STONINGTON — Who doesn’t want to live in a tree house? Eccentric, amateur botanist Emery certainly feels that way in the contemporary comedy “Rooted” by playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer. Both funny and deeply moving, this story explores our relationship to the forces of nature and to each other.
Emery has never ventured out of the tiny town she calls home. Instead, she happily spends her days alone conducting experiments on the consciousness of plants and posting them online. But when she becomes an internet sensation and crowds start congregating beneath her tree house believing Emery is their savior, her pragmatic waitress sister Hazel, sees an opportunity for profit and to escape for the first time in her life. When a young idealist finds her way into their lives, the three women must learn to navigate a whole new world
Laufer states that the play is about “the yearning for meaning and belief, the struggle to be truly present, the power of female friendship, and what happens when you slow down and allow there to be quiet and connection in the midst of a chaotic, sometimes frightening world.”
The cast will include Rebecca Harris as Emery, Kathryn Markey as Hazel and Martha Epstein as Luanne. The stunning treehouse set will be designed by Drama Desk nominee Clifton Chadick. The costume design is by Therese Bruck, lighting by Shannon O’Rourke and the sweeping sound design is a collaboration between Theatre Lab and Neil Graham — bringing the crowds around Emery’s tree to life.
Join Emery in her tree house for this production from Aug. 7-17 at the Stonington Opera House. The run of “Rooted” will include the popular addition to Opera House Arts schedule with a Pay What You Can performance on Aug. 13, making live theatre more accessible to more people.
The dates and times of the performances are:
Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug 9 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. – pay what you can performance
Thursday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit operahousearts.org.
