Avant Bard Revolutionizes Theater with Groundbreaking Film Project: ‘Homeless Garden’

Avant Bard is set to redefine the landscape of theater with its innovative film project, ‘Homeless Garden.’ Changing the game, this groundbreaking initiative offers audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the filming process unlike anything seen before.

The brainchild of playwright Matt Minnicino, ‘Homeless Garden,’ originally slated for a theatrical run in Avant Bard’s 2023/24 season finale, has taken a new direction under the direction of Kathleen Akerley. The adaptation of ‘The Cherry Orchard,’ this project tackles themes of scarcity, leadership conflicts, and the evolving theater industry.

Director Kathleen Akerley’s ambitious vision extends beyond creating a film adaptation. She aims to produce a documentary exploring the challenges of bringing this story to life while reflecting on the current state of American theater. Avant Bard’s leadership, including Sara Barker and Alyssa Sanders, embraced the concept as a way to provoke thought and mirror the complexities of the world.

Playwright Matt Minnicino enthusiastically supports this shift, recognizing the seismic changes happening in the industry. The project, which blends the challenges of theatrical creation with a meta-commentary on the creative process itself, promises to be a thrilling endeavor.

As the filming of ‘Homeless Garden’ unfolds, audiences will experience a truly unique engagement. Each evening corresponds to the original show schedule, but only five pages of the script will be filmed, ensuring every audience witnesses different scenes. Filmed from multiple perspectives, the project encourages feedback and guarantees an unprecedented interactive experience with the audience.

The screenings will run from May 2 to 25, 2024, at the Gunston Arts Center in Arlington, VA. In a move towards accessibility, Avant Bard offers pay-what-you-can tickets, complimentary entry for Arlington school students, and special ‘Mask Required’ showings to accommodate all audiences.