October 30, 2017

Mutant Water Babies is an original musical receiving its first workshop production through the collaboration of Drexel’s Co-Op Theatre Company and New York based theater company CollaborationTown (CTown). Mutant Water Babies is a timely work that takes us to a future society suffering from the pollution it’s created. The production Directed by C-Town Co-Artistic Director Geo Decas O’Donnell, who also wrote the book and lyrics for the show.  The original music was composed by Nicholas Williams. Taking inspiration from Euripides’ The Bakkhai, the myth of Hermaphroditus, and playwright Charles Mee, O’Donnell combines these ideas and structures to create a work about environmental destruction, gender, and how society responds to diminishing natural resources. Mutant Water Babies will be playing at the Mandell Theater from November 8th through the 19th.  

Mutant Water Babies will explore and share perspectives on some of society’s most topical issues. O'Donnell reflected, “We need rituals; we need to come together, disorient ourselves, confront ideas and engage with each other. We also need some entertainment, and it needs to have some teeth, the edges can't be too smooth. We need some radical empathy and that is what our little show is hoping to bring to our world.”

Drexel’s Co-Op Theatre Company isn’t new to producing and developing experimental works. “The growth in the Co-Op Theatre Company has led us to expand our work from developing artists to having our artists create new work,” said Professor, Program Director, and MPiRP artistic director, Nick Anselmo. “We have been doing this for a while with the annual NewWorks Festival, and other residencies including Welcome To Campus, From Beneath It Lurks, last year’s Devil’s Auction, and now partnering with CTown to lend our creative talents to helping them develop this new work.”

Through MPiRP, students continue to rise to the challenge of holding their own on stage with some of Philadelphia’s finest theater artists. As a result of this program we’ve seen numerous professional relationships develop between our students and the regional theater community.  One of our students, who you will see on stage in Mutant Water Babies, will be featured in an upcoming Inis Nua production as a result of his participation in last year’s residency.

November 8-19 // Mandell Theater // Click here to purchase tickets, or visit the box office: 3220 Chestnut Street

CTown creates ensemble-driven works that defy expectations of traditional theatre. They are known for their unique devising process that encourages artists to challenge themselves outside their comfort zones, and integrates various styles, opinions, and philosophies. The company is led by Boo Killebrew, Geoffrey Decas O’Donnell and Jordan Seavey, who formed the company while students at Boston University. CTown has been commissioned by the New Victory Theater and Lincoln Center Theater-LCT3. 

About Mandell Professionals in Residence Project

The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) is an Antoinette Westphal College Department of Performing Art’s collaborative program bringing theatre and dance professionals on to the Drexel campus for performances, production and instruction. Drexel students are given opportunities to work hands on with professional artists to produce high quality productions. Members of the Drexel University community are enriched by the high quality of dance and theatrical productions being offered through MPiRP in the Mandell Theater. Philadelphia is fast becoming one of the most important places in the country for innovative and exciting theater and dance, and MPiRP provides valuable space for some of these up and coming performing arts organizations and artists. For more information, click here.