Photo by Mike Roberto
Climate Change Performances
2020-2030
Farm Arts Collective’s primary performance project is DREAM ON THE FARM, a decade-long performance cycle focused on climate change. Directed by artistic director Tannis Kowalchuk, the collective is creating one new climate change play annually from 2020-2030.
Dream on the Farm PLAY #5
CONFERENCE FOR THOSE STILL LIVING
Coming August 2024
“Conference for Those Still Living” tells the story of a group of people summoned by their mutual friend, a world-famous ornithologist, who has organized a weekend retreat on a farm. The subject of the retreat: Climate Change. His guests are an international group of artists, scientists, philosophers, meteorologists, chefs, farmers, and anarchists—a mixed lot with varying opinions and stories. Each guest has been asked by the ornithologist to prepare a presentation to share with the other attendees. The prompt being: How has climate change affected your life and livelihood?
When the ornithologist does not show up at his own conference, a mystery ensues to his whereabouts. He was last seen in the Amazonian rainforest of Columbia on a research project into extinct birds. As the attendees carry on with the conference in his mysterious absence, the anxiety and concern for their missing friend is a wrenching parallel for the anxiety they feel about climate change and their own lives. The gripping mystery comes to a conclusion, and the friends depart, changed forever.
In play #5 of Farm Arts Collective’s immersive DREAM ON THE FARM experience, the audience will also be conference delegates. They will even be invited to participate in a group discussion at one point in the fictional conference. The performance will also feature live music and spectacular elements with the farm as a beautiful back drop to the scenario of a retreat.
Like all DREAM ON THE FARM shows, we will conclude with a shared farm meal with our audience to offer space and nourishment in order to continue the conversation inspired by the evening’s performance.
We believe that Climate Change is the greatest local and global issue of our time. As rural artists, we are compelled to address this issue as it affects everyone, especially the most vulnerable. We have told many stories in the DREAM ON THE FARM series. In fact, we are at the mid-point of this decalogue.
We have observed that art has a profound way of addressing climate change. No other medium can deliver the same impact as live story, music, and theatre. We aim to offer our community an artful message that will hopefully inspire action and ideas for bettering our community.
Dream on the Farm PLAY #4
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE
The More Things Change premiered August 2023.
The promenade performance told the tale of a multi-generational farm family who is offered a large sum of money to sell their organic farm land to a group of developers who want to turn the farm into a “bio-diversity” theme park called EcoLand.
Told in a series of memories by the narrator, the audience was led across Willow Wisp Organic Farm to witness scenes and vignettes. When the developers arrive on the farm and make their offer, a riveting family drama unfolds as they decide what to do in the face of climate change—to sell or not to sell?
The More Things Change features original music, spectacle, and a poetry of performance that works in a unique harmony with the landscape and bucolic vistas of Willow Wisp Organic Farm. The audience was invited to a farm-fresh meal following the show as part of the performance experience.
Supported by National Endowment for the Arts, Radio Drama Network, William E. Chatlos Foundation, Honesdale National Bank and Deep Roots individual donors.
Review of the performance in The River Reporter
Dream on the Farm PLAY #3
TAVERN AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
Tavern at the Edge of the World, premiered August 2022. Set in the year 2062, on a farm in Northeastern Pennsylvania sits the Tavern at the Edge of the World. Run by the Spider Sisters of Arachne, the tavern is a place of refuge from a world in crisis from climate disasters. But the tavern faces both external and internal threats to its existence. The Spider Sisters must weave their web of mastery to survive and spread the seeds of future life on the planet.
Tavern at the Edge of the World is speculative fiction directed by artistic director Tannis Kowalchuk, the act 2 opera is composed by Doug Rogers with Mark Dunau, play text by Hudson Williams-Eynon, dramaturgy by Melissa Bell. The devised original work was created collaboratively and performed by the artists, musicians, and farmers of Farm Arts Collective.
Review of the performance in The River Reporter.
Dream on the Farm PLAY #2
THE SCIENTISTS
The Scientists premiered August 2021. Directed by Tannis Kowalchuk with co-director Mimi McGurl, and performance material created and performed by the ensemble. The play follows the journey of two deceased American scientists, Carl Sagan (astronomer) and Lynn Margulis (microbiologist) who are reunited in a boxing ring and challenged to compete to “help save life on the planet.” The scientists embark on a competitive fact-finding journey meeting a host of characters along the way.
Featured in THE NEW YORK TIMES , this performance for all ages incorporates live music, real science, stilt walking to imaginatively explore the world of climate change through two lenses -- the microscope and the telescope. Seen at ARTPARK in Lewiston, NY, to the Scranton Cultural Center, and Unison Arts in New Paltz, NY.
Dream on the Farm PLAY #1
THE EXTINCTION EVENT
The Extinction Event premiered August 2020. The story brought the character of Mother Nature to the farm where she is holding an “Extinction Event” to warn humans of their destructive and risky behavior on the planet. The play features characters that include DJFrog, Spider, Praying Mantis, Farmer, Stardust, Deer, Storm Chaser, Pigeon, Cavewoman, Deity of the Atmosphere.
The Extinction Event was created and performed by the Farm Arts Collective ensemble of 15 musicians, actors, stilt walkers, ecologists, farmers, and Chief Gentlemoon of the Lenape-Nation of PA. Dream on the Farm featured: Tannis Kowalchuk (Mother Nature), Jess Beveridge ( Spindra the Spider), Annie Hat (Stardust), Doug Rogers (Farmer), Gregg Erickson (Praying Mantis), Jon Jon Thomas (DJ Frog), Julia Kerhly (Deity of Atmosphere), Cecilia Parker (Deer) Michael Chojnicki (Pigeon), John Roth (Salesman), Babe Howard (Storm Chaser), Celeste Crowley, Devon Church, Ada Roth (Musicians), Janus Adams (Voice of Grandmother Nature), Melissa Bell (Writer) Mark Dunau (writer), Sue Currier (costumes)
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Farm Arts Collective would love to come to your community! We are currently touring repertory performances for presentation in theatres, public venues, schools, parks, and farms. We also have street theatre pop-ups to enliven festivals, parades, parties, and street fairs.
Praise for Farm Arts Collective