Cataclysm! tells the story of survivors who find each other after our nation suffers a complete environmental, governmental, and financial collapse. This unlikely group of pioneers must create a new society and decide what they want to bring with them from the past—and what should be left behind. Their tenuous first days, relationships, stories, memories, and selves then become the subject of future generations’ mythology.

The show was our third in our series of original summer work. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, fallen prey to an environmental disaster, we chose to do it as a site-specific piece at an old limestone mine just outside Telluride. Our designer, with help from the cast, constructed a stage set into the side of an old tailings pile on the edge of a craggy cliff, 500ft above the nearest road. The performance was done outside, with no shelter for the cast or audience. It rained twice during the performance and their was one mid-show arrest. Sasha performed with walking pneumonia. And who says theatre isn’t a contact sport.

 

Writer: Sarah Gancher

Director: Jen Wineman

Designer: Melissa Trn

Performers: Sam Burgess, Sasha Cucciniello, Dahlia Mertens, Tom Shane, Colin Sullivan, & Shaun Greagor.

Original Music & Live Performance: Ethan Hale

Date & Space: July 31-August 1st, 2010 at The Deep Creek Mine