BY EMILY LANDOLFI ’27

I, alongside the entire cast and production team of Keely and Du, was beyond thrilled and grateful to meet with Julie Boyd, the original actress who portrayed Keely in 1993. A current professor at The New School of Drama, Julie answered all of our questions with unparalleled expertise and provided astonishing insight into her mental and physical preparation for the show.

Her kindness, passion, and positive reminiscence of the production radiated through the screen as she discussed her relationship with Anne Pitoniak (the original Du), explained the Alexander technique for handcuff movement, and emphasized the importance of healing.

She reiterated how Keely is both irreversibly traumatized and irrevocably healed by Du, exposing the complicated nature of their bond and the changes Keely undergoes throughout the show. She helped me understand Keely’s relationship toward motherhood and her ultimate desire for children, just not now. It’s not as simple as she doesn’t want to be a mom. Rather, she must focus her energy on self healing, unloading all the weight and trauma she’s accumulated while focusing on what she wants her life to be of her own accord. 

This show is the essence of being a woman and speaking to Julie provided us the necessary tools to make audiences feel that essence. I left the conversation in awe of her bravery, vulnerability, and talent, an everlasting inspiration for my performance as Keely. 

Come see Skidmore Theater’s Fall 2025 Blackbox Production Keely and Du October 17th through the 22nd!