After the death of their mother two boys return home to find their father has lost the will to live, and a giant zucchini (that seems to have a heartbeat) sprouts overnight. The brothers try their best to coax their father out of his room. All three men begin to develop language for their individual experiences of loss through their interactions with the supernatural vegetable, but can they also develop a communal vocabulary to express their grief with each other?
2023 Clauder Competition Grand Prize Winning Play
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Manning-BG2.jpg?x82486)
Special Dates
- Industry Night
Wed, Jun 12, 7:30pm
Pay-What-You-Can
- Wed, Jun 5, 7:30pm
- Thu, Jun 13, 2:00pm
- Sat, Jun 15, 8:00pm
On sale 12pm, day of show, in person.
Discussions
- Curtain Call
Sun, Jun 9, post show
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Benne-2023.jpg?x82486)
Benjamin Benne (he/him) is a Playwrights’ Center Affiliated Writer, American Blues Theater Blue Ink Playwriting Award winner, Arizona Theatre Company National Latinx Playwriting Award winner, KCACTF Latinx Playwriting Award winner, and was recently named part of “LA Vanguardia: The Latino innovators, investigators and power players breaking through barriers” by the Los Angeles Times. His plays include Alma (World Premiere ‘22: Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles & American Blues Theater in Chicago; Seattle Premiere ‘22: ArtsWest Playhouse; Regional Premiere ‘23: Curious Theatre Company in Denver; Central Square Theater in Cambridge MA), In His Hands (World Premiere ‘22: Mosaic Theater Company of DC), and What / Washed Ashore / Astray (World Premiere ‘23: Pillsbury House + Theatre in Minneapolis). He is a current member of Primary Stage’s Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group and has been commissioned by South Coast Repertory and Seattle Repertory. MFA: David Geffen/Yale School of Drama ’22. www.benjaminbenne.com
Julio David Anzuelo*
Sebastian Martin Ortiz*
Freddy Shawn Denegre-Vaught*
Ana Annie Henk*
_________
* Member, Actor's Equity Assoc
** Member, United Scenic Artists
*** Member, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society
Director Alex Keegan***
Scenic Designer Emmie Finckel**
Costume Designer Kathleen Payton Brown
Lighting Designer Chris Akerlind**
Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel
Puppet Designer Elliot Nye
Stage Manager Myles C. Hatch*
Fight Choreographer Michael Dix Thomas
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Headshot-Alex-Keegan-2022-1-1-1-1-scaled.jpg?x82486)
Alex Keegan (member SDC)
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/david__0032-1.jpg?x82486)
David Anzuelo (Member AEA)
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Martin-Ortiz-Headshot-scaled.jpg?x82486)
Martin Ortiz (member AEA)
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Shawn-Denegre-Vaught_Headshot-scaled.jpg?x82486)
Shawn Denegre-Vaught (member AEA)
![](https://www.portlandstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ANNIE-HENK_-scaled.jpg?x82486)
Annie Henk (member AEA)