Portland State University: Deep Water

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.

Length: approx. 60 minutes with no intermission

​Content: This production includes brief profanity

Deep Water is made possible through generous funding from Portland State University, Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC), Portland Arts and Culture, and Portland Arts Access Fund.

CAST

Val: Lindsey Rae Johnson
Bluejay: Phoebe Gildea
Traveler 1: Gina Adorno
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
Lisa Neher, production manager
Lisa Neher, costume & prop designer

CREW

Alex Homer, assistant stage manger & lighting technician
Zachariah Barbour, lighting technician
Rebecca Ralston, a/v playback operator

ASL INTERPRETERS

Jessy Severe & Chelsea Huber

ACCESSIBILITY
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.