Native Gardens

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, semi-retired D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. Frank spends most of his free time perfecting his manicured garden to win the award from the Potomac Horticultural Society. Pablo and Tania have big ideas for their fixer-upper, including a native garden made of plants indigenous to the environment. With plans to replace the run-down chain link fence that separates the two, a delicate disagreement over a long-standing property line soon spirals into an all-out border dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class, and privilege.

Please join us in the West Lobby 30 minutes prior to each curtain for a pre-show talk presented by Playhouse staff.

For community members who identify as Latinx, our friends at Raiz are offering discounted tickets. Please click here for more information.

Te seguimos ofreciendo un descuento especial para disfrutar Native Gardens! Sigue este enlace para comprar tus boletos. Elije Native Gardens, tus asientos y luego, en la página de Pago, ingresa RAIZ (todo en mayúsculas) en el cuadro Descuentos a la derecha y haz clic en Aplicar. Verás que ahora todos los boletos cuestan $24 cada uno.

If ticket prices are keeping you away from this show, please call the ticket office at 515.277.6261, Noon-5:00 PM, Tuesday-Friday. We have supporters who want to make sure everyone gets a chance to see this production.

Performance Times:
7:30 PM Wednesdays through Saturdays & 2:00 PM Sundays
Run Time:
90 minutes, performed without intermission
Content Advisory:
The Playhouse does not rate subject matter as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have questions about content, age appropriateness, or other aspects of the show (ie strobe lights and other theatrical effects), please contact the ticket office at 515.277.6261.

Company

  • Pablo Del Valle

    Javier Anselmo

    Pablo Del Valle
  • Landscaper / Surveyor

    Virginia Babeu

    Landscaper / Surveyor
  • Frank Butley

    Greg Blumhagen

    Frank Butley
  • Landscaper / Inspector

    Cédric Fevrier

    Landscaper / Inspector
  • Tania Del Valle

    Gabriela Fuentes

    Tania Del Valle
  • Landscaper

    Noah Hackbart

    Landscaper
  • Virginia Butley

    Cate Miller

    Virginia Butley
  • Director / Artistic Director

    Katy Merriman

    Director / Artistic Director
  • Director

    Lorenzo Sandoval

    Director
  • Set Designer

    Nicholas Amundson

    Set Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Jessica Van Essen

    Costume Designer
  • Lighting Designer

    Amanda Pichler

    Lighting Designer
  • Sound Effects Designer

    Joseph Cave

    Sound Effects Designer
  • Properties Designer

    Barbara McClintock

    Properties Designer
  • Stage Manager

    Kiera McGregor

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Director / Assistant Stage Manager

    Toni K. Farris

    Assistant Director / Assistant Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Ashley Kientoff

    Assistant Stage Manager

Photos/Video

  • Native Gardens, a new comedy, asks the question, “Do good fences make good neighbors?” The Playhouse production features (left to right) Greg Blumhagen, Cate Miller, Javier Anselmo, and Gabriela Fuentes. Native Gardens is June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Javier Anselmo and Gabriela Fuentes play a young couple passionate about indigenous plants in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Native Gardens, a new comedy, asks the question, “Do good fences make good neighbors?” The Playhouse production features (left to right) Greg Blumhagen, Cate Miller, Javier Anselmo, and Gabriela Fuentes. Native Gardens is June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Gabriela Fuentes and Javier Anselmo play a young couple passionate about indigenous plants in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Native Gardens, a new comedy, asks the question, “Do good fences make good neighbors?” The Playhouse production features (left to right) Greg Blumhagen, Cate Miller, Javier Anselmo, and Gabriela Fuentes. Native Gardens is June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Gabriela Fuentes and Javier Anselmo play a young couple passionate about indigenous plants in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Greg Blumhagen and Cate Miller are proud of their manicured flowerbeds in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Gabriela Fuentes and Javier Anselmo play a young couple passionate about indigenous plants in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Javier Anselmo and Gabriela Fuentes play a young couple passionate about indigenous plants in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kill Date: June 18, 2023
Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse Presents Native Gardens
Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515-974-5358

The Des Moines Playhouse asks the question, "Do good fences make good neighbors?" in the new comedy Native Gardens, June 2-18, 2023. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261. Native Gardens is sponsored by EMC Insurance Companies.

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, semi-retired D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. Frank spends most of his free time perfecting his manicured garden to win the award from the Potomac Horticultural Society. Pablo and Tania have big plans for their fixer-upper, including a native garden made of plants indigenous to the environment. With plans to replace the run-down chain link fence that separates the two, a delicate disagreement over a long-standing property line soon spirals into an all-out border dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class, and privilege.

The Playhouse cast includes Javier Anselmo, Virginia Babeu, Greg Blumhagen, Cédric Fevrier, Gabriela Fuentes, Noah Hackbart, and Cate Miller. Native Gardens is co-directed by Katy Merriman and Lorenzo Sandoval, with set design by Nicholas Amundson, costume design by Jessica Van Essen, and lighting design by Amanda Pichler.

The Playhouse mission, as one of Iowa's largest and oldest producing theatres, is to create extraordinary, shared experiences through live theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. 

Native Gardens Performances June 2-18, 2023
7:30 PM Wednesdays-Saturdays
2:00 PM Sundays
The IRIS Sensation Team will provide audition description at the 2:00 PM, Sunday, June 18, performance. The Playhouse can provide for those who have need for ASL translations with advance notice. Please contact The Playhouse ticket office at 515-277-6261 to use these free services.

Native Gardens Tickets 
Tickets start at $29
To purchase: Dmplayhouse.com, 515-277-6261, or Des Moines Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312

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Show Credits

By Karen Zacarias

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc., www.concordtheatricals.com

Sponsored by

  • EMC