The Garden

Streaming: June 24 - July 18

By Charlayne Woodard
Directed by Patricia McGregor
Co-Production with La Jolla Playhouse

PERFORMANCE DATES: Streaming: June 24 – July 18

Written by and starring the Tony Award® nominated artist Charlayne Woodard, this moving world premiere play explores the complex relationship between two “alpha” women: Claire Rose, an elderly Black woman and her middle-aged daughter, Cassandra. After not speaking to each other for the past three years, Cassandra shows up unexpectedly at her mother’s garden gate, attempting to reconcile old wounds. Both women give as good as they get, taking us on a rollercoaster ride unearthing conflicts and secrets of the past, and creating magic in the process.

RUN TIME: 90 minutes

CONTENT ADVISORY: Please be advised that this production contains themes and references that may be triggering to some viewers. For a full content warning, including spoilers, please read the synopsis.

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The following contains detailed spoilers. Please read at your own risk.

The Garden explores the relationship between Claire Rose, an elderly mother, and her middle-aged daughter, Cassandra. It is set in Claire Rose’s precious vegetable garden and runs in real time for an hour and a half of their lives.

At the start, Claire Rose is singing in her garden. Cassandra arrives and joins her in song, This is their first time together after three years of silence. It doesn’t take long for tension to arise between them. Claire Rose says she knew today wouldn’t be a good day, which Cassandra takes to mean that her arrival is the issue. They disagree about many things.

As the conversation shifts, Cassandra tries to talk and feels like she can’t get a word in. They butt heads on Cassandra’s attire, and on the fact that Cassandra didn’t let Claire Rose know she was coming. Soon, the conversation shifts to the way Claire Rose raised Cassandra as opposed to her other two siblings. The conversation shifts back and forth as they argue. At times, they laugh together, at other times they become angry with one another.

Cassandra brings up the fact that her mother did not attend her wedding three years ago. Cassandra says that they never talk about things in their family and she’d like to. Cassandra suggests that her mother didn’t come because of homophobia. Claire Rose does not react well to this, and suggests that it is actually Cassandra’s homophobia that kept her from coming out until she was a grown woman. Cassandra tells a story of Claire Rose’s homophobia regarding two women on their street that Cassandra admired, and how that impacted her.

Cassandra keeps referring to her childhood, bringing up the pain her mother caused, how Claire Rose has always nurtured the garden more than her children. We soon discover that Cassandra bought this house for her father and Claire Rose. Claire Rose’s phone rings and Cassandra begs her not to answer it. They argue about the sale of the childhood house and Cassandra’s role on moving day. After Claire Rose reveals it wasn’t her first time being “uprooted”, she tells Cassandra a story that she had previously never shared. Claire Rose’s father was lynched and Claire Rose’s mother uprooted her children as they fled Georgia, and the family never discussed it again. They went from owning a home to renting, which is why the house that Claire Rose and Pop Pop owned was so important to her.

Cassandra is shocked that Claire Rose never told any of her children this. She apologizes for the way she “uprooted” Claire Rose by buying this house, but says she deserved to know. They continue to argue. Soon, as their argument peaks, Cassandra drops to the ground. She can’t breathe. Claire Rose rushes to her aid, and she is able to breathe again.

Cassandra tells her mother that she realized today is the twentieth anniversary of a significant event.

Twenty years ago on that day, Cassandra had gone to the farmer’s market with her young son, and lost him. Despite a search effort, he was never found. Claire Rose had come to help with the search and when Cassandra was at her lowest moment, Claire Rose yelled at her and slapped her across the face. After Claire Rose remembers this event, they hug, lighter now that this is out in the open.

Claire Rose and Cassandra share a moment of tenderness. Claire Rose begins to sing, asking Cassandra to join her. Claire Rose’s phone rings again. This time, Cassandra urges her to answer.

It is Cassandra’s wife, Sheila. She tells Claire Rose that Cassandra was jogging this morning and she had an accident. Claire Rose does not believe her, insisting that she is there with her. Sheila tells Claire Rose that Cassandra was in surgery, and she didn’t make it. Claire Rose looks to Cassandra, who is then swept away in the wind, leaving Claire Rose in her garden.

Charlayne Woodard, Actress/Playwright

Charlayne Woodard is a playwright and actor. She has written and performed four acclaimed solo plays: Pretty Fire (LA Drama Critics and NAACP Awards – best play and best playwright); Neat (Irving and Blanche Laurie Theatre Vision Award & Outer Critics Circle Award nomination); In Real Life (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, Audelco, Backstage West Garland and NAACP Awards); and The Night Watcher (LA Drama Critics Award). Her multi-character plays are Flight and Phenom. Her new play, The Garden, was commissioned by The LaJolla Playhouse. Ms. Woodard has also received commissions from Seattle Repertory Theatre and The Center Theater Group. Her plays are published by Dramatists Play Service. Recent acting credits include: Daddy by Jeremy O. Harris; Hamlet (Gertrude) dir. by Sam Gold; The Substance of Fire (2ST revival) by Jon Robin Bates; The Witch of Edmonton (Obie Award); In The Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks (Obie Award); Fabulation by Lynn Nottage and, Stunning by David Adjmi. On Broadway, she was in the original company of Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations). Regional credits include: Taming of the Shrew ( Katherine) at Shakespeare Theatre Company and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The La Jolla Playhouse. Charlayne is a regular on the FX series Pose and reoccurs on both Prodigal Son and Sneaky Pete. For additional film and TV credits visit CharlayneWoodard.com.

Ms. Woodard trained at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from DePaul University, and is a member of The Actor’s Studio.

Patricia McGregor, Director

PATRICIA McGREGOR (she/her/hers). Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Patricia McGregor is a director and writer working in theater, film, and music. McGregor has twice been profiled by The New York Times for her direction of world premieres. Productions include Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (co-writer and director, Geffen Playhouse, People’s Light); Sisters In Law (Wallis Annenberg) What You Are, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure (The Old Globe); Skeleton Crew (Geffen Playhouse); Good Grief (Center Theater Group); Hamlet (The Public Theater); The Parchman Hour (The Guthrie Theater); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre Company); brownsville song… (Lincoln Center); Indomitable: James Brown (The Apollo); Holding It Down (Metropolitan Museum); A Raisin in the Sun, The Winter’s Tale, Spunk (California Shakespeare Theater); Adoration of the Old Woman (INTAR); Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage); Four Electric Ghosts (The Kitchen) and the world premiere of Hurt Village (Signature Theatre Company). She served as Associate Director of Fela! on Broadway. For many years she has directed The 24-Hour Plays on Broadway. She served as director for HBO emerging writer’s showcase and tour consultant to Raphael Saadiq and J Cole. Her short film Good Grief will premiere this year. She co-founded Angela’s Pulse with her sister, choreographer, and organizer Paloma McGregor, and sits on the advisory board of Adam Driver’s Arts In the Armed Forces and the Parent Artist Advocacy League. McGregor attended the Yale School of Drama, where she was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow and Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret.

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Caroline Stefanie Clay*
Claire Rose

Charlayne Woodard*
Cassandra

Caroline Stefanie Clay is an actress, educator, playwright, and vocal coach. She has appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning productions of The Little Foxes, Doubt and The Royal Family. Her extensive film and television credits most recently include the recurring role of “Cece Colvin, The Matchmaker” on Grey’s Anatomy. A native Washingtonian, Clay graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where she also teaches, and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She earned her M.F.A. in Performance at the University of Maryland. Clay received the NAACP 2020 Award for Best Actress in A Play for the role of “Faye” in Geffen Playhouse’s production of Dominique Morrisseau’s Skeleton Crew, also directed by Patricia McGregor.

Two-time Obie Award winner & Tony Award nominee. Off-B’way: DADDY; Hamlet (Gertrude); WAR (Mother); Substance of Fire (Marge Hackett); The Witch of Edmonton (Witch); In The Blood (Hester); Fabulation (Ondine); The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Grusha); Twelfth Night (Maria); Stunning; Sorrows and Rejoicings. B’way: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Original cast); Regional: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Tita-nia); The Taming of the Shrew (Katherine); The Good Person of Szechuan. Film: Glass; Unbreakable; The Crucible; Eye for an Eye; Sunshine State. TV: Pose (series regular); Recurring roles: In Treatment, Prodigal Son, Sneaky Pete; Law and Order, Special Victims Unit; ER, Guest Star: All Rise, Bull, The Leftovers; The Blacklist. Playwright: The Garden; Pretty Fire; Neat, In Real Life; The Night Watcher; Flight.

Creative Team

Charlayne Woodard*
Playwright/Actor

Patricia McGregor
Director

Mandisa Reed*
Stage Manager

Katrina Herrmann*
Assistant Stage Manager

Rachel Hauck
Scenic Designer

Karen Perry
Costume Design

Sherrice Mojgani
Lighting Design

Luqman Brown
Composer/Sound Designer

Nikiya Mathis
Wig Designer

Erica Jensen, CSA
Casting

Dean Radcliffe-Lynes
Film Producer

Taja Copeland
Camera Operator 1

Darius Moore
Camera Operator 2

David Lee Roberts, Jr.
Editing Director

Afiya Ervin
Editor

Madonna Lewis
Editor

Christian Smooth
Editor

Two-time Obie Award winner & Tony Award nominee. Off-B’way: DADDY; Hamlet (Gertrude); WAR (Mother); Substance of Fire (Marge Hackett); The Witch of Edmonton (Witch); In The Blood (Hester); Fabulation (Ondine); The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Grusha); Twelfth Night (Maria); Stunning; Sorrows and Rejoicings. B’way: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Original cast); Regional: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania); The Taming of the Shrew (Katherine); The Good Person of Szechuan. Film: Glass; Unbreakable; The Crucible; Eye for an Eye; Sunshine State. TV: Pose (series regular); Recurring roles: In Treatment, Prodigal Son, Sneaky Pete; Law and Order, Special Victims Unit; ER, Guest Star: All Rise, Bull, The Leftovers; The Blacklist. Playwright: The Garden; Pretty Fire; Neat, In Real Life; The Night Watcher; Flight.

Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, director and writer McGregor has twice been profiled by The New York Times. Credits include: Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (Geffen Playhouse, People’s Light); Sisters In Law (Wallis Annenberg) What You Are, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure (The Old Globe); Skeleton Crew (Geffen Playhouse, Studio Theater); Good Grief (Center Theater Group); Hamlet (The Public Theater); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre Company); Holding It Down (Metropolitan Museum); Becky Shaw (Roundhouse) A Raisin in the Sun, The Winter’s Tale, Spunk (California Shakes); Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage); Hurt Village (Signature Theatre Company). She served as tour consultant to Raphael Saadiq and J Cole, co-founded Angela’s Pulse, is Artist in Residence for Arts In the Armed Forces and iand is a usual suspect at New York Theater Workshop. McGregor attended the Yale School of Drama where she was a Soros Fellow and Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret.

Katrina Herrmann is happy to be back at Baltimore Center Stage working on The Garden. Baltimore Center Stage: Twisted Melodies. Tours: The King’s Speech. Regional credits: Diana, Queens, The Cake, At the Old Place (La Jolla Playhouse), The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Lookingglass Theatre Company); The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Chicago Children’s Theatre); The Royale (American Theater Company). Off Broadway: The Flick, The Whale, The Big Meal, Circle Mirror Transformation (Playwrights Horizons). A proud alum of The Theatre School at DePaul University; member of Actors’ Equity Association. For nine years during the holidays, she worked for Santa Claus at Macy’s in New York City.

Credits include (BCS) Fun Home, Skeleton Crew. (Huntington) We All Fall Down, Breathe, Boom. (TRTC) Radio Golf, and Joe Iconis Love In Hate Nation, Oo-Bla-Dee (NYTW): runboyrun & In Old Age. Breath, Boom (Huntington Theatre); Lackawanna Blues (Mark Taper Forum, Two River Theater Company); Mothers (Playwrights Realm); Jazz (MTC); Black Superhero Magic Mama (Geffen Playhouse) ; Steel Magnolias, Hair, Dreamgirls, Miller Mississippi, Raisin In the Sun & Clybourne Park (Dallas Theater Center); Oklahoma! (Houston Ballet at TUTS); Cinderella (Eglevsky Ballet Company) Danai Gurira’s Familiar (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Guthrie Theater, Seattle Repertory Theatre); Cabin in the Sky (Encores!); Blues for an Alabama Sky (Pasadena Playhouse); Crowns, Stop-Reset, Trinity River Trilogy (Goodman Theatre, STC, Dallas Theater Center/Arena Stage); The Trip to Bountiful, The Fall of Heaven (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) The Brother/Sister Plays (The Public Theater/McCarter Theatre); Having Our Say (McCarter Theatre) A Time to Kill, Resurrection (Arena Stage); Sunset Baby and The Lion in Winter (Guthrie). She has designed nine of the 10 August Wilson Century Series plays (she has not yet designed Fences). Television: Gregory Hines Show, Saturday Night Live, and The Brother from Another Planet. Karen received a Lucille Lortel Award, LA Ovations Awards, a CDG Award, an Ace Award, a Hewitt Award, and is an Emmy and Audelco Award nominee and recipient.

Broadway: Hot Wing King (Signature Theater); Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll’d (Duke Theater); Hurt Village (Signature Theater); Off Broadway: Three Musketeers (Classical Theater of Harlem); Peculiar Patriot (National Black Theater); Adoration of an Old Woman (Inter Theater) Detroit 67(Julliard); ACE (Lyle Courtney Production); El Coqui Spectacular and the Bottle of Doom (La Vega Production); White People (Fordham University Theater); Cock Fight (Fordham University Theater); 12 Angry Men (Billie Holiday Theater); Br’er Rabbit the Opera: A Funky Meditation on Gentrification And How to Survive (BRIC) Seed ( National Black Theater); Regional: Legacy Land (KC Rep); America V2.1 The sad Demise and Eventual Extinction of the American Negro (Barrington Stage); What You Are (The Old Globe); The Corpse Washer, How to Defend Yourself, We’ve Come to Believe (Original Music for), Everybody Black (Humana Fest 2019) Skeleton Crew (TheaterSquared); Chad Deity (Also Rep); Sense & Sensibility. (Cape Fear Theater) The Parchment Hour (Guthrie Theater); An Oresteia (Rutgers Theater); Other Credits: Winner of the 2017 & 2018 Audleco Awards for sound design. As a professional musician Mr Brown has performed in numerous bands as well as produced many others. You can check out more at luqmanbrown.nyc

Nikiya Mathis is a classically trained actress, who holds an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ Graduate Acting Program. She is the recipient of the 2020 Henry Hewes Design Award, The Antonio Award and she is a Drama Desk nominee. Nikiya’s hair & wig designs have appeared on television shows such as Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Someone Great, and Charmed. Hair/Wig Design Off Broadway: The Public Theatre, Signature Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, MCC, Soho Rep, Women’s Project, Ars Nova, Page 73 Productions @Walker Space, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Classical Theater of Harlem, National Black Theater. Regional & University: Baltimore Center Stage, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Longwharf Theatre, Berkshire Theatre, Theatre Works, NYU Tisch, American Academy of Dramatic Art, and Barnard College.

As one third of the Artios-Award winning Calleri Jensen Davis, Erica’s theater credits include shows that span from regional to off-Broadway to Broadway. Amongst companies she’s worked for are Actors Theater of Louisville, Classic Stage Company, Rattlestick Theater, Long Wharf Theater, City Theater, Keen Company, McCarter Theatre, People’s Light and Theatre, and The Flea. B’way credits include Fool For Love, Hughie, A Raisin In The Sun, Of Mice and Men, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Living on Love, and The Visit. TV credits include Chappelle Show, Army Wives, Lipstick Jungle, Hope & Faith, Angela’s Eyes, Z-Rock, and The Path. Her office is currently casting Dickinson (Apple TV) and Love Life (HBO Max).

Dean Radcliffe-Lynes is an Emmy Award winning television producer who has produced television specials and documentaries for national distribution and videos for grass roots and non-profit organizations that tell compelling stories of their work. Her mission is to educate, encourage, enlighten and empower, and to provide a voice for the unheard and a forum for the unseen. Topics addressed range from health, to education, to social justice. Stories are told in a way that intend to impact and move people to action.Her work has been recognized with awards for Martin Luther King, Jr.: The March to Freedom for the Hearst Broadcast group, The Bottom Line, a weekly talk show hosted by Kweisi Mfume, and A Celebration of Life: Rising Above Breast Cancer, a one hour documentary hosted by legendary jazz artist Nancy Wilson, that was nationally distributed by American Public Television to 133 public television stations nationwide. She was named a Fellow in the Johns Hopkins/MICA Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund “Bold Voices” program and has a documentary in production about four Baltimore women who were formerly incarcerated. Women Make Movies is the films fiscal sponsor. www.drlynes.com

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Charlayne Woodard, Actress/Playwright

Patricia McGregor, Director

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Patricia McGregor, Director

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