Kirschgarten

(FULL LENGTH) A modern adaptation of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard set in the taproom of a struggling craft brewery. Lily returns to Kirschgarten Brewing years after delegating the business operations to her family, but her brewery is failing to adapt to an industry that is sharply declining in a post-pandemic landscape. Facing imminent closure, the family processes what success means and how to move forward...

(FULL LENGTH) A modern adaptation of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard set in the taproom of a struggling craft brewery. Lily returns to Kirschgarten Brewing years after delegating the business operations to her family, but her brewery is failing to adapt to an industry that is sharply declining in a post-pandemic landscape. Facing imminent closure, the family processes what success means and how to move forward after investing so much into their dying dream.

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Kirschgarten

Recommended by

  • Liam Castellan: Kirschgarten

    Requiem for a small business. I grieved along with the staff, and celebrated, and at times laughed out loud. I got emotionally invested in every single character, all are strongly written and would be a treat to play.
    Perhaps the highest compliment I can give this well-written script is that I am currently sad that I can't ever visit Kirschgarten Brewing. I'm sad I can't go to a fictional brewery, and I don't even like beer!

    Requiem for a small business. I grieved along with the staff, and celebrated, and at times laughed out loud. I got emotionally invested in every single character, all are strongly written and would be a treat to play.
    Perhaps the highest compliment I can give this well-written script is that I am currently sad that I can't ever visit Kirschgarten Brewing. I'm sad I can't go to a fictional brewery, and I don't even like beer!

  • Brent Alles: Kirschgarten

    Wonderful adaptation of Chekhov here, as we're drawn into the character struggles pretty much immediately and then it just builds from there. Intricate work here in terms of developing relationships as well as the details of trying to keep a dying business running until the embers finally go out. Sharp commentary about what's become of the current economic system when it comes to small businesses. Definitely emotionally invested at the end. Pretty fine work indeed by this well-crafted play.

    Wonderful adaptation of Chekhov here, as we're drawn into the character struggles pretty much immediately and then it just builds from there. Intricate work here in terms of developing relationships as well as the details of trying to keep a dying business running until the embers finally go out. Sharp commentary about what's become of the current economic system when it comes to small businesses. Definitely emotionally invested at the end. Pretty fine work indeed by this well-crafted play.

  • Ian Donley: Kirschgarten

    This intimacy of this play holds you tightly throughout. All thanks to James Kelsey Nelson's writing. Each character felt completely recognizable, both personality-wise and in terms of their wants and desires. Nelson does a fantastic job bringing Chekhov's original play into the modern, post-pandemic age, bringing up themes likes capitalism and what it means to have a dream come to an end. This play will fit in any company's season, particularly with a site-specific production.

    This intimacy of this play holds you tightly throughout. All thanks to James Kelsey Nelson's writing. Each character felt completely recognizable, both personality-wise and in terms of their wants and desires. Nelson does a fantastic job bringing Chekhov's original play into the modern, post-pandemic age, bringing up themes likes capitalism and what it means to have a dream come to an end. This play will fit in any company's season, particularly with a site-specific production.

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Character Information

  • LILY
    Owner of Kirschgarten Brewing.
    Character Age
    55-60
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • BEN
    Brewmaster and Lily’s brother.
    Character Age
    50-55
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • CELESTE
    Bartender and Lily’s daughter.
    Character Age
    30
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • ASH
    Bartender and friend of the family.
    Character Age
    35
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • MR. POCKET
    A regular customer and successful business executive.
    Character Age
    45-50
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • PRESTON
    Regular customer, a PhD student. Dating Celeste.
    Character Age
    30-35
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Awards