By Riverside Theatre
Culture, class, and comedy bloom in a hilarious battle over the borders we create
Iowa City, IA-Riverside Theatre is pleased to announce its upcoming production of Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías, a sharp, hilarious, and timely comedy that explores themes of culture, class, and the boundaries we build—both literal and figurative.
Directed by Kirsten Brooks, the production will run from February 28 through March 16, 2025, at Riverside Theatre, located at 119 E. College Street. Tickets are on sale now at www.riversidetheatre.org/gardens.
In Native Gardens, good fences make for prickly neighbors. Pablo, a rising lawyer in a powerful firm, and his very pregnant wife, Tania, move into a historic, well-to-do neighborhood in Washington, D.C., eager to build their dream home and garden. But their plans clash with their next-door neighbors, Frank and Virginia, a well-established couple with a prize-worthy garden of their own. What begins as a simple property line disagreement soon blossoms into a full-scale border dispute! Amid conflicting assumptions about community, identity, and the American dream, is peaceful coexistence possible?
“All season, Riverside has aimed to produce plays that find hope and occasional hilarity within this complex, emotional, and often infuriating moment in time. Native Gardens is the capstone to that season-long conversation,” says Producing Artistic Director Adam Knight. “This play premiered at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and has had celebrated productions at the best regional theatres in the country. It asks big questions that feel more relevant than ever, all within a laugh-out-loud story of neighborly decorum falling apart.”
Karen Zacarías, one of the most produced modern playwrights in the U.S., is known for her witty and incisive explorations of contemporary issues. Native Gardens has been hailed for its ability to tackle serious themes with humor and heart, making it a perfect fit for Riverside’s mission to present theatre that entertains, challenges, and inspires. In Zacarías words, “”I think comedy is disarming. I mean literally. You let down your armor so you can laugh. And if you laugh, you’re taking things in. I want people who disagree to watch this play and be able to laugh at themselves.”
The cast features Riverside Theatre’s founders, Ron Clark* and Jody Hovland* as Frank and Virginia, as well as Franco Machado-Pesce as Pablo, Jessica Murillo Kemp as Tania, and Natanael Payán and Ariana Martinez in the ensemble. The creative team includes Kirsten Brooks (director), Kaelen Novak (scenic design), Joni Sackett (costume design), Kim Fain (lighting design), Tyler Salow (sound design), Stephen Polchert (props design), Jackson Kopesky (stage management), and Cristina Goyeneche (intimacy director). (*Member of Actors’ Equity Association.)
There will be two special talkbacks during the run of this production. On Sunday, March 2nd at 3:40pm, Riley Eynon-Lynch and Michael Eynon-Lynch the Executive Director and President of RSFIC (Resilient Sustainable Future Iowa City) will stay to discuss growing diversity in our communities and fostering strong neighborly relationships. On Sunday, March 9th at 3:40pm, Miriam Gilbert will lead a talkback with the cast and director of the production on the process of going from the page to the stage. All talkbacks at Riverside are free and open to the public; you do not need to attend that day’s performance to attend the talkback.
This production of Native Gardens is made possible by generous support from Producing Sponsors Jo Ann Bell and Paul Weller & Sara Rynes-Weller. Performances will take place on the Wilson Family Stage at 119 E. College Street. Evening performances run Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm.
For more information and tickets, visit www.riversidetheatre.org/gardens.
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Now in its 44th season, Riverside Theatre is Iowa City’s resident professional theatre, connecting artists and audiences through intimate, engaging, and provocative productions from the classics to new works. Riverside is a core member of the National New Play Network and a member of Theatre Communications Group.
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