Eagle Theatre Explores What Happens When Neighbors Get Nasty

Eagle Theatre has just closed the doors on a successful sold-out run of their Theatre Philadelphia Barrymore Nominated production of Ragtime. Yet, the creative team at Eagle Theatre have already begun preparing for their upcoming Regional Premiere of Karen Zacarias's new flower-flinging romp, Native Gardens, running March 22nd - April 14th.

Chockfull of pep and poignancy, Mexican-American playwright Karen Zacarías pushes the boundaries and shatters biases one laugh at a time in Eagle Theatre's rendition of this shear-sharp modern comedy.

Karen Zacarias, winner of the Charles MacArthur Award for outstanding new play at D.C.'s 2000 Helen Hayes Awards, rips down fences with Native Gardens, turning well-intentioned neighbors into feuding enemies. Pablo, a rising attorney, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, have just purchased a home in a historic neighborhood next to Frank and Virginia, a well-established D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. But a disagreement over the property line that separates their backyards soon spirals into an all-out war of taste, class, and gardening.

Robyn Unger, who plays the role of Tania, shares, "Comedy is enhanced by having an important message. So much of comedy relies on what is relatable and recognizable in ourselves and in our cultures. That is what Native Gardens achieves."

Born in Mexico, Karen Zacarias resides in Washington D.C. where she is the first playwright-in-residence at Arena Stage. She is also the founder of Young Playwrights' Theater, an award-winning theater company that teaches playwriting in local public schools in Washington, DC. YPT won the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the White House as one of the most innovative arts programs in the nation. Meanwhile, she is currently commissioned to write new plays for Arena Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Ford's Theater, Adventure Theater, and First Stage.

Ed Corsi, Director of Native Gardens, reveals, "I have had the pleasure of communicating with Zacarias throughout the preparation of Native Gardens. She has been tremendously helpful and insightful. You get the sense that she truly cares about these characters and the story they tell."

Zacarias has also received a bevy of awards throughout her career, including; 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, and Helen Hayes for Outstanding New Play.

Producing Artistic Director Ted Wioncek III, concludes, "We are beyond fortunate to have Zacarias' work presented and produced in a town such as Hammonton, NJ. Her work rings loud and true. Native Gardens is brilliant, sharp, funny, and poignant... not unlike the playwright herself."

Native Gardens opens March 22nd and runs through April 14th. For more information, please visit www.eagletheatre.org or call 609-704-5012.

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