Deep Water at Boiler Room Theatre

New Wave Opera and Portland State University Present:

Deep Water (World Premiere) by Caroline Louise Miller

Deep Water is a post-apocalyptic fantasy opera that investigates rage, grief, play, & persistence in the face of gargantuan, destructive forces. Themes include the role of play in affirming our humanity, extending love & care to the non-human (animals, ecosystems etc.), impermanence/permanence, & legibility/obscurity. Deep Water will include devised theater elements. It is 400 years in the future. Val & Bluejay, teenage companions, were chosen in the 21st century to document the fall of humanity during the Anthropocene, cursed to walk to the earth as immortals to fulfill this duty. Deep Water is in the form of episodes… Some feature “travelers” exploring a climate-changed world, with Val & Bluejay on the periphery acting as witnesses and documentarians. In other episodes, Val & Bluejay banter, reminisce, play, & affirm their love. Deep Water takes tonal influence from Tamysn Muir’s short story “The Deepwater Bride,” a sapphic apocalyptic love story that is underpinned by the observation that society is deeply afraid of youth, particularly girls and queer youth, often rendering them frivolous or powerless in narratives. Deep Water positions 2 queer teenagers in the role of history-creation, defining what is worth preserving. --Caroline Louise Miller, Composer & Librettist

CAST

Val: Lindsey Rae Johnson Bluejay: Lisa Neher Traveler 1: Dru Rutledge Traveler 2: Allison Kim-Yok Knotts Stephen Lewis, music director & pianist CREATIVE TEAM Caroline Louise Miller, composer & librettist Christine Freije, stage director Samantha Kemp, lighting designer Eli Cannon, sculpture artist CREW Alex Homer, assistant stage manger & lighting technician Zachariah Barbour, lighting technician Rebecca Ralston, a/v playback operator ASL INTERPRETERS Jessy Severe & Chelsea Huber ACESSIBILITY The Boiler Room Theatre is located on the ground floor of Lincoln Hall and is ADA Accessible. Enter Lincoln Hall from SW Broadway. Performed in English with English Supertitles Sunday, June 21st performance includes ASL interpretation