Native Gardens, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, USA

Good fences make good neighbors, or do they? That is the premise of the play Native Gardens written by Playwright Karen Zacarías and Directed by JoAnn M. Hunter presented by the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. The play stars Paula Leggett Chase, Adam Heller, Linedy Genao, and Anthony Michael Martinez. The play is recommended for ages 12 and up and runs until March 8, 2025. Bravo!

Adam Heller (Frank Butley), Paula Leggett Chase (Virginia Butley), Linedy Genao (Tania Del Valle), Anthony Michael Martinez (Pablo Del Valle)- Native Gardens

We saw the play, Native Gardens on opening night on Saturday, February 22, 2025, and it was exciting to see the Westport Country Playhouse filled with patrons out to enjoy an evening of theatre and gaiety. Playwright Karen Zacarías’ play Native Gardens is set in present day Washington, DC where the neighbors take pride in their historic homes. The Westport Country Playhouse is renowned for its set design, and Anna Louizos’ set design for Native Gardens is nothing short of spectacular. The houses, complete with gardens and a hanging tree, magically transport the theatre patrons to Washington, DC.

Adam Heller (Frank Butley), Paula Leggett Chase (Virginia Butley) – Native Gardens

Director JoAnn N. Hunter elicits the best from the well-credentialed cast of Paula Leggett Chase and Adam Heller as Virginia and Frank Butley, and Linedy Genao and Anthony Michael Martinez as Tania and Pablo Del Valle, and Horacio “Joe” Cardozo and Brianna Parkin rounding out the cast in a variety of roles.

Linedy Genao (Tania Del Valle), Anthony Michael Martinez (Pablo Del Valle) – Native Gardens

The Butleys are an older, established couple that have lived in their house for many years. Virginia works as an aeronautical engineer, and Frank is a retired professional who now spends his time beautifying his English garden complete with hydrangeas, English ivy, roses, and a multitude of topiaries. He takes extreme pride in his garden and competes annually in the neighborhood’s horticultural competition.

Linedy Genao (Tania Del Valle), Adam Heller (Frank Butley) – Native Gardens

Virginia and Frank are delighted when a young, up-and-coming Latino couple, Tania, a graduate student and expectant mother, and her husband Pablo Del Valle, an attorney, move in next door to them into a house that Pablo describes as a “fixer upper.”

Linedy Genao (Tania Del Valle), Anthony Michael Martinez (Pablo Del Valle), Adam Heller (Frank Butley) – Native Gardens

All is going well between the old and new neighbors until Pablo decides to invite his co-workers from his law firm to a barbecue in the backyard. With very short notice for the party, Tania decides that she needs to rip out the current plants in the backyard and create her dream of a native garden before the big party.

Linedy Genao (Tania Del Valle), Adam Heller (Frank Butley), Paula Leggett Chase (Virginia Butley) – Native Gardens

Everyone has their own vision when it comes to gardening, and Tania goes up against Frank challenging him about his use of non-native plants and pesticides he uses in his garden and goes so far as to give him a variety of gardening books on the subject of native gardens. While they each clearly have different views of garden aesthetics, their friendly gardening debate takes a decidedly unfriendly turn though when Tania wants to replace an ugly wire fence and hires a surveyor.

Anthony Michael Martinez (Pablo Del Valle), Adam Heller (Frank Butley), Linedy Genao (Tania Del Valle) – Native Gardens

When the surveyor tells Tania and Pablo that their neighbors’ gardens are actually on 21 inches of their property, the gardening gloves come off. Can the old neighbors and the new neighbors come to a truce and find eventual happiness? To find that out, you will need to see Native Gardens at the Westport Country Playhouse. Native Gardens runs until March 8, 2025.

Anthony Michael Martinez (Pablo Del Valle), Adam Heller (Frank Butley) – Native Gardens

Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!

Native Gardens – Cast

Native Gardens – Creative Team

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

Native Gardens Schedule: The play runs until March 8, 2025. Sundays at 3:00 pm, Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Thursdays at 7:00 pm, Fridays at 8:00 pm. Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Runtime is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, please call the Box Office at +1-203-227-4177, email them at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org, or visit the website at https://tickets.westportplayhouse.org/events. 

Special Dinner & A Show: Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse is located on the Playhouse campus and is offering a special pre-show pre-fixe menu for theatre patrons (offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday). Click here to view the menu and pricing, then call Gabriele’s at (203) 454-4922 to make your reservation. Be sure to tell them you are attending the show to access the exclusive menu and price!” 

Please visit the WCP’s website for other dining options: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/dining/

A Sampling of Westport Country Playhouse’s Upcoming Performances Schedule for 2025

About the Westport Country Playhouse 

“Founded in 1931, the mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater of the highest caliber and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.” 

“The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Shanahan; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; youth performance training through Broadway Method Academy, Westport Country Playhouse’s resident conservatory program; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.”

The Westport Country Playhouse, named as “Theatre Company of the Year” in December 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, opened on June 29, 1931, in a transformed 1835 cow barn, which has, and continues to attract, a “who’s who” of prominent actors.

Looking at the framed posters of the past shows lining the lobby walls is like entering an encyclopedia of the arts. A few of the renowned actors who have appeared on the stage there include Ethyl Barrymore, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Don Ameche, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Jane Fonda, Danny Aiello, Blythe Danner, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Lynn Redgrave, Gene Wilder, and Westport residents Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

Westport Country Playhouse
The Howard J. Aibel Theater Center
25 Powers Court
Westport, Connecticut 06880
United States
Box Office: +1—203-227-4177
Toll-Free: 1-888-927-7529
Website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestportCountryPlayhouse
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wcplayhouse @wcplayhouse

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