Mosaic Theater Company brings the D.C. premiere of cullud wattah to the stage, spotlighting the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and offering audiences the chance to engage with local and national organizations fighting for clean water.
Written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza, the play runs at the Atlas Performing Arts Center from April 3-27.
“cullud wattah addresses one of the most pressing social issues of our time: our right to safe, clean water,” said Reginald L. Douglas, Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater. “At the heart of the play, three generations of Black women navigate a world that is literally poisoning them. This production is a powerful family drama and a call for environmental justice, urging audiences to push this movement forward.”
The play is set in 2016, marking 936 days since Flint residents lost access to clean water. Marion, a third-generation General Motors employee, is on the verge of a promotion when her sister’s activism threatens to upend their family’s stability. Forced to confront painful truths and threats to their tight-knit family, the women must fight for their survival.
For director Danielle A. Drakes, cullud wattah is a deeply personal project. “It makes me think about the women in my life — our strength, our survival, our love,” she shared. “This play is powerful, poetic, and urgent, shining a light on Black women’s resilience, environmental justice, and the generational impact of systemic neglect.”
The cast features Obie Award-winner Lizan Mitchell as Big Ma, alongside Kelly Renee Armstrong as Marion, Ezinélia Baba as Plum, Andreá Bellamore-Jeanniton as Ainee, and Khalia Muhammad as Reesee.
Mosaic Theater is expanding the conversation beyond the stage with its Reflection Series, offering community discussions on topics such as restorative ecological practices, D.C.’s own complicated water history, and environmental justice. The series includes a post-show panel on April 25 marking the ninth anniversary of the Flint Water Crisis and an Earth Day cleanup on April 26 along the Anacostia River.
With cullud wattah, Mosaic Theater Company continues its commitment to socially conscious storytelling, bringing urgent national issues to the forefront through the lens of powerful, personal narratives.
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Used code POP20 to save 20% on tickets. Valid on performances from April 3 through April 12. Offer expires April 12.
