Kasey Lynch

University of Missouri Department of Theatre

Directed by Kasey Lynch and written by MU student, Abby Uphoff, American Girl(s) is an award-winning, one-act play that zooms in on a moment in time at Camp Rainbow Bridge, a grief camp.

The story follows MJ, a jaded young woman with existential tendencies who grapples with the loss of her beloved Aunt Kay. MJ is tasked with writing a letter to the object she brought to camp connected to her loss, a Molly American Girl Doll.

With disdain for Camp Rainbow Bridge and its festive 4th of July celebration that reminds MJ of the deceptions of the “American Dream,” MJ writes and then throws her letter in the fire. In a seemingly magical turn of events, MJ is subsequently greeted by a real live version of Molly. While deeply skeptical of this “camp exercise” at first, together Molly and MJ grieve, heal, scream, sing, and question what it means to grow up as an American Girl.