Botanic Garden

A Play by Todd Logan

It’s Kate’s first date as a 50-something widow and she’s desperate to get out of it. She turns to the one person who can help: her dead husband, Jake, who’s still present, still funny, and still full of opinions.

The Play
2010 Winner | Best Play | New York Theater Festival

Playwright »

Get to know the playwright behind the award-winning play.

Reviews »

Hear from audience members, venues, and the media.

Production »

Botanic Garden sets up beautifully in a variety of production spaces.

Botanic Garden The Musical | Based on the original play by Todd LoganSee Also: Botanic Garden The Musical based on the original play by Todd Logan.

Dive Into The Play

The Play

Synopsis

Botanic Garden, a funny, poignant drama, is about a fifty-something widow, Kate Goodman, who is desperate to get out of a first date. She turns to the one person who can help: her deceased husband, Jake. The play intersects the present  with “flashbacks” from their 30-plus years of marriage. Botanic Garden is a fresh, engaging portrait of the intricacies of a long-term relationship. Using intimate direct language to summon urgent human complexities, Botanic Garden not only examines the difficulties of losing a life partner, but challenges  the conventional notion of our need ‘to move on.

The play runs 60 minutes.

History

Botanic Garden premiered at the Greenhouse Theater in Chicago in February 2008.  Under the direction of Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, the play ran seven weeks. The play then transferred to the Piccolo Theater in Evanston, Illinois for a successful five week run. Since then, Botanic Garden has been performed throughout the country.

In January and February of 2016 toured nationally for five weeks, including on site performances at senior living communities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.

Meet the Playwright

Todd Logan | Playwright

Todd Logan

Playwright, Producer

Todd Logan is a playwright whose work has been produced nationally and presented in over 500 venues, including theaters, educational institutions, and community settings across the country. Botanic Garden premiered in Chicago in 2008, directed by Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, and was both toured and produced in theaters through 2023. It later won Best Play at the 2017 New York Theater Festival and became known for its emotional resonance and sustained audience conversation.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It’s a play about life, about coping with the comedy and tragedy of living; it’s a drama laced with wit and humor, insight and wisdom.”

– CHICAGO THEATER REVIEW

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Dukakis’s empathetic direction and the easy rapport between Roman and Leaming leaven the truthful difficulties of leaving a loved one behind and going on about the business of life…”

– TIME OUT CHICAGO

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Dukakis’s light directorial touch–perfect for this subtle two-hander–allows stars Carmen Roman and James Leaming, married in real life, to exploit their shared sense of emotional and psychological intimacy for the benefit of the viewer, the cumulative effect of which is a sometimes hilarious, deeply satisfying and always entertaining evening at the theater.”

– NEW CITY MAGAZINE

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Botanic Garden is an inventively constructed portrait of an imperfect marriage between people who always loved each other, even when they didn’t get along. scenes shift between their present day conversation and scenes from their marriage – scenes that will ring familiar to anyone married a long time.”

– DAILY HERALD

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Displaying a remarkable emotional honesty.”

– TIME OUT CHICAGO

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The play touches on love, loss, and traveling through life with a soul mate with all the ups and downs, bumps and bruises.”

– SCOTT PHELPS, Artistic Director Citadel Theater

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“and the ending is so poignant and cathartic that this reviewer was moved to tears.”

– CHICAGOCRITIC.COM

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“its recognizable relationship issues and universal themes on grief and mourning ring true and encourage comfortable post-show debates and discussion.”

– NEW CITY MAGAZINE

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Botanic Garden was the perfect play for Friendship Village. The acting was incredible! The themes of loss, letting go and moving on really resonated with our residents. The before and after interactions with the actors was an added bonus.  I wish there were more plays as perfectly suited to the older adult as this one was.”

Donna Brown, Lifestyles Activities Manager, Friendship Village of Schaumburg /A Friendship Senior Options Community

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The play was one of the most meaningful programs I have ever booked at Westminster Place. It is a very thoughtful play and hit all the right notes for my residents. The husband and wife team were wonderful. I would book it again without hesitation.”

Jill Greenman, Activities Specialist for Residential Programs, Presbyterian Homes / Westminster Place

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Our residents loved Botanic Garden. They not only loved the play, they deeply identified with the story about trials and joys of long-term relationships, loss and renewal. What a pleasure it was for all of us to have a superbly written play, performed by terrific actors, here, onsite at The Garlands of Barrington. We loved the post-show discussion lead by the actors. the actors were flexible and easy to work with. It made the experience that much richer for everyone. The conversations continued for days. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

Jill Lund, Director of EngAGE, The Garlands of Barrington

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“We were really thrilled to have a live, theatrical performance here at Monarch Landing by professional actors. The two actors, married in real life, could not have been better.  Prior to the performance they came out and interacted with our residents. That made the performance even more personal.  I believe many of our residents could relate to the story line of the play. So many have lost their spouses and now have the opportunity to date and continue their lives. The play was very fun, personal, sad, and honest. After the performance many spoke about how they could really relate to what was acted out on stage because they have been there. For a couple of weeks after the show I had residents stopping in my office thanking me for having this play at Monarch Landing. We will definitely be doing more events like this one in the future. It was a positive experience all the way around. Thank you!!”

Sherry DeFillippo, Lifestyle Manager, Monarch Landing

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I harbored tears in my eyes through most of the performance, as did my wife. Perhaps it was our age and proximity to things reflective—mid 50s with our last child of four just graduating from college, in a sweet empty nest period and with a few grandchildren. What touched me most was the juxtaposition of tender expressions of mutual dependency with being all tied up in a snit with each other.. All should be so lucky as to have another in their lives with whom they could be so real and with whom they could…spark. I would see it again in a heart beat.”

Thomas Suk, ma, lmft, lcpc

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“We thought it was FABULOUS AND EXTREMELY THOUGHT PROVOKING. The play made us (after 19 years of marriage) think hard about what we should appreciate out of life. The different ‘stages of life’ depicted rang so true. THE ENDING WAS SO POIGNANT AND MOVING!”

Rob and Annette Houghton

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We see a lot plays in New York and Chicago, and this one is one of our favorites.  Everything about the play was top notch!  EXPERIENCING IT MOVED US, INSPIRED US AND TAUGHT US.  We hope it will do the same for many others for a long time.”

Eddie Hambrick & Bruce Shumard

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“TERRIFIC. Very poignant.  I came away feeling very cheated in my own life. In 20 years of marriage, my husband and I never had deep conversations like Kate and Jake.  IT WAS EYE OPENING. I wonder how many of our generation really had those conversations, or are we the ones that are divorced and the others still married and happy or unhappily married.”

M. Horowitz

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I felt compelled to see ‘Botanic Garden’ because of my personal history as a surviving spouse.  I felt my needs as such were fulfilled by A WELL-WRITTEN AND INSIGHTFUL RECREATION OF MY SITUATION, even though there were differences in the details.  Thank you!”

Ernest Garten

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An excellent foray into the complexities of any relationship that survives through the decades. THE ACTORS HELD MY ATTENTION EVERY SECOND. Well worth the time to see this  play that I could easily see again!”

Goldstar Member Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A sensitive, sometimes funny, very poignant look at the loss of one’s spouse/partner and the process of letting go and moving on without betraying the memory/reality of the relationship. THE ACTORS WERE VERY TUNED INTO EACH OTHER. I felt as though I was the fly on the wall, privy to the ups and downs of their relationship and the prospects of the new one for her.”

Goldstar Member Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It’s a play about life, about coping with the comedy and tragedy of living; it’s a drama laced with wit and humor, insight and wisdom.”

– CHICAGO THEATER REVIEW

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Dukakis’s empathetic direction and the easy rapport between Roman and Leaming leaven the truthful difficulties of leaving a loved one behind and going on about the business of life…”

– TIME OUT CHICAGO

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Dukakis’s light directorial touch–perfect for this subtle two-hander–allows stars Carmen Roman and James Leaming, married in real life, to exploit their shared sense of emotional and psychological intimacy for the benefit of the viewer, the cumulative effect of which is a sometimes hilarious, deeply satisfying and always entertaining evening at the theater.”

– NEW CITY MAGAZINE

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Botanic Garden is an inventively constructed portrait of an imperfect marriage between people who always loved each other, even when they didn’t get along. scenes shift between their present day conversation and scenes from their marriage – scenes that will ring familiar to anyone married a long time.”

– DAILY HERALD

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Displaying a remarkable emotional honesty.”

– TIME OUT CHICAGO

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The play touches on love, loss, and traveling through life with a soul mate with all the ups and downs, bumps and bruises.”

– SCOTT PHELPS, Artistic Director Citadel Theater

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“and the ending is so poignant and cathartic that this reviewer was moved to tears.”

– CHICAGOCRITIC.COM

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“its recognizable relationship issues and universal themes on grief and mourning ring true and encourage comfortable post-show debates and discussion.”

– NEW CITY MAGAZINE

[READ MORE]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Botanic Garden was the perfect play for Friendship Village. The acting was incredible! The themes of loss, letting go and moving on really resonated with our residents. The before and after interactions with the actors was an added bonus.  I wish there were more plays as perfectly suited to the older adult as this one was.”

Donna Brown, Lifestyles Activities Manager, Friendship Village of Schaumburg /A Friendship Senior Options Community

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The play was one of the most meaningful programs I have ever booked at Westminster Place. It is a very thoughtful play and hit all the right notes for my residents. The husband and wife team were wonderful. I would book it again without hesitation.”

Jill Greenman, Activities Specialist for Residential Programs, Presbyterian Homes / Westminster Place

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“We thought it was FABULOUS AND EXTREMELY THOUGHT PROVOKING. The play made us (after 19 years of marriage) think hard about what we should appreciate out of life. The different ‘stages of life’ depicted rang so true. THE ENDING WAS SO POIGNANT AND MOVING!”

Rob and Annette Houghton

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We see a lot plays in New York and Chicago, and this one is one of our favorites.  Everything about the play was top notch!  EXPERIENCING IT MOVED US, INSPIRED US AND TAUGHT US.  We hope it will do the same for many others for a long time.”

Eddie Hambrick & Bruce Shumard

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“TERRIFIC. Very poignant.  I came away feeling very cheated in my own life. In 20 years of marriage, my husband and I never had deep conversations like Kate and Jake.  IT WAS EYE OPENING. I wonder how many of our generation really had those conversations, or are we the ones that are divorced and the others still married and happy or unhappily married.”

M. Horowitz

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I felt compelled to see ‘Botanic Garden’ because of my personal history as a surviving spouse.  I felt my needs as such were fulfilled by A WELL-WRITTEN AND INSIGHTFUL RECREATION OF MY SITUATION, even though there were differences in the details.  Thank you!”

Ernest Garten

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An excellent foray into the complexities of any relationship that survives through the decades. THE ACTORS HELD MY ATTENTION EVERY SECOND. Well worth the time to see this  play that I could easily see again!”

Goldstar Member Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A sensitive, sometimes funny, very poignant look at the loss of one’s spouse/partner and the process of letting go and moving on without betraying the memory/reality of the relationship. THE ACTORS WERE VERY TUNED INTO EACH OTHER. I felt as though I was the fly on the wall, privy to the ups and downs of their relationship and the prospects of the new one for her.”

Goldstar Member Review

Bring Botanic Garden to your door.

Botanic Garden sets up beautifully in a variety of production spaces. Carmen and Jim create their welcoming home from a few set pieces. Contact us to find out how Botanic Garden can be a fit in your venue. Download the technical rider here.

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