2018 Relentless Award Semifinalist and poet-playwright Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s new Afro-surrealist play premieres at The Public about three generations of Black women living through the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
It’s been 936 days since Flint has had clean water. Marion, a third generation General Motors employee, is consumed by layoffs at the engine plant. When her sister, Ainee, seeks justice and restitution for lead poisoning, her plan reveals the toxic entanglements between the city and its most powerful industry, forcing their family to confront the past-present-future cost of survival. As lead seeps into their home and their bodies, corrosive memories and secrets rise among them. Will this family ever be able to filter out the truth?
Directed by Lilly Award winner Candis C. Jones, CULLUD WATTAH blends form and bends time, diving deep into the poisonous choices of the outside world, the contamination within, and how we make the best choices for our families’ future when there are no real, present options.
Crystal Dickinson, known for her Broadway performances in "Clybourne Park" and "You Can’t Take It With You," brought her extensive stage experience to the cast of "Cullud Wattah," having also appeared Off-Broadway at esteemed venues like Lincoln Center and The Public Theater. more...
(Understudy)
Jennean Farmer, an award-winning lighting designer known for her "clever" and "inventive" designs as praised by The New York Times, brought her expertise to Cullud Wattah, adding a visually integrated environment to the show's landscape and language. more...
Lizan Mitchell, known for her extensive work on Broadway in productions such as *Electra* and *Having Our Say*, and her Off-Broadway performances in *for colored girls...* and *The Visitor*, brought her remarkable talent to the stage in *Cullud Wattah*. more...
(Understudy)
Ta’Neesha Murphy, a Washington, D.C. native and recent graduate of SUNY Purchase BFA Acting Conservatory, made her professional theatre debut in the poignant production of Cullud Wattah, a project that reaffirmed her passion for bringing powerful stories to the stage. more...
Andrea Patterson, who recently captivated audiences as Queen Woodville in the New York Times Critics’ Pick Seize the King, brought her remarkable talent to the stage in Cullud Wattah, continuing her impressive career that includes notable performances in Dominique Morisseau’s three-play cycle at Detroit Public Theatre. more...
Alicia Pilgrim, a Duke Ellington alumna and recent graduate of SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory, showcased her talent in "Cullud Wattah" following her performances in "A Thousand and One" and "Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play." more...
(Understudy)
Chavez Ravine, known for their dynamic performances, has graced the stage in notable Off-Broadway productions such as The Visitor at The Public Theater and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye at The Duke on 42nd Street, bringing a wealth of experience to their role in Cullud Wattah. more...
Lauren F Walker, an alumna of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and SUNY Purchase College, brought her multifaceted talent to the stage in Cullud Wattah, adding to her impressive resume that includes performances in MCC’s Charm and The Public’s Julius Caesar. more...
Awards and Nominations
2022 Drama Desk Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Play: Andrea Patterson was nominated but did not win.
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