2018 Productions | NATIVE GARDENS 


SHOW INFO

TICKETS

CAST & CREATIVE

NEWS

SHOW INFO

NATIVE GARDENS, A hilarious hot-button comedy. You can’t choose your neighbors. In this brilliant new comedy, cultures and gardens clash, turning well-intentioned neighbors into feuding enemies. Pablo, a rising attorney, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, have just purchased a home next to Frank and Virginia, a well-established D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. But an impending barbecue for Pablo’s colleagues and a delicate disagreement over a long-standing fence line soon spirals into an all-out border dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class and privilege.


Production photos by Naomi Ishisaka


Initman ED Phillip Chavira and actor Phillip Ray Guevara talk with Margaret Larson on King5 New Day about NATIVE GARDENS

VENUE

Jones Playhouse at UW
4045 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Click for information on the venue and parking.

PRODUCTION PROGRAM

RESOURCES

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TICKETS



TALKBACKS

Join us for a series of talkbacks on the issues, themes and ideas explored in the play. Talk Backs for NATIVE GARDENS take place on Sundays, September 9, 16 and 23, following the 2pm show. All NATIVE GARDENS ticket holders are welcome to attend any of the talkbacks if they show their ticket.

Sunday, September 9 following the 2pm show: Decolonization and living on indigenous land with special guest Matt Remle. Matt is a member of the Hunkpapa Lakota. He is also a community organizer, educator, writer and editor for the online Native news site LastRealIndians.com and LRInspire.  He works for the Office of Indian Education in the Marysville School District and lives in Seattle, Duwamish territory, with his wife and three children. He is the author of Seattle’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day resolution, Seattle’s resolution calling on Congress to engage in reconciliation with Tribe’s over the Boarding School Era policies, Seattle’s resolution to oppose the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and Seattle’s ordinance to divest from Wells Fargo due to their financing of the Dakota Access pipelines.  He is the co-founder of the group Mazaska Talks. In 2014, Remle was awarded Seattle’s Individual Human Rights Leader award.  In 2017, he was awarded the National Indian Education Association’s Educator of the Year, The Billy Frank Jr. Natural Resource Protection Award and named one of Seattle’s Most Influential People. Moderated by Intiman Executive Director Phillip Chavira.

Sunday, September 16 following the 2pm show: Latinx identity and social justice with NATIVE GARDENS cast members and special guest Jorge L. Barón, Executive Director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. Jorge L. Barón has served as the executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) since April 2008, having previously worked as a staff attorney with the organization for two years. Jorge’s passion in advocating on behalf of immigrants is firmly rooted in his own immigrant experience: he is originally from Bogotá, Colombia, and came to the United States at the age of thirteen. Jorge is a graduate of Yale Law School and Duke University. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education. Moderated by Intiman Executive Director Phillip Chavira.

Sunday, September 23 following the 2pm show: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts with NATIVE GARDENS cast members and special guest Leticia Lopez, Intiman Theatre Trustee and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair.

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CAST

Julie Briskman she/her (Virginia) Julie is the Co-founder and Executive Director of The Seagull Project, appearing as Arkadina in THE SEAGULL, Olga in THE THREE SISTERS, and Ranevskaya in THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Favorite Seattle credits include THE IMAGINARY INVALID, THE BEARD OF AVON and THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS (Seattle Repertory Theatre); DIRTY BLONDE, ENCHANTED APRIL, and THE WOMEN (ACT Theatre); THE THREE PENNY OPERA (Seattle Shakespeare Company), and THE WIZARD OF OZ (Seattle Children’s Theatre). National credits include Yale Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theater, Trinity Repertory Theater, The Old Globe, and seven seasons as a member of The Guthrie Theater acting ensemble. Julie is a proud recipient of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship.

Sophie Franco she/her (Tania) Sophie is a Latinx actor/director/playwright working in the Seattle area. As an artist activist, Sophie prioritizes centralizing the narratives of people of color, the LGBTQIA community, and other marginalized folx. Recent credits include Viola in a English/Spanish bilingual production of TWELFTH NIGHT (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Elena in LAS MARIPOSAS Y LOS MUERTOS (Forward Flux Productions), and Claire in PROOF (Proof Porch Project & Thriving Artists). Other companies Sophie has worked with include: ACTLab, eSe Teatro, The Horse in Motion, and the Seattle Fringe Festival. This fall she dons her directing hat with Book-It Repertory Theatre’s THE UPSIDE BOY, an Educational Tour that will be seen by over 15,000 students across Washington state. You can catch her on stage again in JUAN PALMIERI with Thriving Artists in collaboration with ACTLab this November and next January in B. with Washington Ensemble Theater. In addition, Sophie is on staff at Seattle Public Theater as the Associate of Education and Community Engagement Programs, and an ensemble member with Washington Ensemble Theater. Special thanks to Dr. Robert & Daniella Franco, Christopher Sande, Meme Garcia, and Ana Maria Campoy for their unending support & love!

Jim Gall he/him (Frank) Jim is very happy to be working with Intiman for the second time. The first was THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK with Lucy DeVito. Jim is based in Seattle and has most recently appeared at Taproot Theatre as George Frederick Handel in JOYFUL NOISE. Seattle Shakespeare Company in TITUS ANDRONICUS, MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, as well as Montano in OTHELLO, and the Duke in THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Wooden O). Jim played Kurt Vonnegut in Book-It Repertory Theatre’s SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE, for which he received a Gregory Award nomination for Outstanding Performance. Last year, Jim appeared as Dr. Reo Symes in Book-It Repertory Theatre’s THE DOG OF THE SOUTH. Some of Jim’s favorite roles to date include Atticus Finch in Village Theatre’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and Mountain McClintock in Theater Schmeater’s REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. Jim has four Seattle Times Footlight awards. He is married to the beautiful and talented Kelly Kitchens.

Phillip Ray Guevara he/him (Pablo) Phillip is thrilled to make his Intiman debut with this cast and crew! He holds a BFA in Acting from Texas State University and come the spring, he will complete his MFA in Acting from the University of Washington. Additionally, Phillip has had the privilege to study abroad with The Royal Shakespeare Company in conjunction with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and just last summer he completed The International Stunt School in Seattle. Professional credits include: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Titan Theatre Company, Seattle Rep, and The Seagull Project. You can see him next in INCIDENT AT VICHY directed by Kelly Kitchens at The University of Washington. Much love to his family and friends for their love and support!

Gloria Alcala they/them (Landscape Technician) Gloria is a current Senior in the Musical Theatre department at Cornish College of the Arts (BFA, 2019). Last working with director Arlene Martínez-Vásquez in Karen Zacarías’s THE SINS OF SOR JUANA (The Novice, Cornish College of the Arts). Gloria has since fallen in love with Karen’s relationship with language, and nuanced way of telling acute and timely stories for the Latinx community. NATIVE GARDENS is their Intiman debut. Other previous credits include DISENCHANTED! A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY (Little Mermaid/Belle/Rapunzel, Mamches Productions), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Benedick, Cornish College of the Arts), THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Kate, The Core Ensemble), Urinetown (Ensemble, Cornish College of the Arts).

Yolanda Suarez she/her (Landscape Technician) Yolanda is the Founder of Rock Bottom, Co-Founder of Captain Improv Comedy, a member of Only Human and CSz-Seattle. She is also the Co-Producer for The Moth in Seattle. She can be seen telling stories around town at the Magic Hat, Spin the Bottle and other venues.

CREATIVE

Karen Zacarías she/her (Playwright) Karen’s award-winning plays include the sold-out/extended comedy THE BOOK CLUB PLAY, the sold-out world premiere drama JUST LIKE US (adapted from the book by Helen Thorpe) at Denver Theater Center, the Steinberg – citation award play LEGACY OF LIGHT, the Francesca Primus Award winning play MARIELA IN THE DESERT, the Helen Hayes Award winning play THE SINS OF SOR JUANA, the adaptation of Julia Alvarez’s HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS. Karen also has a piece in the Arena Stage premiere of OUR WAR. Her TYA musicals with composer Debbie Wicks la Puma include JANE OF THE JUNGLE, EINSTEIN IS A DUMMY, LOOKING FOR ROBERTO CLEMENTE, CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS, FERDINAND THE BULL, and FRIDA LIBRE. Her musical CHASING GEORGE WASHINGTON premiered at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and went on a National Tour. Her script was then adapted into a book by Scholastic with a foreword by former First Lady Michelle Obama. Her awards include: New Voices Award, 2010 Steinberg Citation-Best New Play, Paul Aneillo Award, National Francesca Primus Prize, New Voices Award, National Latino Play Award, Finalist Susan Blackburn, Helen Hayes for Outstanding New Play.

Arlene Martínez-Vázquez she/her (Director) Arlene is a director, translator, educator, and arts administrator currently serving as Education Director for Seattle Repertory Theatre. Arlene holds a BA in Theatre, Hispano American Literature, and Foreign Languages from the University of Puerto Rico; and an MFA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University, London. While in London, she studied Meyerhold & Biomechanics at GITIS Academy in Moscow and Theatre of the East at the Indonesian Arts Institute in Bali. Seattle directing credits include: PASSPORT by Gustavo Ott (bilingual staged reading) at ACT, THE PASSION AS TOLD BY ANTÍGONA PÉREZ at 12th Avenue Arts, THE LAST STOP IN MARKET STREET for Book-It Repertory Theatre’s touring education program, THE PROOF PORCH PROJECT (touring bilingual staging of David Auburn’s PROOF), and Karen Zacarías’ THE SINS OF SOR JUANA at Cornish College of the Arts.

Jennifer​ ​Zeyl she/her (Intiman Artistic Director and Producer) Jennifer directed the 2018 WILD WICKED WOKE season opener, Taylor Mac’s HIR. This season marks her 7th with Intiman, and audiences may remember her sets for ANGELS IN AMERICA, WEDDING BAND, TROUBLE IN MIND or DRAGON LADY, amongst many others. As a scenic designer, she has worked locally for Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre, On the Boards, Seattle Shakespeare and Seattle Children’s Theatre and nationally at The Guthrie, The Public, The Rose and Two River Theatre Company. She is a Founding Co-Artistic Director of Washington Ensemble Theatre, winner of the Stranger Genius Award in Theatre and two-time Gregory Falls Best Scenic Design recipient. Jennifer is grateful to receive funding for her own generative work from: The Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, Artist Trust, 4Culture, and The NEA. BFA Directing, BFA Theatre Design – University of Rhode Island 1996, MFA Scenic Design – University of Washington, 2003.

Lex Marcos he/him (Set Designer) Lex is from Manila, Philippines. He studied Painting and Art History at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. After taking a subject in scenic design his professor asked him to design his first realized production Machiavelli’s the Mandrake, and from there he started practicing visual storytelling. He designed sets in Manila for eight years, working with acclaimed Filipino directors, designers, visual artists, and playwrights. A turning point came when Lex assisted David Gallo who visited Manila to design the Manila premiere of NINE, THE MUSICAL. Gallo, together with University of Washington School of Drama Professor Tom Lynch and NYU Tisch School of the Arts Design Chair Susan Hilferty, all made it possible for Lex to journey to the United States to join the MFA Program at the University of Washington, School of Drama. He recently got his MFA degree in Scenic Design last March 2017. Set designs by Lex include WE ARE PUSSY RIOT and EVERYTHING IS PR for Theater Battery; back-to-back designs for ArtsWest: THE WHO AND THE WHAT and THE NANCE; AMERICAN HUWANGAP for West of Lenin; WELCOME TO ARROYO’S for Theater Schmeater; Seattle premiere of the Hit Off-Broadway Musical DISENCHANTED; #NOWALL for Theater Battery. An upcoming design collaboration for Washington Theater Ensemble production of B. His works ANG POST OFFICE NG HARI and UMAARAW UMUULAN KINAKASAL ANG TIKBALANG have been selected for Philippines exhibit in the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space in 2011 and 2015. He received an award from Broadway World Philippines for best scenic design in a musical for Manila premiere of THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Frances Kenny she/her (Costume Designer) Frances Kenny is delighted to be working at Intiman again after a long hiatus. Locally, her work has been seen at Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle Children’s Theater, ACT Theatre, On the Boards, Seattle Shakes and The Pat Graney Dance Company. Regionally, she has designed costumes for the Geffen Theater in Los Angeles, the Mark Taper Forum, the Long Wharf Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, among others – plus taking THE KENTUCKY CYCLE, produced originally by Intiman in the early 90’s, to Broadway. When not doing theater, Frances styles wardrobe for commercials.

Robert J. Aguilar he/him (Lighting Designer) Robert’s recent designs for Intiman include HIR, DRAGON LADY, and BARBECUE. Recent designs for other theatres: MAC BETH (Seattle Rep); STRING (Village Theatre); THE WOLVES (ACT). Other credits: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE ODYSSEY, LIZARD BOY, I AM MY OWN WIFE, OF MICE AND MEN (Seattle Rep); WEDDING BAND, ANGELS IN AMERICA (Intiman); THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE, ALEX AND ARIS (ACT); THE PAJAMA GAME, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS…, JASPER IN DEADLAND (5th Avenue Theatre); TRAILS (Village Theatre); NEXT TO NORMAL (Contemporary Classics). Regional Credits: FULL GALLOP (Old Globe); SEVEN SPOTS ON THE SUN (Cincinnati Playhouse). Robert is the managing director of Contemporary Classics. He is the lighting design associate for Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Matt Starritt he/him (Sound Designer) Matt is a Seattle-based, freelance sound designer for theatre and dance. In Seattle, he has designed for ACT Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, Book-It Repertory Theatre, ArtsWest, New Century Theatre Company, BenDeLaCreme, Waxie Moon, zoe | juniper, and Washington Ensemble Theatre. Nationally, he has designed for Alley Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Cornerstone Theater Company, The Old Globe, and South Coast Repertory. He is a part-time lecturer for the University of Washington’s School of Drama and was a founding member of Washington Ensemble Theatre.

Liana Dillaway she/her (Stage Manager) Liana’s theatrical credits include BRING DOWN THE HOUSE (Seattle Shakespeare Company), DRAGON LADY, WEDDING BAND (Intiman), A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, OUTSIDE MULLINGAR (Seattle Repertory Theatre), OFF THE RAILS (Native Voices), THE FANTASTICKS (Reprise Theatre Company), and THE ESCORT (The Geffen Playhouse). Opera credits include THE MAGIC FLUTE, HANSEL AND GRETEL (Seattle Opera), THE RAKE’S PROGRESS (Utah Opera), CARMEN, RIGOLETTO (Opera Omaha), TRANSFORMATIONS, THE MEDIUM, GIANNI SCHICCHI (Merola Opera Program). Liana also works as a backstage manager for Teatro Zinzanni. She holds a BA in Theater from UCLA.

Laura Owens she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) Laura is thrilled to be working on her first Intiman production. Previous stage management credits include WELCOME TO ARROYO’S with Theater Schmeater, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Seattle Shakespeare Company, NADESHIKO and RULES OF CHARITY with Sound Theatre Company, THE LOST GIRLS and GIRL with Annex, PTERODACTYLS with Promethean Theatre Company, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, THE SHAPE OF THE TABLE, PENTECOST, THE PRISONER’S DILEMMA, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, KIDSWRITE! A NEW PLAY FESTIVAL, and ON HER CHEMISE with Burning Coal Theatre.

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NEWS

Seattle Times Review: NATIVE GARDENS blooms with satirical bite — and heart — at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre”

King5 New Day: “The Intiman Theatre showcases a new play called Native Gardens that tackles race and social justice issues through comedy.”

KUOW On the Record with Bill Radke, Intiman Executive Director Phillip Chavira and actor Phillip Ray Guevara: “Good fences don’t always make good neighbors”

Seattle Gay News: “Smart, funny production”

Drama in the Hood Review: “NATIVE GARDENS is not just a play with conflict, it is a play fundamentally about conflict and the ugliness it brings out in everyone when we refuse to view compromise as an option.”

Crosscut.com: “Neighborly feuds and culture clash in new comedy at Intiman
Karen Zacarías explores race, class and privilege in NATIVE GARDENS.”

Seattle Gay Scene Review: “Intiman’s NATIVE GARDENS Has Its Topical Charms”

City Arts Magazine Review: A small-scale, high-comedy border dispute in ‘Native Gardens’

King5 News: “What’s up this Week”

Seattle Times: “The hottest Seattle events for September 2018”

Phillippine Inquirer.net: “Fil-Am set designer preps play on racism and border dispute”

The Stranger: “Things to Do”

Bay Area’s KQED Arts: “NATIVE GARDENS Shows What ‘Nice’ People Look Like When They Dig in Their Heels”

Seattle Public Library: “Intiman’s NATIVE GARDENS: Beyond the Theatre”

Broadway World Seattle: “Casting Announced For NATIVE GARDENS By Karen Zacarías”

Intiman Theatre: “Intiman Announces NATIVE GARDENS cast”

DC Theatre Scene: “Challenges audiences to look beyond petty differences and rediscover our shared decency”

Star Tribune: “Guthrie’s ‘Native Gardens’ is the best stage comedy of the summer”

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