Geva's 2018-2019 Season Continues With NATIVE GARDENS

Geva Theatre Center presents Native Gardens, by Karen Zacarías and directed by Melissa Crespo, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from March 26 through April 21, 2019.

One of this year's most-produced plays: A brilliant new backyard comedy redefining what it means to be "neighborly". When a disagreement over a property line turns into a war of green thumbs, neighbors spin out of control with hilarious results.

Mexican-born playwright Karen Zacarías was recently hailed as one of the most produced playwrights in the United States. In addition to Native Gardens, her award-winning plays include Destiny of Desire, The Book Club Play, Legacy of Light, Mariela in the Desert, The Sins of Sor Juana, and the adaptations of Just Like Us, Into The Beautiful North, and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent. She is the author of ten renowned theatre for young audiences (TYA) musicals and the librettist of several ballets. She is one of the inaugural resident playwrights at Arena Stage, a core founder of the Latinx Theatre Commons, and a founder of Young Playwrights' Theater. She was voted 2018 Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine for her advocacy work in the arts. Recently, the League of Professional Theatre Women announced that she will be the recipient of the 2019 Lee Reynolds Award, given annually to a woman in theatre who has helped to illuminate the possibilities for social, cultural or political change.

Native Gardens had its world premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in 2016. It was one of the top 10 most produced plays of the 2018-2019 Season.

This production of Native Gardens is a co-production with Syracuse Stage, where it ran from February 13 to March 3, and Portland Center Stage, where it will run from May 18 to June 16.

Native Gardens features an ensemble cast. Anne-Marie Cusson (Broadway production of Magic/Bird) returns to Geva where she has appeared in The Clean House, Our Town and Inherit the Wind. Ms. Cusson appears as Virginia Butley. Making their Geva Theatre Center debuts are Paul DeBoy (Broadway productions of Mamma Mia! and Sight Unseen; National Tour of Mamma Mia!) as Frank Butley; Erick González (New York productions of El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba, and Valor Agravio y Mujer at Repertorio Español; and A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew for Hip to Hip Theatre Company) as Pablo Del Valle; Monica Rae Summers Gonzalez (Off-Broadway production of The Siblings Play at Cherry Lane Theatre; TV's Orange is the New Black and Shades of Blue) as Tania Del Valle. In addition to the four principals, local actors Julio Jordan, Samantha Parisi, Martin H Pedraza and Anthony Rosado appear as "gardeners."

Native Gardens is directed by Melissa Crespo. The creative team includes Shoko Kambara (scenic design), Lux Haac (costume design), Dawn Chiang (lighting design), Elisheba Ittoop (sound design/original music), Derek Madonia (Associate Lighting Designer), Andrew Mark Wilhelm (Associate Sound Designer), Jenny Daniels (Stage Manager) and Jared Morgan (Assistant Stage Manager).

The 2018-2019 Season is sponsored by ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Regional Health. The Honorary Season Producer is Dr. Dawn Lipson. Native Gardens is produced with support from Co-Producer Rockcastle Florist; Associate Producer Hurlbut Care Communities; Associate Producer Madeleine's Catering; and Media Sponsor 13WHAM.

Native Gardens begins previews on March 26, opens March 30 and runs through April 21.

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