THE CAST

Time: Present day

Place: Two back gardens, one beautiful, the other unkempt

NATIVE GARDENS was commissioned and first produced by Cincinnati Playhouse In the Park under Blake Robison (Artistic Director and Buzz Ward (Managing Director).

“Native Gardens” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Hippodrome productions are supported in part by: the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, Visit Gainesville Alachua County, and by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department.

*Appearing through an Agreement between the Hippodrome Theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

^ Member of The Hippodrome Theatre’s company members

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists

Native Gardens started out as a commissioned play about borders. It premiered in 2016 at a time when building a wall at the Mexican-U.S. border was often in the news. Playwright Karen Zacarías has written a comedy that manages to address relevant social issues while skewering those on both sides of the fence. Tackling awkward topics with levity is her specialty. She addresses the divisions in our society gently, yet with biting humor. The two sets of neighbors, the Del Valles and the Butleys, represent polar opposites (Young and Senior, Latinx and White, Democrat and Republican, Native and Foreign), and their conflict could explode at any moment. Politeness and civility could give way to anger and resentment. We’ve seen it happen before. Entitlement, privilege and greed are ideas you’ll hear examined. The play maneuvers through the ins and outs of home ownership in a “stately neighborhood,” and what that means for these individuals. An argument over a property line is the crux of our story. What does it mean to share a backyard with someone who thinks differently than you? How do we deal with our bias and learn to compromise? Are we able to address the way things were vs. how they can be in the future? Questions around understanding and accepting our fellow human beings are never going away, and this play presents perspectives worth lingering on.

Science has taught us that less than 1% of our DNA makes up the differences between us, that we are more alike than we thought. Theatre can show us those small differences and yet highlight the ways we are all seeking similar things: security, happiness, and respect. Through hilarity and laughter, we are able to see our own mistakes and flaws reflected onstage. Comedy has a magical way of putting things in focus. The hope is that we can find a way forward together, somehow arriving at a peaceful place.

Thank you for coming to take part in this performance and we are excited to share the journey with you. Enjoy your time in the garden!

- Kristin Clippard (Director)

The Hippodrome is thrilled to have you here with us for our season Beyond Limits as we celebrate the spirit that founded the artistic heart of our community, beating right here in downtown.

From its inception in 1973, the Hippodrome Theatre has brought stories to the stage that explore and celebrate the human condition. 50 years ago six determined individuals, (Marilyn Wall, Bruce Cornwell, Greg Von Hausch, Kerry (McKinney) Oliver-Smith, Mary Hausch , Orin Wechsberg) took a leap into the unknown, creating a theater that challenged expectations.

Throughout its history, The Hippodrome has pushed the limits of storytelling, creating memorable productions like Equus, The Elephant Man, Amadeus, The Royal, and The Mountaintop. The Hippodrome Improvisational Teen Theatre (HITT), Open Stages and TYA (Theater for Young Audiences) brought innovative works beyond the walls of the theater and into the Gainesville schools and community, proving that theater is an important tool that can be used to explore deep issues, educate, and spark discussion.

The Hippodrome Theatre’s 50th season Beyond Limits continues storytelling outside the norm, producing stories that challenge our assumptions, and reminding all of us that there are no limits to what we can do and who we can be. The Hippodrome also continues to explore new ways of bringing storytelling and the community together. By pushing the limits through its New Works Festival celebrating Floridian voices and stories, our educational Summer Spectacular and outreach programs creating the artists of tomorrow, and the Hipp Unplugged series that fosters new playwrights, new directors, and helps us grow the talent right here in our community.

Our founding history and energetic present will continue to launch us beyond all limits as we move into the future. Come take this journey with us as we leap joyfully into our next 50 years.

-Stephanie Lynge^ (Hippodrome’s Artistic Director)