A Roundtable with the Cast and Director of cullud wattah

On today’s show, host Dana Pellebon is in conversation with Director Ilesa Duncan and cast of cullud wattah,  Jnae Thompson (Ainee), J’Nya Smith (Reesee), Jayda Smith (Plum), and Faerie Afi Mlatawou (Reese/Plum understudy).

It is 2016 and it has been 936 days and counting since Flint, Michigan, has had clean water. Third-generation General Motors employee Marion finds herself on the cusp of a promotion until her sister begins participating in protests accusing the company of poisoning the water. Forced to confront their past and weigh their limited options for the future, the family of Black women finds their tight-knit unit threatened by more than just the toxicity of the water. Written by UW-Madison and First Wave alumna Erika Dickerson-Despenza, this powerful play deconstructs the linear passage of time to ponder the choices we make for the sake of our survival. 

They discuss the ongoing Flint water crisis and break down a key refrain from the play, “there’s money in war, and there’s war in money.” They also talk about the actors’ relationship to their characters, their favorite moments in the play, and what it’s like to perform with an all-Black and femme-identified cast. 

cullud wattah is showing later this month at the UW Vilas Hall-Mitchell Theatre. Tickets are available here. 

Featured image of J’Nya Smith, Jayda Smith, Dana Pellebon, Faerie Afi Mlatawou, Ilesa Duncan, and Jnae Thompson.

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