Humor, Heart and Breast Cancer Awareness: Alumna Traven Rice Returns for Screening of “Lay Lefty Down”
Breast cancer is a topic often met with apprehension, but Stephens College alumna Traven Rice ’94 is transforming that narrative through the power of comedy and candid storytelling.
Rice said the memories came rushing back the moment she stepped onto campus. Grabbing lunch in Stamper Commons and walking past familiar brick buildings felt timeless, even if her journey since graduating has taken her to film festivals and soundstages around the globe.
The journalist and award-winning filmmaker returned to her alma mater to present “Lay Lefty Down,” her short film about a surprise memorial for a left breast. The dark comedy focuses on the emotional journey of breast cancer treatment.
Hosted during the college’s first-ever Stephens Cares Health Week, the event brought together students, faculty and local healthcare leaders for an afternoon of art and advocacy.
Laughter as a Bridge to Healing
For Rice, an accomplished writer and director whose honors include being an AFI Directing Workshop for Women+ finalist and a Sundance New Voices Lab finalist, storytelling has always been about connection. “Lay Lefty Down” uses humor and raw vulnerability to demystify an often-terrifying diagnosis.
“What’s important for me to remember with this piece in particular is that this is about something bigger than me,” Rice said. “It was very rewarding to share it with my alma mater, to share the emotional side of going through breast cancer, to try to bring some levity and humor and to really share what the experience was like.”
The screening created an open forum on campus, encouraging young women to talk frankly about health, vulnerability and mutual support.
Pairing Storytelling with Medical Expertise
To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of breast health, Rice partnered with Dr. Jennifer O’Neill, a breast surgeon at Boone Health.
The collaboration allowed the audience to explore both the clinical realities and personal impact of treatment, from chemotherapy to mastectomies.
“She was talking about her experience in a comedy format where she could say, ‘This is what we really go through,’ and try to make light of it while bringing awareness,” O’Neill said of Rice’s film. “To me, it was very impactful.”
O’Neill praised the film for capturing the genuine shock of a diagnosis while using comedy to make difficult conversations accessible to college students.
“When we asked about who has a connection to breast cancer, nearly everybody in the audience knew somebody,” O’Neill said. “It’s not uncommon, but it isn’t something we talk about enough.”
O’Neill emphasized the importance of self-advocacy and baseline body awareness for young women.
“One in eight women will develop breast cancer,” O’Neill said. “If you know what’s normal for you, you’ll be better able to detect a change if it were to happen. The more we talk about it, the more aware people are going to be.”
The Stephens Foundation
While Rice graduated with a theatre degree before Stephens established its current film program, she credits the college with teaching her how to navigate the demands of independent filmmaking.
Her training at Stephens and summer stock experience at the Okoboji Summer Theatre taught her versatility and grit.
“Our education here in the theatre program completely prepared me because we did everything,” Rice said. “We wore a lot of different hats. That gives you the confidence that you can do whatever you have to do to get stuff done.”
Rice noted that theatre and film share vital creative roots—from writing and directing to design—making her return to a campus that now offers a dedicated filmmaking program even more meaningful.
Empowering the Next Generation
Both Rice and O’Neill applauded Stephens for prioritizing women’s health through dedicated campus events. For Rice, returning to connect with current students reinforced the enduring power of the Stephens community.
“Women’s health still isn’t given quite enough attention,” Rice said. “I think Stephens is doing something really important. I’m just grateful that we can support each other, support women and listen to each other.”
