The 2016 Mad River Festival makes a splash on June 16th with the Dell’Arte Company’s latest work and Mad River Festival mainstage show The Big Thirst. The new play, by Joan Schirle, explores our water woes with humor and song through a “Roger Rabbit meets Inspector Clouseau”-like detective story. The story digs into state water issues unfurling a mystery involving politicians, animals, fish, the river, and an assortment of characters from agri-biz heavies to a sassy crow. The show runs from June 16 to July 3, 2016 outdoors in DAI’s Rooney Amphitheatre.

Playwright and Dell’Arte’s founding artistic director Joan Schirle has written a new detective character, Dolly Madison, mistress of many faces, who runs Dissguys Detective Agency. Dolly is played by DAI’s favorite Humboldt Honey, Janessa Johnsrude (Mary Jane: The Musical). In The Big Thirst, she runs up against some of the hard-hitters in the race to bottle up Northern California’s water. Danger arises when Dolly flushes out some of the secret players in the water story—a saga that has involved the entire West since white settlers started claiming water rights in the mid-1800’s.

The Dell’Arte Company in

THE BIG THIRST

Play & Songs* by Joan Schirle

Additional Music by Timmy Gray

Directed by Michael Fields

Musical Director & Sound Design: Timmy Gray

Scenic Design: Jason Mohatt

Costumes: Lynnie Horrigan

Lighting: Michael Foster

CAST

Dolly Madison, owner of Dissguys Dectective Agency…………………Janessa Johnsrude

Ladybird Johnson Madison, her sister………………………………………..Sarah Peters

Abigail vanBeuren Madison, her other sister/Smelt………….Kaitlen Osburn

Lorna/Belinda/Salmon Ella……………………………………………………..Allie Menzimer

Jake/Louie/Heckel………………………..…………………………….………….James Peck

Crow/Jeckel……………………………………………………………Pratik Motwani

Jean/River/Beaver………………………………………….Claudia Johani Guerrero

Ronald Trumpet/Fisherman……………………………………..Donald Forrest

Skipper……………………………………………………………………….……..Skipper

BAND

Marla Joy, Bass

Jeff Kelley, Guitar

Mike LaBolle, percussion

Tim Randles, Keyboards

“I Sweep the Sidewalk With the Hose” by Nancy White, used by permission

PRODUCTION

Caitlin Volz, Production Stage Manager

James Hildebrandt, Technical Director

Assistant to the Director, Emily Strachman

Timmy Gray, Sound Engineer

Olivia McGahan, Board Operator