2019
We Are Here

“The moment we decide to fulfill something, we can do anything. And I’m sure that the moment we start behaving as if we were in an emergency, we can avoid climate and ecological catastrophe. Humans are very adaptable; we can still fix this. But the opportunity to do something will not last for long. We must act today. We have no more excuses.” – Greta Thunberg

A grumpy squirrel hides acorns in a verdant meadow, but misplaces some that he hid. Add some rain and sun, and the squirrel’s forgetfulness grows into a beautiful oak grove, with a regal hub tree at the center. Under the oaks animals play through the changing seasons. All is lovely until – you know what’s coming – greedy developers mark the oak grove as a destination for a new housing development. “We Are Here!” they cry in the face of machines designed to destroy their home.

In act two, we are transported to a metropolis undergoing a series of unprecedented attacks. Reporter Bob Flotsam is on the scene as a succession of man-made problems are met with a succession of man-made solutions, and as the two are sometimes confused. Epic fight scenes ensue, and cause us to ask if modern conveniences are worth the trouble.

The final act is a poignant and personal story by co-artistic director Jan Burger. He tells of his travels around North Carolina fighting for environmental justice, and the story of one very special magnolia tree.