A comedy that also makes you think?

Jamie Ulmer • January 13, 2025

"Native Gardens" brings timely laughs and questions

Welcome to our first show of 2025! At first glance, Native Gardens is a lighthearted comedy about neighbors feuding over a fence and a flowerbed. Beneath the humor, however, there are timely and complex issues to be explored.


Debuting in 2016, Karen Zacarías’ play has become one of the most produced shows in the country. The idea for the play took root (pun intended) during a dinner party Zacarias attended and the conversation turned to petty disputes her friends were having with their neighbors.


“We were laughing about how absurd these fights are,” Zacarias said. “But there was also something so primal about it. Like every conflict in the world, every war is a fight between neighbors. I thought, ‘What would happen if I just made it about plants in the backyard?’”


As you will see, the play’s conflict sprouts from not just the dispute over a property line, but the perception of who we see as different than ourselves. That difference could be anything from age, to race, to economic background. How do we coexist with our neighbors – be it next door, across town, or across the country – when our disagreements can spiral into absurdity? There has been no shortage of this over the past several years. Do those conflicts reveal something deeper about our communities?


It’s one of the hidden super powers of comedy to open the door for us to consider these questions. The act of sharing a laugh creates an immediate connection, a common ground, to start a conversation, or consider alternative points of view and realize that we can be right and wrong at the same time. Sneaky thing – a well crafted laugh.


“Over the years, I’ve had people write to me and tell me that they chose not to escalate a problem with a neighbor after seeing the play. That’s the best reward I’ve had from it,” Zacarias says. “While watching the play you may judge one couple and then judge the other, but in the end, I hope the person you are judging is yourself. How can we all be better neighbors?”


Not bad for a comedy about squabbling neighbors.


Enjoy the show!

Jamie Ulmer

Executive Director


Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements

Truly impressive volunteers

By Jamie Ulmer • August 25, 2026
Last Friday, we celebrated the amazing commitment of the volunteers who truly make everything happen at Theatre Lawrence. Here are a few numbers to think about. There were 444 active volunteers last season, contributing more than 33,426 hours of their free time. That commitment has a value of more than $1,077,000, based on the IRS valuation of volunteer time - but we say the value is priceless. Everything we do, from regular season shows to community outreach to youth engagement, is possible thanks to our volunteers. These are people who choose to make a difference and share their talents to make Lawrence and Northeast Kansas a better place for all of us to live. At our volunteer celebration, we recognized our most active volunteers, who worked more than 350 hours, with the coveted Charley Awards and Volunteer of the Year Award . We continued celebrating our dedicated front-of-house teams with the Front Runner Awards - honoring those who worked every regular season production. We also debuted the Triple Threat Award, celebrating those who acted, volunteered more than 10 hours on a production crew, and volunteered front of house for three events. All that recognition is just a small way for us to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who makes Theatre Lawrence possible. Click here to see the complete list of honorees, and while you’re there, maybe sign up to get involved yourself. See you at the theatre, Jamie Ulmer

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By Jamie Ulmer • July 20, 2026
Joy. That's the only word I can think of to describe the feeling that has been radiating from the TL stage over the past several weeks. First came the joy of our annual Penguin Project production. Seeing youth with special needs take the stage and experience the audience's warm appreciation each night is nothing short of magical. This year's production of Alice in Wonderland Jr. proved it with time-obsessed rabbits, murderous Queen of Hearts, and ever-growing and shrinking young Alices. That was followed last weekend by our sold-out run of Guys and Dolls SR ., our very first Vintage Players senior musical. The joy was written on the face of every cast member, some of whom were appearing in their very first show (one made her acting debut at 83!). That joy carried over after each performance as friends, children, and grandchildren eagerly waited to congratulate the cast.  There's one more weekend of summer joy on tap as we present two youth productions, Willy Wonka KIDS and The Aristocats KIDS , playing in repertory this Friday and Saturday. Sharing joy like this makes all the schedule juggling, rehearsals, and investment of resources worthwhile. It reminds us why we support community-based, locally produced theatre. There is truly nothing like it, and we're thrilled to have been bringing that joy to our community for 50 years. Our exciting 50th Anniversary Season is about to begin, and we can't wait to share that joy with you! Jamie Ulmer TL Executive Director
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