Borderlands Theater is rehearsing a site-specific piece, “The Water Project,” about a dystopian future in which people must illegally harvest water on Dec. 10, 2018, at the bottom of the Santa Cruz River in Tucson, AZ. Johnathan Heras and Milta Ortiz construct an illegal water harvesting site in the Santa Cruz River bed.
Borderlands Theater is rehearsing a site-specific piece, “The Water Project,” about a dystopian future in which people must illegally harvest water on Dec. 10, 2018, at the bottom of the Santa Cruz River in Tucson, AZ. Johnathan Heras and Milta Ortiz construct an illegal water harvesting site in the Santa Cruz River bed.
Water doesn’t seem terribly dramatic.
Until you consider its shortage, the destruction left in trying to bring it to cities, the pollution that infects it.
Borderlands Theater tackles the subject in its new site- specific piece, “The Water Project.”
It’s a collaboration with the Cleveland Public Theatre; the two theaters received a grant to develop the project.
It premieres here for a one-time performance in the bed of the Santa Cruz River at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, and then will head to Cleveland, where it will be workshopped some more, and will then be presented at a new-play festival next year, says Marc David Pinate, who is directing.
“Obviously, water’s a big issue in the desert, and in Cleveland the (Cuyahoga River) has a lot of pollutants. Water was the universal element.”
The Cuyahoga was so polluted that it caught fire many times. Though it has improved, tons of toxic chemicals continue to be dumped into it.
Milta Ortiz, Jonathan Heras and Feliz Torralba devised the piece, which takes place in the future, when surface waters have disappeared and “diggers” mine for water to sell on the black market.
It was inspired by Donald Worster’s book, “Rivers of Empire,” about how water shaped the West’s political, cultural and physical landscape, says Pinate.
“We’re trying to tell the story of water in movement with media projection, animation and borrowed text from the book,” he says.
And all in the riverbed.
Site-specific works are now Borderlands’ mission, and they have done impressive work in the area — including last April’s Barrio Anita project set in and all about the neighborhood.
Bring chairs and blankets and expect to spend about 25 minutes watching a story about water in the dry river at South Bonita and West Congress, a short walk from the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s free.
For more information, head to borderlandstheater.org
Santa Cruz River

Waterfalls on the Santa Cruz River in 1889 near Sentinel Peak in Tucson.
Santa Cruz River

Girls in Santa Cruz River,1889-1890.
Santa Cruz River

A bridge over the Santa Cruz River near Sentinel Peak in Tucson washed out during flooding in 1915.
Santa Cruz River

Santa Cruz River at St. Mary's Road bridge in 1931.
Santa Cruz River

The Santa Cruz River flows north as seen from Sentinel Peak in Tucson in the early 1900's.
Santa Cruz River

El Convento along the Santa Cruz River, ca. 1910.
Santa Cruz River

Flooding of the Santa Cruz River, Tucson, in September, 1926, from “Letters from Tucson, 1925-1927” by Ethel Stiffler.
Santa Cruz River

Flooding of the Santa Cruz River, Tucson, in September, 1926, from “Letters from Tucson, 1925-1927” by Ethel Stiffler.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

Aerial view of the Santa Cruz River as it winds its way through Pima County north of Cortaro Road in 1953. The county was considering a bridge at several locations, but had to contend with the ever-changing course of the river.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

The Tucson Citizen wrote in 1970, "The Santa Cruz River is a garbage dump" and "even marijuana grows in it." City leaders were pushing to upgrade and beautify the channel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was studying the possibility.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

The Santa Cruz River flowing under the Congress Street bridge in August, 1952. The Garden of Gesthemane is in the background.
Santa Cruz River

By July 24, 1970 the old bridge on West Congress over the Santa Cruz River had to go and be replaced by a new bridge.
Garden of Gethsemane

By July 24, 1970 the figures from Felix Lucero's Last Supper had been on the west side of the Santa Cruz River for more than 20 years. City authorities had decided to leave it in place while a new bridge on West Congress Street was to be replaced.
Garden of Gethsemane, 1964

Volunteers from the Tucson Jaycees and Junior Chamber of Commerce finish restoration of the statues and grounds of the Garden of Gethsemane along the Santa Cruz River in May, 1964. The statues were ravaged by vandals and weather. The city parks and recreation department worked with the volunteers. Artist Felix Lucero began sculpture project in 1938 and finished it nine years later.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

Drought in June, 1974, turned the Santa Cruz riverbed into crunchy chunks of dried mud.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

The Santa Cruz River flowing under Silverlake Road in August, 1970.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

Children play in the Santa Cruz River near Speedway Blvd in August, 1970.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

The Santa Cruz riverbed at Congress Street in November, 1967.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

After years of waiting, crews began clearing debris and channeling the Santa Cruz River in November, 1977, and constructing what would become a 14-mile river park. The Speedway Blvd. bridge is in the background.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

After years of waiting, crews began clearing debris and channeling the Santa Cruz River in November, 1977, and constructing what would become a 14-mile river park.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

The Santa Cruz River looks peaceful flowing underneath Speedway Road after days of flooding in October, 1977.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

Adalberto Ballesteros rides along the Santa Cruz River west of downtown Tucson in 1980.
Santa Cruz River

The Santa Cruz River looking north from Valencia Road in July, 1974.
Santa Cruz River

Junked cars and trash spill into the Santa Cruz River, looking south, just south of Grant Road in July, 1974.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson

Road graders scrape the Santa Cruz River channel between Speedway and Grant roads during bank stabilization construction in May, 1991.
Santa Cruz River

Flooding in Marana after the Santa Cruz River overflowed its banks in Oct. 1983.
Santa Cruz River

A bridge on the Santa Cruz River northwest of Tucson washed out during flooding in October 1983.
Santa Cruz River

Residents watch the surging Santa Cruz River rush past West St. Mary's Road on January 19, 1993.
Santa Cruz River

Tucson firefighters are standing by and waiting for two kids floating in the Santa Cruz River on some type of object during flooding in July, 1996.
Contact reporter Kathleen Allen at kallen@tucson.com or 573-4128. On Twitter: @kallenStar