BTE Caps 24-25 Season with "Native Gardens" Directed by Steve Scott

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), completes its 2024-2025 season with the timely, hot-button comedy “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías, directed by Steve Scott, Thursday, Jan. 30 – Sunday, March 2. PerformInk calls “Native Gardens,” “an utter delight” and DC Theatre Scene calls this 90-minute play, “a true breath of comic fresh air.” There will be a preview at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Press opening is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31.

Two yards. One fence. Pablo, a high-powered lawyer, and his very pregnant wife, doctoral candidate Tania, have purchased their first home, which is next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank. Soon a disagreement over a long-standing fence line derails Pablo and Tania’s plans for the American Dream and erupts into an outrageous clash of taste, class, privilege and entitlement. The hilarious results guarantee no one comes out smelling like a rose in this must-see comedy.

“Native Gardens” was commissioned by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park where it debuted in 2016. Additional engagements quickly followed at the Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater (2017), Washington D.C.’s Arena Stage (2017), Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater (2017), San Diego’s The Old Globe Theatre (2018) and the Pasadena Playhouse (2018). American Theater Magazine listed it as one of the top 10 plays produced in 2018-2019.

A published author, Karen Zacarías’ 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-winning play “Legacy of Light,” the Francesca Primus Award-winning play “Mariela in the Desert” and the Helen Hayes Award-winning play “The Sins of Sor Juana.”

The cast features Kelli Walker (Virginia Butley), Bryan Burke (Frank Butley), Sofia Tew (Tonia Del Valle) and Richard Gomez (Pablo Del Valle). Director is Steve Scott. The design team includes Mara Ishihara Zinky (Scenic Design), Kimberley G. Morris (Costume Design), Garrett Bell (Lighting Design), Christopher Kriz (Composer and Sound Design), Isa Noe (Properties Design), and Neil Massey, SAFD Member (Violence Director). Stage Manager is Caitlin I. Quinn. Assistant Stage Manager is Vinny Scanio. Emily Sheehan is Student ASM (BTE Scholar).

Scott returns for his 10th production at BTE, where he most recently directed “The Outgoing Tide.” For more than 30 years he served as Producer at the Goodman Theatre where he is currently an artistic associate and board member. His directing credits include “The Santaland Diaries,” “Ah, Wilderness,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” “Blind Date,” the world premiere of Tom Mula’s “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” and six editions of “A Christmas Carol.” Scott has also directed at a wide variety of professional companies in Chicago. For his work as a director, Scott has received six Jeff nominations, an After Dark Award, and numerous Broadway World Nominations. He received the 2017 Special Jeff Award for his contributions to the Chicago theater community and the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the League of Chicago Theatres.

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE) presents “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías, directed by Steve Scott at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Jan. 30 – March 2. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $44. For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. The Box Office is open noon – 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and two hours prior to performance. Please note: this play contains adult themes and language.