THE GREAT IMMENSITY  /
Photos by Michael S. Nolan and the Artists

Exploring the environment and the future of our planet.

Polly, a photojournalist, disappears while working in the rainforests of Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal. Phyllis, Polly's twin, embarks on an international search for her lost sister that spans the North American continent, from the tropics to arctic Canada. The play weaves actual interviews with locals from the two regions and some of our nation's top scientists into the twins' story, as the sisters struggle to survive polar bears, tundra buggies, snakes, and a Chinese pimp - all while grappling with the harsh and seemingly hopeless realities of climate change.

The Great Immensity 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 have natural ecosystems already deeply affected by the shift in climate, centers of scientific research, and relationships 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 individuals such 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.

Download the pdf to see The Civilians' cover story in the Princeton Environmental Institute Newsletter about the work-in-progress showings of the play and the company's 2009-2010 residency at PEI and the Lewis Center for the Arts!

• The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• Barro Colorado Webcam

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

• Churchill, Manitoba
• Polar Bear International

Explore the ship that gave the project its name:

• The Great Immensity
• Track it!
  ( click the latitude / longitude coordinates to map the current position of the Great Immensity )

CREATIVE TEAM  /

Written by:
Steven Cosson

Directed by:
Steven Cosson

Literary Associate:
Rachel Lerner-Ley

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

PRODUCTION  /

THE GREAT IMMENSITY is currently in development.

During The Civilians' 2009-2010 residency at the Princeton Environmental Institute and Lewis Center for the Arts, the lead artists worked with scientists, policy makers, artists, and students at Princeton University to develop the script and research the many topics associated with climate change.

The play received a Work-In-Progress showing on April 17, 2010 at the Berlind Theatre at the McCarter Theatre Center at Princeton University.

The Public Theater in New York presented a reading of THE GREAT IMMENSITY as part of the New Work Now! Festival on May 12, 2010.