(UB)
College of Arts and Sciences
University at Buffalo (UB)
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Theatre and Dance
Contact

Special Events

  • Climate Futures Workshop and Reading of 2191, a New Play by Dr. Bella Poynton

    Sept. 18, 2026 at 3 p.m.
    UB Katharine Cornell Theatre

    Free. Registration required.

    Register
    View Playbill

    *Playbill will be available 48 hours before performance.

    The University at Buffalo community is warmly invited to attend a free, public event exploring climate futures, artificial intelligence, and storytelling through both hands-on engagement and a live performance reading.

    On September 18, 2026, participants are invited to join a Scenario Planning for Climate Futures Workshop followed by a public reading of 2191, a powerful new play by playwright Dr. Bella Poynton.

    Event Details

    Date: September 18, 2026

    Location: Katharine Cornell Theatre, Ellicott Complex, North Campus, University at Buffalo

    ·         85 Hamilton Rd, Amherst, NY 14228

    Scenario Planning for Climate Futures Workshop - 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM

    Led by Andrea Harder, PhD Candidate in the Department of Environment and Sustainability, this interactive workshop introduces participants to Exploratory Scenario Planning (XSP), a collaborative method used to help communities prepare for the uncertain impacts of climate change.  Participants will work in small groups to develop plausible future scenarios for the Buffalo region and explore strategies that can strengthen community resilience. The workshop is designed to be accessible to participants from a wide range of backgrounds, and no prior experience is required.

    Complimentary Pizza Supper - 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM

    All attendees are invited to enjoy a free pizza supper between programs.  Registration for the event is required.

    Public Reading of 2191 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

    Presented by playwright Dr. Bella Poynton and director Dr. Eero Laine, alongside members of the cast, this staged reading offers audiences an early look at a new work that will receive its debut production as part of the University at Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance season, April 1-4, 2027.

    About 2191

    Set in a climate-altered future, 2191 follows Fleur, a lone traveler searching for her missing brother while guided by three interconnected AI systems. As anti-AI sentiment escalates and survival becomes increasingly precarious, Fleur journeys toward the last viable freshwater sources along the Great Lakes. Along the way, she confronts a troubling reality: the same technologies keeping her alive may have helped bring about the collapse of the world she inhabits.  Please be advised that 2191 contains depictions of violence, murder, and societal collapse. The play also includes strong language and themes related to mental health distress, loss, and survival.

    Presenters

    Andrea Harder

    ·         PhD Candidate, Department of Environment and Sustainability, University at Buffalo

    ·         Facilitator, Scenario Planning for Climate Futures Workshop

    Dr. Bella Poynton

    ·         Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre, SUNY Oswego

    ·         Playwright, 2191

    Dr. Eero Laine

    ·         Associate Professor, Department of Theatre and Dance, University at Buffalo

    ·         Director, 2191

    Sponsoring Organizations

    SUNY Academic Innovation Grant: Climate Preparedness through the Performing Arts in the Age of AI

    Great Lakes Climate Theatre Initiative

    UB Department of Theatre and Dance

    UB Department of Environment and Sustainability

    UB Climate Futures Humanities Institute Working Group

    Admission

    This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.

    Register here:

    https://www.tickettailor.com/events/glcti/2385665

    Questions about the Scenario Planning Workshop can be directed to: amharder@buffalo.edu

    Questions about 2191 can be directed to: eerolain@buffalo.edu

    General inquires: lk2@buffalo.edu

    Click to subscribe to the Humanities Institute Climate Futures listserv

    The production embraces a stripped-down aesthetic. No lighting or set design, and minimal props and costumes --- effectively, conditions which mirror those which Shakespeare’s players worked in. Elizabethan actors often had only four days of rehearsal. According, our actors will take the stage with script in hand – holding scrolls upon which are their parts so they might reference as they act.

    Henry VI ii has 52 named parts. Our actors will play between four and six roles each. In addition, each will be cast in two “tracks.” Before every performance, a coin flip will determine which track they play for that performance, ensuring that every performance will be unique.

    As the production develops, director Dr. Danielle Rosvally is documenting the behind-the-scenes process on TikTok at: http://www.tiktok.com/@yassifiedshax (look for “Directing Henry” in the video banner).

    Back to top