GNARLY BARD THEATER COMPANY
2024/2025 Season
“In the Next Room or the vibrator play”
By Sarah Ruhl
October 18th-27th 2024
Set in the 1880s at the dawn of the age of electricity in a seemingly perfect, well-to-do Victorian home, proper gentleman and scientist Dr. Givings has innocently invented an extraordinary new device for treating "hysteria" in women (and occasionally men): the vibrator. Adjacent to the doctor's laboratory, his young and energetic wife Catherine tries to tend to their newborn daughter-and wonders exactly what is going on in the next room. When a new "hysterical" patient, Sabrina, and her husband bring a wet nurse and their own complicated relationship into the doctor's home, Dr. and Mrs. Givings must examine the nature of their own marriage, and what it truly means to love someone.
“In the Next Room or the vibrator play” was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist and a 2010 Tony Award nominee for Best New Play.
“In the Next Room or the vibrator play” is presented by
arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
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“The Naughty List”
By Bubba Hollenhorst, Brittany Miller & Louie Opatz
December 6th-15th 2024
Kiwi has the worst job at the North Pole. Each year while her fellow elves are making toys, prepping the sleigh and organizing for the merriment of the holiday season, Kiwi is locked away in a basement being forced to endure endless horror. She is the Quality Control Manager of “The Department of Naughty Behavior”. Join Kiwi on a Christmas adventure as she dives into the world of the naughty behavior of mankind and tries to refind her joy for the holidays. With a live band, classic holiday songs, new original tunes, a lot of laughs and a whole lot of festive cheer, The Naughty List celebrates the season and asks that tough question….Have you been naughty this year?
“Exit, Pursued by a Bear”
By Lauren Gunderson
March 7th-16th 2025
Nan has decided to teach her abusive husband Kyle a lesson. With the help of her friend Simon (acting as her emotional—and actual—cheerleader), a stripper named Sweetheart, and the words of William Shakespeare, she tapes Kyle to a chair and forces him to watch as they reenacts scenes from their painful past. In the piece de resistance, they plan to cover the room in meat and honey so Kyle will be mauled by a bear. Through this night of emotional trials and ridiculous theatrics, Nan and Kyle are both freed from their past in this smart, wonderfully dark yet hopeful revenge comedy.
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
“The Last Day of Pompeii”
By Bubba Hollenhorst
May 9th-18th 2025
Great Jupiter, Vesuvius! The Domus Octavius is full of energy and excitement as the whole family prepares for what is supposed to be a big day for them all. The Gods might have other plans, however, as the family is forced to adapt their hopes and expectations as a disaster - the likes of which has never been seen - begins to unfold. This new musical examines the everyday family troubles that sometimes take over our lives as we search for not only meaning within our family and our community, but a greater meaning and purpose as an individual. Can we find perspective in a time of crisis or are some things too consuming to change our minds, even in the face of certain destruction?