Water is life. Water is joy. Water is…in trouble. In Parched 2.0, a new play created by Free Street Theater’s youth ensemble, Chicago teens ages 14-19 invited audiences to join them in committing to tangible care for Chicago’s waterways. Alternately funny and horrifying, Parched 2.0 took audiences on a historical journey along the river, into aging pipes, and far below the city to the mysterious Deep Tunnel system. “To know Chicago history is to know a history of water injustice,” says co-director (and Free Street Producing Artistic Director) Katrina Dion. “And young people are looking at history, looking at the decimation of the Clean Air Act, and wondering: Have they been left in the dust? Who is fighting for clean water? And how can they help?” Parched 2.0 was the result of a year-long investigation into Chicago’s history of water access, and covers different territory than the company’s 2019 production of Parched. To create the production, the youth ensemble partnered with Friends of the Chicago River, Freshwater Lab, and P.E.R.R.O. (Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization). The ensemble has participated in water justice convenings, hosted storytelling workshops, and met with clean water activists around the city. Featuring a mix of house-beats & Y2K jams, paired with puppetry, movement and lip-syncs, the play is performed by an ensemble of 14 teenagers.
Parched 2.0 was co-directed by Katrina Dion and Xitlali Celeste, with assistant direction from Gina Montalvo. Designers include Eleanor Kahn (scenic), Conchita Avitia (lights), Sal Yvat (costumes), DJ Cqqchifruit (sound) Chio Cabrera and Agnotti Cowie (puppets).
Devising & Performing Ensemble: Jordan Harris, Ida Xoomsai, Leo Gbegan, Jade Huang, Ollie King, Autumn Belizaire, Destiny Cannon, Makiyah Stanciel, Jaime Geronimo, Zion David, Uzi Celio, Antonio Celio, Jasper Cano, Nadia Ceja
