THE BALLAD OF KEITH KING:
The Ballad of Keith King is a bold, new comedic poetry play following KEITH, a boy grappling with a rare brain infection. As his condition worsens, his peculiar symptoms of rhyming and heightening circumstances increase, his relationships with his classmates, his parents and even the school bully (with whom he has a monogamous bully/nerd relationship) are jeopardized, and his grip on reality unravels. Through this play, Keith and the audience are forced to question what is real while confronting a deeper question:
How do we speak to sick people?
Keith King was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival where it was praised for its “unique voice” and “jaw-dropping conclusion.”
A Message from the Playwright
Meet The Team
Playwright
Director
Producers, o-PONG! Productions
Head of Design
Research Consultant
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YALE INNOVATION SUMMIT
THE BALLAD OF KEITH KING
Pathology Meets Performance
THURSDAY, MAY 29 2025 @ 9AM
A glimpse into a bold new comedic poetry play from NYT-bestselling author and social media personality Kyle Prue. "The Ballad of Keith King" follows KEITH, a boy grappling with a rare brain infection. As his condition worsens and his grip on reality unravels, both Keith and the audience are left questioning what’s real—and confronting a deeper question: How do we treat sick people?
This session will include a selection of scene readings, development discussions & Q+A featuring Cameron King (director), Andrew Otchere, Cortez Hill (Producers), Jamie Marie Reedy (Yale Cancer Research) and more.