“OTHER DESERT CITIES”
by Jon Robin Baitz
directed by Gaetano Santo
Performed at Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna, Melbourne from 5 September – 20 September 2025
Other Desert Cities is a 2011 play by American playwright Jon Robin Baitz. Set in Palm Springs, California, the play follows well-to-do, aging Republicans Lyman and Polly Wyeth as their daughter, Brooke, a liberal-leaning writer, threatens to expose a disturbing family secret through a tell all memoir. This family’s crisis mirrors the American nation’s politics.
The play has been awarded for showcasing its creator’s talents: five Tony Award nominations, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway.
(Text by Chris McLean – Heidelberg Theatre Company)
CAST:
Character…………………. Actor
Brooke Wyeth ………………Jen Bush
Polly Wyeth…………………..Lindy Yeates
Lyman Wyeth………………..Phil Lambert
Silda Wrauman………………Paula McDonald
Trip Wyeth…………………….Liam Gillespie
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director………………………….Gaetano Santo
Assistant Director……………James Antonas
Production Co-ordination…Jim Thompson
Stage Manager……………….Melanie Belcher
Assist Stage Manager & Prompts……Bobbie Parish
Set Design……………………..Gaetano Santo
Lighting Design………………Craig Pearcey
Sound Design…………………John Rowe & Gaetano Santo
Costumes………………………Wendy Drowley, Catherine Christensen, Jenny Gilbert
Properties………………………Jim Thompson, Wendy Drowley, Catherine Christensen
Set Decor……………………….Pam Neivandt
Mural Design………………….Morgan Thomas-Connor
Set Painting……………………Mal Cother, Anne Woodward, Pam Neivandt
Lighting & Sound Ops……John Rowe, Jeff Edwards, Bruce Moorhouse
Special Props………………..Warren Lane & Chris McLean
Set Construction…………..Owen Evans and Doug McNaughton, Phil Holmes, Dave Belton, Brett Hunt, Tim Scott, Noel Purdey, Ashley Deans, Alex Deans, Nick Bartholomew, Blake Egan, Sean Tessari, Ron Thomas, Norm Munks, Chris McLean & HTC members
Photography…………………David Belton & Aislinn Ryan
Program & Poster………….Chris McLean
Publicity………………………Jim Thompson, Morgan Thomas-Connor
Box Office……………………Sally Scott, Carol Farr, Louise Millar-Hoffman, Brett Hunt, Fiona Campbell, Margaret Hassall
Front of House……………..Jenny Gilbert and HTC members
Follow the links below to view photos of HTC’s production of OTHER DESERT CITIES
(Images by Dave Belton)
Other Desert Cities – Final Dress→
Other Desert Cities – Early Rehearsal→
Other Desert Cities – Cast & Director→
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These photographic works and linked galleries by David Belton are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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