The Pie Lady’s Laura Bru poses for a photo under the Gladbrook Theater marquee on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, while holding a piece of her pie which is featured in the award-winning documentary “PIEOWA: A PIECE OF AMERICA” that screened earlier that morning. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GLADBROOK — “PIEOWA: A PIECE OF AMERICA” proved to be a slice above the rest during its Gladbrook run last weekend.

The award-winning documentary by Ottumwa native Beth M. Howard screened on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Gladbrook Theater and featured an interview with local ‘piepreneur’ Laura Bru (aka The Pie Lady) who hosted the event and, following the showing, serving a baker’s dozen homemade pies to the nearly 100 folks in attendance.

“When do we get the pie?” an eager moviegoer asked after purchasing her ticket, eliciting hearty laughter from the ladies operating the concession stand, including theater manager Audra Siddell. As folks moved through both the ticket and concession lines Saturday morning, Bru and her family, including husband Jay and son Ryan, were busy slicing, plating, and labeling pie in a community space just off the theater lobby.

Attendees ranged in age and hailed from far beyond the local area.

“Looks like you got a full house,” Jared Bauch of Traer commented to Siddell. “I counted five different counties (on license plates outside).”

Gladbrook Theater manager Audra Siddell smiles from behind the concession stand ahead of the "PIEOWA" screening on Saturday, Feb. 21. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“I didn’t eat any breakfast this morning – saving up for pie!” a moviegoer from Clutier happily told Bru on her way into the theater.

The documentary – narrated by Howard who describes herself as an author, essayist, filmmaker, and pie baker – explores the many different ways pie has embedded itself in Iowa’s culture.

“It’s such a nostalgic, comforting thing that people everywhere in Iowa grew up with – having pie at these gatherings and picnics and holidays and nobody does it anymore,” an individual interviewed by Howard proclaims during a section in the film devoted to pie crusts that explores the age-old question – butter or lard?

Bru – who was watching the film alongside her extended family – appeared on screen at least twice, including as a teaser of sorts early in the film and during a later section dedicated to The Pie Lady titled “Pie in the Sky.” The theater erupted in applause and cheers each time she appeared on the big screen.

“We are at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa, in my piemobile – this is my kitchen on wheels,” Bru said during her “PIEOWA” interview which took place in the summer of 2024 inside her food truck. “I’ve been doing this for about 10 years. We make pies fresh from scratch – good, awesome ingredients, the way they baked in 1900. I’m bringing it back. … There are 118 hot air balloons. It’s a nine-day event. I’m here doing this for nine days straight. Yeah, we’re a little bit crazy,” she said with a chuckle.

Slices from a baker's dozen pies were waiting for moviegoers following the screening. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Howard, who was interviewing Bru on what ended up being one of the hottest days that summer, inquired about customers’ reactions when they find out pie is not just served from the pie wagon, but also made fresh from scratch inside the space.

“Shock — utter, utter shock!” Bru replied. “They go, ‘You make pies in there? Wait a minute, you’re still baking pies in there?’ It’s really nice to bake pies while you’re serving pies because that aroma – it pulls them in real quick.”

The segment ends with Bru’s pie taking a trip up into the ether by hot air balloon – literally becoming ‘pie in the sky.’

Following the roughly 75-minute screening, Bru and her family skedaddled out of the dark theater in order to beat (and receive) the pie rush.

“That was a fun movie,” a precocious three-year-old in attendance said.

The Pie Lady, center, chats with moviegoers following the "PIEOWA" screening as they enjoy slices of her delicious homemade pie which was featured in the documentary. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Great movie, Laura. You were the best part,” another moviegoer commented as they enjoyed a slice of fruit pie.

“It’s awesome. I’m so proud of her it makes me want to cry,” Bru’s older sister Lana Kupka told the newspaper while enjoying what looked in every practical sense to be the most delicious gluten-free blueberry tart ever made.

“I thought it was such a well-put-together, very accurate film!” Bru said later that afternoon in a text exchange with the newspaper. “All around, it was a great day bringing people into our little town to celebrate pie! I talked to people who drove from Ames and Des Moines to watch the film!”

Bru also said she spoke with Howard herself following the screening, sharing photos with her of the event. “[Beth] thought we had a great turnout, too.”

Two of the screening’s youngest attendees, rural Gladbrook residents Emma and Liby Bauer – who were accompanied by their grandma, Becky Fevold – also gave a thumbs-up to the movie.

Becky Fevold, left, of rural Gladbrook selects a slice of pie alongside her granddaughters, Emma and Liby Bauer, following the "PIEWOWA" screening. Both the Fevolds and Bauers are Laura Bru's neighbors. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“They love pie,” their mother, Katie Bauer, told the newspaper later that weekend, “it goes over better than cake in our house.”

Asked what the girls – in first and fifth grade, respectively – liked best about “PIEOWA,” Katie said, “Liby said that the crust has to be perfect. Emma said it was ‘pretty cool’ to see a neighbor in the movie.”

Like many in the Gladbrook Theater that morning, they only had ‘pies’ for The Pie Lady.

For more information on “PIEOWA,” including future showings, visit theworldneedsmorepie.com/pieowa.

To learn more about The Pie Lady, visit iowapielady.com.

A gluten-free blueberry tart held up by a thoroughly-impressed "PIEOWA" patron following the screening. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Sun Courier Note: This story is publishing online ahead of the Friday, Feb. 28, print edition in order to accommodate the Times-Republican’s publication schedule.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER