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April 27 - May 19, 2019 , Allen Theatre

Native Gardens

By Karen Zacarías
Directed by Robert Barry Fleming

Run time: 90 minutes, no intermission

A hilarious hot-button comedy about thorny neighbors with good intentions. Pablo and Tania have just purchased a fixer-upper next to Frank and Virginia, a well-established couple with a prize-worthy English garden. A friendly disagreement over a little fence hilariously erupts into an all-out border war, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class and privilege. The gloves are off in this colorful production that shines a light on what happens when cultures and gardens clash.

Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

The cast of Native Gardens. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley), Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Grayson DeJesus (Pablo Del Valle), Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Grayson DeJesus as Pablo Del Valle. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley), Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Seated: Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Standing: Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley), Grayson DeJesus (Pablo Del Valle), Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Grayson DeJesus (Pablo Del Valle), Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley), Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Tom Humes (Gardener), Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle), Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Wynn Harmon as Frank Butley. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Grayson DeJesus (Pablo Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle), Grayson DeJesus (Pablo Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Wynn Harmon (Frank Butley), Grayson DeJesus (Pablo Del Valle), Charlotte Maier (Virginia Butley), Natalie Camunas (Tania Del Valle). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Artists

Anais Bustos

Anais Bustos

(Gardener/Ensemble) is currently the Stage Management Apprentice at Cleveland Play House, having worked on Sweat, A Christmas Story, and Hay Fever, to name a few. As a recent graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, the majority of her stage management credits are held in southern California. more(Gardener/Ensemble) is currently the Stage Management Apprentice at Cleveland Play House, having worked on Sweat, A Christmas Story, and Hay Fever, to name a few. As a recent graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, the majority of her stage management credits are held in southern California. Her recent credits include Gruesome Playground Injuries (Diversionary Theater), The Drowsy Chaperone and The Mother of Us All (Freud Playhouse).

Natalie Camunas

Natalie Camunas

(Tania Del Valle) is delighted to make her Cleveland Play House debut. Natalie is a native Los Angelino, USC graduate, queer, second-gen Latinx actor, playwright, voice-over artist, and creative coach. Natalie recently completed a triple understudy engagement in Luis Valdez’ Valley of the Heart at the Mark Taper more(Tania Del Valle) is delighted to make her Cleveland Play House debut. Natalie is a native Los Angelino, USC graduate, queer, second-gen Latinx actor, playwright, voice-over artist, and creative coach. Natalie recently completed a triple understudy engagement in Luis Valdez’ Valley of the Heart at the Mark Taper Forum in L.A. Additional theatre credits include the role of Gabby Orozco in the world premiere co-production of American Mariachi at the Old Globe Theatre and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Recent TV/Film credits: Goliath opposite Billy Bob Thornton on Amazon, Speechless on ABC, Netflix feature Bright opposite Will Smith, directed by David Ayer. As a voice over artist, you can hear Natalie’s voice in promo spots for Fox’s 911. As a playwright, Natalie’s plays have been produced in Los Angeles, New York, and Ireland. As a coach, she founded The Hallway Space, a free virtual community resource for artists and The Happy Actor, one-on-one coaching for thriving and succeeding in Hollywood. nataliecamunas.com

Grayson DeJesus

Grayson DeJesus

(Pablo Del Valle) was last seen in Cleveland in the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning play War Horse. His regional credits include the world premiere of the Matthew Lopez play Zoey’s Perfect Wedding (Denver Center); Lion In Winter (Pioneer Theatre); Lion In Winter (St. Louis Rep); the more(Pablo Del Valle) was last seen in Cleveland in the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning play War Horse. His regional credits include the world premiere of the Matthew Lopez play Zoey’s Perfect Wedding (Denver Center); Lion In Winter (Pioneer Theatre); Lion In Winter (St. Louis Rep); the title role in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Longwharf Theater); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Santa Cruz); The Tempest, The Importance of Being Earnest, Winter’s Tale, and Amadeus (Old Globe Theater). He participated in the developmental workshop of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat by Lynn Nottage at the McCarter Theater. His television credits include High Maintenance on HBO, Sneaky Pete on Amazon, Conviction and Forever on ABC. His film credits include Kate Can’t Swim currently on Amazon Prime and Tasmania. He holds an MFA from USD/Old Globe.

Wynn Harmon

Wynn Harmon

(Frank Butley) Broadway: The Detective in Porgy and Bess (also telecast "Live from Lincoln Center" on PBS). Off-Broadway: The Lucky One (Mint), As You Like It (The Pearl) and The New Yorkers (Musical Theater Works). International: Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss in Candide, at Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and Opéra National more(Frank Butley) Broadway: The Detective in Porgy and Bess (also telecast "Live from Lincoln Center" on PBS). Off-Broadway: The Lucky One (Mint), As You Like It (The Pearl) and The New Yorkers (Musical Theater Works). International: Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss in Candide, at Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and Opéra National de Bordeaux, The Music Man at Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman. Regional: Lost in the Stars, Showboat, and Candide at The Kennedy Center; as well as work at Arena Stage, Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, The Alley, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Syracuse Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, The Glimmerglass Festival, multiple Shakespeare festivals; and The Constant Wife plus ten Shakespeares at The Old Globe. TV: The Chaplain on Madam Secretary, Trevor Babcock on All My Children and Mayor Robert Van Wyck on The Knick. Film: Paper Cranes. Awards: Helen Hayes Award nomination and The Edwin E. Stein Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Charlotte Maier

Charlotte Maier

(Virginia Butley) Broadway: Act One, The Columnist, God of Carnage, Inherit the Wind, Losing Louie, Dinner at Eight, A Delicate Balance, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Picnic, Arsenic and Old Lace. National Tour: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Off-Broadway: By The Water and The Last more(Virginia Butley) Broadway: Act One, The Columnist, God of Carnage, Inherit the Wind, Losing Louie, Dinner at Eight, A Delicate Balance, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Picnic, Arsenic and Old Lace. National Tour: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Off-Broadway: By The Water and The Last Yankee (MTC); Witnessed by the World (59E59); Balm in Gilead (Circle Rep); Regional: Queen for a Year (Hartford Stage Company); Book of the Night (Goodman Theater Chicago); Suddenly Last Summer (Westport Country Playhouse); The Father and Night of the Iguana (Berkshire Theatre Festival); The Last Yankee (Spoleto Festival); A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theater, Princeton); Film: Custody, Two Weeks Notice, The Pink Panther, Music and Lyrics. Television: The Good Fight; Elementary, Person of Interest, Boardwalk Empire, Law and Order SVU, All My Children, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, Stephen Sondheim at Carnegie Hall. Author: the Off-Broadway musical, A Child’s Garden (co-libretto.)

Anthony Velez

Anthony Velez

(Gardener/Ensemble) is a professional Break Dancer, DJ, MC and all-around entertainer. Tony's first professional dance job was with the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team in 2005. He was one of five dancers selected to represent Cleveland at the China Games in Shanghai and Beijing, and continued on to the All more(Gardener/Ensemble) is a professional Break Dancer, DJ, MC and all-around entertainer. Tony's first professional dance job was with the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team in 2005. He was one of five dancers selected to represent Cleveland at the China Games in Shanghai and Beijing, and continued on to the All Star Games in New Orleans. In 2007, he auditioned for Season 3 of the Fox Series So You Think You Can Dance and advanced to the televised rounds in Las Vegas. From 2010 to 2013, Tony toured the Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines as a Dancer in an award-winning production Dancing in the Streets. Tony has worked with many local companies as a performer, actor and instructor including: PAA, Cleveland Public Theater, Cleveland Museum of Art, Arts Applause, Dance Cleveland, and Playhouse Square. Other credits include Fast and Furious 8, a national commercial for NIKE, The Panther Dancer, The Bloodless Jungle, and the Netflix film Lil Evil. Currently, Tony is the owner of ShowPeace Entertainment. ShowPeaceEnt.com

Jason Ardizzone-West

(Scenic Designer) is an Emmy Award-winning set & production designer based in New York. Recent work includes: The Royale (CPH); Good Grief (The Vineyard); Uncle Vanya (Old Globe & Hunter Theatre Project); Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC – Emmy Award & ADG Nomination); One Thousand Nights and One Day more(Scenic Designer) is an Emmy Award-winning set & production designer based in New York. Recent work includes: The Royale (CPH); Good Grief (The Vineyard); Uncle Vanya (Old Globe & Hunter Theatre Project); Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC – Emmy Award & ADG Nomination); One Thousand Nights and One Day (Prospect Theater); Illyria, The Gabriel Family Plays (The Public Theater, with Susan Hilferty); Lana Del Rey (World Tour); Circus, Wandering City (BAM Next Wave); Next To Normal and Caroline, Or Change (Tantrum Theater); Bullets Over Broadway (National Tour, NETworks Presentations); Adele, Live in NYC (NBC, with Es Devlin). Jason received a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University, College of Architecture, Art & Planning, a Masters of Fine Arts from New York University, Department of Design for Stage & Film, and is a member of USA 829. Visit ardizzonewest.com for recent work and more information.

Inda Blatch-Geib

(Costume Designer) Commercial design for Krylon, Bryant & Stratton, Footlocker, The West Virginia Lottery’s national campaigns, Ohio Lottery, Microsoft, Under Armor, McDonalds, TroyBuilt, Meijer, and The Original Mattress Factory, Cleveland Cavaliers’ 1970-80’s themed videos, and national spots. Concert and festival design include Machine Gun Kelly’s US/European Tours, ESTFEST and more(Costume Designer) Commercial design for Krylon, Bryant & Stratton, Footlocker, The West Virginia Lottery’s national campaigns, Ohio Lottery, Microsoft, Under Armor, McDonalds, TroyBuilt, Meijer, and The Original Mattress Factory, Cleveland Cavaliers’ 1970-80’s themed videos, and national spots. Concert and festival design include Machine Gun Kelly’s US/European Tours, ESTFEST and Wolstein Arena productions. Set styling for Harper’s Bazaar UK Scarlett Johansson cover and spread, catalogue set styling for Foundations and Kilgore Trout. Her designs have been showcased in exhibits at The Smithsonian, with film projects including Ohio Art Direction of The Signal and The Con. Theatrical Design includes the special off- Broadway Production of Kris Kringle: The Musical, Cleveland Play House’s production of Native Gardens, and multiple productions for the Colombian National Opera. Music Video Design for MGK’s Alpha Omega and Let You Go releases. Inda has been the Resident Designer for Karamu, Cleveland Public Theatre, Magical Theatre, and Cleveland Institute of Music.

Michael Boll

(Lighting Designer) is a Cleveland-based Lighting Designer. His Cleveland Play House designs include Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Pipeline, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Invisible Hand, The Good Peaches, The Little Foxes, Venus in Fur, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, In the Next Room or the more(Lighting Designer) is a Cleveland-based Lighting Designer. His Cleveland Play House designs include Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Pipeline, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Invisible Hand, The Good Peaches, The Little Foxes, Venus in Fur, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, and Stew and the Negro Problem. Productions with the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program include Macbeth, Metamorphoses, The Winter's Tale, An Orchard, and Angels in America: Millennium Approaches. Other Cleveland lighting design work includes Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, Cain Park, Cleveland Museum of Art, Dobama Theatre and Beck Center for the Arts. Off-Broadway credits include The Moliere Cycle (Classic Stage Company), Songs for a New World (George Street Playhouse), Dog Sees God (SoHo Playhouse) and The Moonlight Room (Associate Lighting Designer, Beckett Theatre). His work has also been seen at the N.Y. Fringe Festival, La MaMa E.T.C., HERE Arts Center, and Yale Cabaret.

Harriet Bass Casting, CSA

(Casting Director) is a leading independent New York Casting Director casting for theatre, film and television. In New York Harriet has cast for ABC/TV, Fox Television Studios, Joseph Papps’ Public Theater: New Work Now, the Minetta Lane Theatre, The Women’s Project, La Mama E.T.C., New York Women in Film more(Casting Director) is a leading independent New York Casting Director casting for theatre, film and television. In New York Harriet has cast for ABC/TV, Fox Television Studios, Joseph Papps’ Public Theater: New Work Now, the Minetta Lane Theatre, The Women’s Project, La Mama E.T.C., New York Women in Film and Television, Epic Theatre Ensemble, The Drama League’s DirectorFest, and the Jewish Repertory Theatre. She cast the last three of the late August Wilson’s ten part play series, the original and touring production of Radio Golf, the Broadway production of Gem of the Ocean, and the Off-Broadway production of Jitney. Selected regional casting credits include: Mark Taper Forum, Hartford Stage Co, Arena Stage, Trinity Rep, San Jose Rep, GeVa, Syracuse Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Merrimack Rep, Longwharf Theatre, Alliance Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Kansas City Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Virginia Stage Company, Dallas Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, Portland Center Stage and Playmaker’s Rep. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts from Clark University, Massachusetts, a Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts from The University of Colorado, and attended the American Conservatory Theatre for Post Graduate Training in Theatre Arts.

Robert Barry Fleming

Robert Barry Fleming

(Director) formerly the Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage, currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House and has been named the incoming Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville (June 1, 2019). Some of his most recent directing/choreography credits include: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The more(Director) formerly the Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage, currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House and has been named the incoming Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville (June 1, 2019). Some of his most recent directing/choreography credits include: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Royale, Between Riverside and Crazy (CPH); Next to Normal and Caroline, or Change (Tantrum Theater); and Destiny of Desire (OSF). Arena Stage world-premieres commissioned, developed, and/or championed under his watch include the 2017 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen; Mary Kathryn Nagle’s Sovereignty; John Strand’s The Originalist; Katori Hall’s Blood Quilt; Karen Zacarías’ Destiny of Desire; 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, Sweat by Lynn Nottage; and the upcoming Roundabout production of Toni Stone by Lydia Diamond. He directed the 2018 CPH New Ground Theatre Festival reading of the new musical, Minton's Place, by acclaimed contemporary music composer, Nolan Williams, Jr. with libretto by Pulitzer-Prize-nominated playwright, Nikkole Salter. Robert was an Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway premiere of The Two Character Play by Tennessee Williams. He was also an Associate Professor (tenured) and Chair of the University of San Diego Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Department. Select acting credits include Broadway: Ragtime directed by Frank Galati, Stand-up Tragedy directed by the late Ron Link; Off-Broadway: Insurrection: Holding History by Robert O'Hara at The Public, and joining AEA with the national tour of Cats (Original Bus and Truck and German companies). Regional: The Old Globe, The Guthrie, A Contemporary Theater, The Mark Taper Forum with the world premiere of George C. Wolfe's Jelly's Last Jam. TV: The Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel series Adventures in Wonderland, Family Matters, The George Carlin Show. Film: The Oscar Award-winning L.A. Confidential and Twilight of the Golds. robertbarryfleming.com

Tom Humes

(Assistant Stage Manager) returns for his sixth season as a resident member of the stage management staff at Cleveland Play House. Selected area stage management credits include Memphis, Rock of Ages, Godspell, The Frogs, Smokey Joe's Café, Avenue Q, Pippin, and Oliver! (Cain Park); Le Nozze di Figaro more(Assistant Stage Manager) returns for his sixth season as a resident member of the stage management staff at Cleveland Play House. Selected area stage management credits include Memphis, Rock of Ages, Godspell, The Frogs, Smokey Joe's Café, Avenue Q, Pippin, and Oliver! (Cain Park); Le Nozze di Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte (The Cleveland Orchestra); Tosca, La Boheme, and Lucia Di Lammermoor (Opera Cleveland); Caroline, or Change (Dobama Theatre and Karamu House); and History Boys (Beck Center for the Arts). He is a proud member of both Actors' Equity Association and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in Mathematics from Bowling Green State University.

Laura Kepley

Laura Kepley

(Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world more(Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, The Good Peaches, Fairfield, and A Carol for Cleveland. She joined CPH in 2010, having arrived from Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was Resident Director and Artistic Associate for four seasons and Interim Director of the Brown/Trinity Rep M.F.A. in Directing Program for one. She has also at Playhouse Square clevelandplayhouse.com 25 directed for The Alliance Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Chautauqua Theater Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Rep, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among others. A native Ohioan, Laura received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Fine Arts from Brown University/Trinity Rep. She is a Drama League Fellow, a recipient of the 2009– 2011 National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Career Development Program for Directors, and a member of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2021. Locally, she has been recognized with multiple Outstanding Director commendations from The Cleveland Critics Circle, a Cuyahoga Community College Smart Business Smart Women Award, and a Crain’s Cleveland Woman of Note designation.

Maryann Morris

(Stage Manager) is a Cleveland native who also proudly Stage Manages. Recent mainstage works include Every Brilliant Thing, Pipeline, CPH’s Borderlight reading of Our Dad is in Atlantis, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Royale, The Diary of Anne Frank, ASM’ed The Good Peaches, hand-over SM’ed A Christmas Story and more(Stage Manager) is a Cleveland native who also proudly Stage Manages. Recent mainstage works include Every Brilliant Thing, Pipeline, CPH’s Borderlight reading of Our Dad is in Atlantis, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Royale, The Diary of Anne Frank, ASM’ed The Good Peaches, hand-over SM’ed A Christmas Story and Sweat, and ASM’ed How I Learned to Drive, as well as Stage Managing several CPH New Ground Theatre works such as Grand Concourse and Fairfield. Other current and recent collaborations include Letters from Zora featuring Vanessa Bell Calloway at Karamu House, Havana Hop with Paige Hernandez, Eric Schmiedl’s stage adaptation of the graphic novel Incognegro by Mat Johnson, My Mother Has 4 Noses with Jonatha Brooke, The Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square, and May 4th Voices presented by The Maltz Museum of Jewish History and Kent State University's Democracy Symposium.

Rodolfo Ortega

(Sound Designer) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Arizona and his Master’s of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music where he studied piano and composition. He has been the composer for The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Romeo and Juliet, The Tenth Muse) and Denver more(Sound Designer) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Arizona and his Master’s of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music where he studied piano and composition. He has been the composer for The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Romeo and Juliet, The Tenth Muse) and Denver Center Theatre Company (The Three Musketeers, Romeo & Juliet). Rodolfo is also an Associate Artist with Santa Cruz Shakespeare (Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar). For Artists Repertory Theatre he has designed and composed music for The Liar, Small Mouth Sounds, and Intimate Apparel. He has also worked with South Coast Repertory Theater The Monster Builder. He recently was commissioned to compose the music for Oye’ Oya’ a bilingual musical adaptation of The Tempest for Teatro Milagro. Rodolfo recently was won the Prague Quadrennial Competition in Music for his composition for Artist Repertory Theater’s Magellanica were he will be a featured Artist in Prague in June 2019.

Robert Ramirez

(Dialect Coach) has served as Voice and Text Director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, and most recently at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. He has performed with the New York, Notre Dame, Utah, Illinois, Alabama, Great River, Baltimore, and Wisconsin Shakespeare Festivals and more(Dialect Coach) has served as Voice and Text Director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, and most recently at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. He has performed with the New York, Notre Dame, Utah, Illinois, Alabama, Great River, Baltimore, and Wisconsin Shakespeare Festivals and most recently at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has directed productions and staged readings for Austin Shakespeare, American Players Theatre, and Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre and has been an acclaimed narrator of audiobooks for over 20 years, receiving numerous Golden Earphones Awards from Audiophile magazine. Robert is currently Head of the Acting Program at the University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance and is a graduate of the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware. Robert is a proud member of Actors Equity and the Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

Julia Rosa Sosa Chaparro

(Gardener/Ensemble) is an El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez native. Upon graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso, Julia focused on projects that resonate with her community. She has recently served in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as an assistant director in Mojada: Una Medea in Los Angeles more(Gardener/Ensemble) is an El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez native. Upon graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso, Julia focused on projects that resonate with her community. She has recently served in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as an assistant director in Mojada: Una Medea in Los Angeles by Luis Alfaro. Other recent directing credits include In The Time of the Butterflies and Marisol at Cleveland Public Theatre, both in Spanish.

Karen Zacarias

(Playwright) was recently hailed by American Theatre magazine as one of the most produced playwrights in the United States. Her plays include Destiny of Desire, Native Gardens, Mariela in the Desert, Legacy of Light, The Book Club Play, and The Sins of Sor Juana; adaptations include Into the Beautiful more(Playwright) was recently hailed by American Theatre magazine as one of the most produced playwrights in the United States. Her plays include Destiny of Desire, Native Gardens, Mariela in the Desert, Legacy of Light, The Book Club Play, and The Sins of Sor Juana; adaptations include Into the Beautiful North, Just Like Us, and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent. Zacarías has written 10 TYA musicals with composer Deborah Wicks La Puma including OLIVÉRio: A Brazilian Twist, Ella Enchanted: The Musical, Chasing George Washington: A White House Adventure, Einstein Is a Dummy, Looking for Roberto Clemente, Frida Libre, Jane of the Jungle, Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans, Ferdinand the Bull, and The Magical Piñata. Her plays have been produced at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Goodman Theatre, South Coast Repertory, the Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Round House Theatre, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Dallas Theater Center and many more. Zacarías’ awards include the National Latina Playwrighting Award, the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, the Francesca Primus Prize, the Stanford University Equity in Theater Award and The Strindberg Citation. She has also been a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist among others. Zacarías is an inaugural resident playwright at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., as well as a core founder of the Latinx Theatre Commons, a national network that strives to update the American narrative to including the stories of Latinos. She is the founder of Young Playwrights’ Theater, an award-winning theatre company that teaches playwriting in local public schools in Washington, D.C., and she is proud to be Arena Stage’s first resident playwright. Zacarías lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and three children.

Giving to CPH: Why it Matters

Giving to CPH: Why it Matters

Every year, Cleveland Play House welcomes actors, production designers, and other professional artists from all over the country. These artists, many ...

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