About the Program
Toward a Climate Haven is a project blending sustainability science with performance art to address Western New York's role as a potential climate refuge amid its own climate uncertainties. This program is brought to you by the Department of Environment and Sustainability and the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The one-hour May 11 program includes:
·         An overview of the “Erie County Community Climate Action Plan” from Sustainability Coordinator Tracy Skalski.
·         A reading of climate narrative excerpts from the Imagining Futures Workshop presented by Kacey Stewart and Tori Lannon with Lindsay Martinez, with a certificate ceremony to follow.
·         A new play, An Unlikely Refuge* by Bella Poynton, directed by Eero Laine, premieres with a workshop production featuring actors Connor Graham, P.K. Fortson, Lily Jones, and Reumann.
*An Unlikely Refuge was commissioned by the Toward a Climate Haven research team and is made possible by the SPARC (Seed Projects in Arts and Sciences Research and Creative Activities) program in the UB College of Arts and Sciences.
·         A Q & A with the Toward a Climate Haven researchers and the An Unlikely Refuge production team.

Who
The Toward a Climate Haven research team includes Professor Tim Chevral, Assistant Professor Susan Clark, and Postdoctoral Associate Kacey Stewart from the Department of Environment and Sustainability, and Professor Lynne Koscielniak and Associate Professor Eero Laine from the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Imagining Futures Workshop Honorees and Story Titles
Mohammad Bhuyian, “Seeds of Salvation”
Tulayha Chowdhury “What One Does”
Athena Clabeaux, “Ashes”
Xavier Eagles, “PLACEBO”
Tazrian Kamal, “Solair”
Leah Malecki, “Meliorism”
Nfn Nazifa, “An Eco-Friendly Oil”
Karli Pilgrim, “The HPA’s APH’s”
Tia Porter, “Frozen Breath”
Lucy Rados, “Something in the Water”
Lila Rawlins, “Biking Awake”
Camarrey Virgil-Mack, “A New Reality”

An Unlikely Refuge Production Team
Playwright: Bella Poynton
Director: Eero Laine
Set and Lighting Designer: Lynne Koscielniak
Costume Designer: Catherine F. Norgren
Sound and Projection Designer: Nicholas Quinn
Company and Stage Manager: Ally Hasselback
Technical Director: Jon Shimon
Associate Set Designer, Charge Scenic Artist, and Props Manager: Jennifer Lynn Carter
Associate Lighting Designer, Programmer, Board Op: Ethan Borrok*
Assistant to the Costume Designer/Wardrobe Supervisor: Moth Medina*
Assistant to the Sound Designer and Board Op: Noah Beckwith*
Assistant to the Projection Designer and Graphic Designer/Dresser: Lisa Gallagher*
Assistant Stage Manager: Faith Marsala*
Fly Captain: Ashtyn Rozenberg*
Fly/Deck Crew Member: Elle Dixon*
Props Run Crew: Chris Ochman*

* Student theatre design/tech/management collaborators work across areas including, but not limited to, design studio work, fabrication processes, and run crew.

Technical Staff: Tom Burke, Cindy Darling, and Rick Haug
Environment and Sustainability Dramaturgs: Holly Buck, Tim Chevral, Susan Clark, Nicholas Rajkovich, and Kacey Stewart
Developmental Play Reading Actors: Connor Graham, Reumann, and Maria Ta
Production Videographer: Braxton Stone
Production Photographer: Ken Smith
House Management Provided by UB Center for the Arts

An Unlikely Refuge Cast (in order of appearance)
Refugee 1: Connor Graham
Refugee 2: Lily Jones
Riverkeeper/Watercarrier: P.K. Fortson
Snow Traveler/Gardener/Woman: Reumann

Looking Ahead
Toward a Climate Haven: Preparing for Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region by Combining Performance and Science aims to foster public engagement and planning through activities, theatrical works, and publications, focusing on creating a socially just and ecologically sustainable community in Buffalo, a projected "climate haven" for climate migrants.   This May 11, 2024 program is a first offering and a chance to workshop An Unlikely Refuge which will be further developed and included in a fall 2024 UB College of Arts and Sciences Event.