Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

Skip to main content Skip to search
Comedy Drama

The Garbologists

by Lindsay Joelle

Get Tickets
A photo of two gloved hands grabbing a singing fish wall decoration from a pile of large black trash bags against a green cityscape background. A photo of two gloved hands grabbing a singing fish wall decoration from a pile of large black trash bags against a green cityscape background.

One person’s trash is someone else’s treasure.

Two essential workers from different worlds discover there’s more that binds them than taking out the trash in this off-beat buddy comedy. Danny and Marlowe are polar opposites: he’s a gruff NYC sanitation worker hiding a heart of gold, and she’s a determined Ivy League–educated newbie assigned to his route. Amidst their shifts spent bickering, they each have some wisdom to share, but will the other listen? When thrown together to pick up what the world has discarded, they learn that some things are easier to toss than others.

Run time: ~1 hr, 30 min with no intermission

Content warning: As these two sanitation workers butt heads and bicker, they use adult language and sexual references. Handling the trash of New York City also sparks conversations on death of a loved one, cancer, and trauma, as well as joy, love, and singing fish.

Trigger warning: A piece of subject matter in this show could be potentially triggering for people who have ever parented. If you want to be further informed and don’t mind spoilers, please call our box office.

You'll love this show if you love...

  • Quirky, quick-paced comedies with reluctant buddy dynamics
  • Opposite personalities forced to be together (and hilariously butting heads)
  • Stories about relatable, everyday people with the same everyday problems as you
  • Unconventional workplace stories exploring the world of “unglamorous” but vital careers
  • Two-hander shows that lead to intimate and unforgettable performances
  • Finding humor through life’s dumpster fires!

Similar ETC productions:

  • Ripcord by David Lindsay-Abaire
  • Sex and Education by Lissa Levin
  • Fortune by Deborah Zoe Laufer

 

Similar titles:

  • The Bear (FX)
  • Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Paramount Pictures)
  • Superstore (NBC)

Video

Watch the trailer for The Garbologists
Play Video
Watch the cast interview for The Garbologists
Play Video
Watch the video
Play Video
Watch the video Talkin' Trash for The Garbologists
Play Video
Watch the teaser for The Garbologists
Play Video

Photos

Reviews

“It’s a touching show with surprises, funny banter, and outstanding technical elements.”

The Sappy Critic

“This two-person cast is absolute fire.”

Behind the Curtain Cincinnati

“[Their] evolution of friendship and understanding is the very satisfying core of the show.”

—Rick Pender, Talkin’ Broadway

Masthead_Garbologists

Press

Cast

A photo of a middle-aged man with a fair skin tone, short brown hair, and dark stubble staring seriously into camera

Nathan Neorr

Danny
Nathan Neorr
A photo of a woman with a medium-dark skin tone and dark brown curls smirking at the camera

Torie Wiggins

Marlowe
Torie Wiggins

Creative team

Lindsay Joelle

Playwright
Lindsay Joelle

D. Lynn Meyers

Director
D. Lynn Meyers
A gray placeholder silhouette on a white background representing a person without headshot

Brian c. Mehring

Scenic Designer
Brian c. Mehring

Chris Lipstreu

Lighting Designer
Chris Lipstreu
A photo of a woman in her 20s-30s with a fair skin tone, brown hair pulled up, and glasses smirking into camera

Hannah Dringenburg

Costume Designer
Hannah Dringenburg
A photo of a man in his 30s-40s with short brown hair and a fair skin tone beaming into the camera

Trey Tatum

Sound Designer
Trey Tatum

Becca Schall

Projections Designer
Becca Schall
A gray placeholder silhouette on a white background representing a person without headshot

Shannon Rae Lutz

Properties Curator & Design Assistant
Shannon Rae Lutz
A photo of a young man with a fair skin tone and brown curly hair and a beard smiling at the camera

Jacob Dowell

Technical Director
Jacob Dowell

Lexi Muller

Production Stage Manager
Lexi Muller
A photo of a young woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and a fair skin tone smiling at the camera

Abby Sauer

Assistant Stage Manager
Abby Sauer

Events & accessibility

Meet the Artists

Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 pm | Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2:00 pm

Stay after the show for a FREE post-show behind-the-scenes discussion with artists from the production.

American Sign Language

ASL-Interpreted Performance

Wednesday, Oct 2 at 7:30 pm

Interpreters perform a translation of the play into ASL alongside the performance in a position with great sightlines to see both the action of the play and the interpreters.

Ask for an assistive listening device at any performance from our box office.

Audio Described Performance

Audio Described Performance

Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2:00 pm

Patrons can use a headset for one ear to hear descriptions of key visual elements inserted into natural pauses in the show, allowing patrons to still hear dialogue, sound effects, and music.

Ask for large print or Braille playbills at any performance from our box office.

Photo credits | First Timer’s Guide, Brooke Steele in The Frog Princess; Ticket Info, Bryant Bentley, Burgess Byrd, and Leslie Goddard-Baum in Detroit ’67 (Mikki Schaffner); Subscriptions, Cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Ticket Discounts, Torie Wiggins in Your Negro Tour Guide. All images by Ryan Kurtz unless otherwise noted.