Tarell Alvin McCraney's epic tale of lost opportunity and hope in Louisiana introduced a singular, modern voice to the Twin Cities theater scene and solidified Christiana Clark's position as a local theater heavyweight. Her performance as Oya was the standout of the year, bringing the character's painful descent into sharp, brilliant focus. In the play, the first of a trilogy, Clark played a high school track star who chooses to stay in the Louisiana projects to be with her mother, but when her mother dies, Oya is left adrift, unable to run out of the situation that surrounds her. Oya built shell after shell around her, forcing Clark to adjust with her character. While Clark was brilliant in the lead, the work of the rest of the cast, under the expert hand of director Marion McClinton, was also top-notch. Pillsbury House will present the second part of the series this fall. We can't wait.