The Great Immensity is a new play with music that tackles the monumental topic of the environment and the future of our planet. The play explores the themes of climate change, deforestation and extinction in two distinct locations: Barro Colorado Island (BCI) in the Panama Canal and the city of Churchill in arctic Canada. Both of these extraordinary places share unique natural wonders, a center of scientific research, and a relationship to global shipping: the Panama Canal and the Port of Churchill. (The play takes its name from an enormous Chinese Panamax ship that the authors observed crossing the Panama Canal).  Drawing on interviews with such myriad individuals as botanists, paleontologists, climatologists, indigenous community leaders, polar bear tour guides and trappers, The Great Immensity gives voice to real people whose stories make the reality of present crisis tangible and viscerally felt, inspiring us all to make the profound changes this moment demands.

For more information on the project, click here.

BARRO COLORADO ISLAND, PANAMA:

Photos of The Civilians’ exploration of this unique island:

Click on any of the links below for more information on Barro Colorado:

• The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• Barro Colorado Webcam

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA, CANADA:

Photos of The Civilians’ exploration of this unique town:

Click on any of the links below for more information on Churchill:

• Churchill, Manitoba
• Polar Bear International

Explore the ship that gave the project its name:

• The Great Immensity
• Track it! Click on the Latitude/Longitude coordinates to see where the Great Immensity is now

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT:

The Civilians will be working with scientists, policy makers, artists and students of Princeton University during the 2009-2010 season:

• Princeton Environmental Institute
• Princeton Atelier