The Garbologists

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Ross Zentner

Two people behind a windshield look startled.

Danny Jones (left) and Alys Dickerson in "The Garbologists," Forward Theater, 2023.

Forward Theater kicks off its 2023-2024 season with this recent play by Lindsay Joelle about two sanitation workers in an odd-couple matchup that recalls not only the Neil Simon play but such buddy comedies as Lethal Weapon. In The Garbologists, a white, blue-collar garbage truck veteran is paired with a Black, Ivy League-educated woman. The worst and best that can happen is that they’ll learn something about each other, and themselves. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, plus 2 p.m., Sept. 16 & 23.

9/7-24, Playhouse, at 7:30 pm Wednesday-Saturday and 2 pm Sunday, plus 2 pm, 9/16 & 23.

media release: The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle

Directed by Jen Uphoff Gray

This off-beat buddy comedy pairs essential workers from two different worlds in the shared cab of a New York City garbage truck. Danny’s a white, blue-collar mansplainer hiding a heart of gold. Marlowe’s a Black, Ivy League-educated newbie learning the ropes from her old-school partner. When they’re thrown together to pick up what the world has discarded, they discover there’s more that binds them than taking out the trash.

"A surprisingly humane and honest play that’s filled with as much laughter as it is drama...and reminds us that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. We learn that if given a tattered, grimy old volume of text and illustrations, and you take the time to examine it carefully, its value can exceed your imagination." - Chicago Theatre Review

Forward is offering a number of special events based on the themes in The Garbologists:

Cap Times Idea Fest: Madison’s recycling coordinator Bryan Johnson, along with Sujata Gautam of Dane County’s Department of Waste and Renewables and Lorenza Zebell of Sustain Dane will participate in a virtual session at Idea Fest titled, “What we throw away: How trash is changing and what that means.”

Talkback with playwright Lindsay Joelle: Forward is bringing The Garbologists playwright Lindsay Joelle to Madison, and she will participate in the post-show discussion following the performance on Wed. 9/13.

What We Throw Away: Overture Art Exhibit: Forward Theater, Madison Arts Commission, and Arts + Literature Laboratory will present an exhibition of recent work inspired by and composed from discarded materials. The exhibition is supported by City of Madison Recycling, and will be on display at Overture Center from August 29 through November 26.

Featuring Alys Dickerson and Danny Jones

Scenic Designer: Sarah Ross

Lighting Designer: Colin Gawronski

Costume Designer: Karen Brown-Latimore

Sound Designer/Composer: Brian Grimm

Props Master: Pam Miles

Technical Director: Tony Lyons

Stage Manager: Madison Tarchala

Asst. Stage Manager: Abbi Hess

Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online at forwardtheater.com, or via overture.org. Tickets start at $34, and can be purchased via phone at 608.258.4141. Discounts available.

SPONSORS

The Garbologists is generously sponsored by  MG&E, Nancy Ciezki & Diane Kostecke, Stafford Rosenbaum LLC, and Cap Times Idea Fest.