Leaving Iowa

The spark behind Leaving Iowa comes from being children of parents from the now dubbed "greatest generation." The story is a toast to their idealism and character and a little roast of their undying dedication to the classic family road trip. More specifically, it is the story of Don Browning, a middle-aged writer, who returns home and decides to finally take his father's ashes to his childhood home, as requested. But when Don discovers Grandma's house is now a grocery store, he begins traveling across Iowa searching for a proper resting place for his father. This father-and-son road trip shifts smoothly from the present to Don's memories of the annual, torturous vacations of his childhood. Don's existential journey leads him to reconcile his past and present at the center of the United States. Leaving Iowa is a postcard to anyone who has ever found himself or herself driving alone on a road, revisiting fond memories of his or her youth. 

​Cast & Crew

Dad:

Mom:

Don:

Sis:

Grandma:

Grandpa:

Cart Chaser:

Shopping Lady:
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Joe Hoefingers:

Uncle Phil:
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Aunt Phyllis:
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Jack Singer:

Amish Guy:

Amish Gal:
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Lieutenant Dan:
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Museum Assistant:
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Jamie:

Fred:

Hotel Clerk:
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Old Lady:

Wayne:

Jessie:

Bob:

Judy:

Fruit Cart Guy:

Fruit Buyers, Shoppers, Diners:



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Lights:

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Director:

Jesse Harvey

Jaelyn Riemenschnider

Tanner Korynta

Elle Ploeger

Lilly McCoy

​Conner Beelner

Adin Verschoor

Vanessa Ramirez

Joseph Groetken

Emerson Pratt

Chloe Peschau

Brady Hirschman

Josh Harvey

Paige Bobolz

Marshall Benson

Kennedi Vondrak

Serenity Rex

Vincent Koelling

Lilly McCoy
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Jaycie Vondrak

Braeden Burke

Lea Hodgins

​Jake Utesch

Avery Schroeder
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Zak Korynta
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Lilly McCoy
​Vanessa Ramirez
Vanessa Rothstein


​Jo Gooley
​Jessen Lammers

​Benji Cotter

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