Of Farms & Fables

Open Waters Theatre Arts is committed to creating opportunities for dialogue, community, and cultural exchange through the production of theatrical events. Of Farms and Fables combines the efforts of professional and non-professional artists by engaging artists in farm work and farm workers in storytelling and acting. The result will be an original outdoor performance in Summer 2011 which will engage performers and audience in dialogue about local agriculture, farming, and the future of small family farms in Maine.

Maine is distinctive among US states for having a vibrant organic farming community (including the oldest organic farming association, MOFGA, in the US); an abundance of family-owned farms, many going back generations; a nationally recognized local food cuisine which the New York Times says makes Portland “a destination for rigorously local and regularly delicious food.” We appear to be reversing a decades long decline, in Maine and nationally, in the number of farms, farm acreage, and farming communities. At the same time, the pressure to develop our open spaces is tangible, with many of the opinion that this development represents our only viable economic option. This pressure poses considerable threat to our local farms.

Open Waters’ artist residency begins in May, 2010!

Three farms will host three theatre artists for twelve weeks . . .

A full-scale production featuring farm employees will be presented in August of 2011.

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