Indie Film Features Dayton Native Micah Stock

Lauren Durham
Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

We know the celebrities who hail from Dayton— Rob Lowe, John Legend, Dave Chapelle. When they visit, we greet them. When they throw an event, we show up. These figures represent the Gem City on the screen and in their music, and we celebrate their successes. 

It may be worth adding another Dayton native to the city’s list of distinguished performers. Actor Micah Stock is gaining attention for his supporting role in the film “Brittany Runs a Marathon.”

The Amazon Original comedy follows the ups and downs of a woman who is forced to ditch her unhealthy lifestyle for something more fulfilling. Ultimately, Brittany (Jillian Bell) decides to pursue her ultimate goal of running in the New York City Marathon. She meets Stock’s character, Seth, along the way, and the two train together. With comedic interludes, heartwarming sentiments and a whole lot of exercising, audiences follow the pair on their 26.2+ mile journey. 

The Washington Post commends the performance saying, “To his credit, Colaizzo (director) has enlisted a fine ensemble of actors, especially Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar and a quietly revelatory Micah Stock as Brittany’s newfound posse.”

Daytonians might remember Stock from previous local productions. He performed with Muse Machine, a local arts education program, from 2004-07 and graduated from Oakwood High School. 

Professionally, Stock has performed in Broadway plays The Front Page (2016) and It’s Only a Play (2014). He received a Theatre World Award and was a Tony nominee for his role of Gus in the latter production. 

Even though Stock has shifted away from live theatre, his fame has only accelerated. He played Kenny Mitchell in Showtime’s limited series “Escape at Dannemora,” which received 12 Emmy nominations this month. Currently, Stock plays Doug on the Netflix series “Bonding.” 

The Neon showcased “Brittany Runs a Marathon” through Oct. 3. 

“We’re excited to bring this great film to town – not only because it’s a gem, but because it features Dayton’s own Micah Stock,” The Neon’s website states. 

Cover photo courtesy of YouTube