‘Donna Orbits the Moon’ stars Susan Clausen at Scripps Ranch Theatre

By Eva Trieger

SAN DIEGO -Prolific playwright Ian August wrote Donna Orbits the Moon in 2010. The character, Donna, a middle-aged Midwestern housewife had spoken to him in the middle of the night, and he’d scribbled down notes as they came to him. After a few weeks of this nocturnal internal visitor, August began to figure out her story…and write his one-woman play.

The script was brought to Scripps Ranch Theatre initially by actor and director, Eric Poppick. He felt it would be a good fit for the theatre and Jill Drexler, Artistic Director, agreed. Drexler called a young director, Kandace Crystal, and asked her to take on the project. Crystal has a degree in Acting from Florida State University and has directed Plays by Young Writers for Playwrights Project.

Additionally, she has tackled The Color Purple for New Village Arts. She was elated to be tapped for Donna Orbits the Moon and reported that she found the concept really fun. She wanted to show how women navigate all of life, from space travel to grief and everything in between.

Actor and Public Relations Person Extraordinaire, Susan Clausen accepted the role of Donna. Clausen has been on several area stages in a variety of roles such as Margie in Good People, Clara Schumann with San Diego Symphony and many others. Clausen is also involved in a passion project: she is the host and co-producer of a three-part docuseries with Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films called Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum exploring friendship with a cast of young adults on the autism spectrum.

As director and actor began working together, they found great respect and drew from each other’s insights to bring Donna to life. However, the year was 2020 and the world was in the clutches of the pandemic. This was a tough time for live theatre everywhere. Scripps Ranch did a quick pivot and offered patrons a filmed play reading. Luckily for audiences, the live full production has been produced thanks to Ruth Russell, and Crystal and Clausen have a second chance at delivering the full, more complex story of Donna Orbits the Moon. 

I was curious to know how directing a cast of one is unique. Crystal shared that she meets “an actor where they are, encouraging collaboration.” She told me that you “take your vision and allow the actor to have more input. This creates a space for more creativity.” Additionally, I was told that a solo actor must “fully pull” from herself…give every inch of herself, every day.”

For her part, Clausen explained that Donna has changed “because I’ve gotten to know her better.” During the interim between filmed play reading and the stage production “I’ve had more time to connect more personally. I’ve had the opportunity to discover where I behave similarly or differently to Donna.”

Not only have the five intervening years enriched the depth of the character, but the same stint has also seen change in the two women that brought her to the stage. And of course, with the passage of time comes experience, and with experience comes new perspectives. Just as Donna has to face change in herself, her marriage, her purpose, and loss, so too, have the artists experienced growth, change and loss. There is a vulnerability that comes with the passage of time and acceptance of one’s place in the cosmos.

So, is it just a play for women? Just for women of a certain age? No, I was told by both the actor and director. It is relatable to every human as it addresses our interior dialogue, exposing our humor, fears, frailties and eccentricities. The play also delivers a message of humanity and compassion. As we watch Donna avoid addressing things freely, we may develop empathy. Do we always exhibit the necessary degree of compassion for others, even when we’ve no idea what they may be navigating? These are some lessons the play may teach receptive audiences.

Donna Orbits the Moon runs through February 15, 2026. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 858.578.7728 or online at www.scrippsranchtheatre.org.

*

Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the arts.