves deep into themes of family dysfunction, community involvement, systemic racism, incarceration, sexual abuse, and mental health issues. Trueblood’s deeply moving narrative resonates with audiences across diverse backgrounds. 

In January 2023, “SECRETS” received first place at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Des Moines, Region 5. 

Event Details: 

• What: SECRETS Staged Reading and Q&A Session 
• When: Saturday, July 13th, from 4-5:30 p.m. 
• Where: Humanities 101 LLC, 111 East Main St., Le Roy, MN 
• Admission: Free 
• Entrance: Please use the back door due to Highway 56 construction. 

Content Warning: This play includes mature themes related to sexual abuse and violence and is recommended for mature audiences only. 

Cast: 

• Deneal Trueblood as Nell 
• Jicarra N. Hollman as Shonda 
• Antonia Gbai as NeNe 
• Alicia Bailey as Ethel 
• Quintin Brown as Trouble/Mr. Gordon 
• Jimmie Bishop as Jessie/Jerry 
• Atlese Robinson as Frances 
• Sheila Tyler as Ms. Mary/Ms. Brown 
• Rick Holmquist as Judge Nord 
• Axel Gumbel as Mr. Tudor/Investigator 
• Gaye Stockdale as Counselor 

This event is made possible with the generous support of the LeRoy Community Foundation. 

About Humanities 101 LLC 

Humanities 101 LLC is a Visual and Performing Arts Center dedicated to fostering cultural understanding and artistic expression. Located in Le Roy, Minnesota, the center hosts a variety of events, workshops, and performances that enrich the local community and promote diversity and inclusion.

Contact: Dawn Holmquist  at holmquistdr@gmail.com