DAMASCUS, PA — From Thursday, August 8 through Sunday, August 18, Farm Arts Collective will present “Conference for Those Still Living,” the fifth play of the Dream on the Farm sequence about climate change. The play will be performed at 6:30 p.m. at the new Agri-Cultural Center on Willow Wisp Organic Farm.

Each performance concludes with farm-fresh food.

This year’s play is collaboratively created and performed by the Farm Arts Collective ensemble. It is directed by artistic director Tannis Kowalchuk, and music and lyrics are composed by Doug Rogers. 

The performance ensemble includes company manager Jess Beveridge and members Pam Arnold, Melissa Bell, Rebekah Creshkoff, Ginny Hack, Annie Hat, Lexee McEntee, John Roth, Yurika Sase, Debra Thomas and Hudson Williams-Enyon. Technical production and lighting design is by Kai Brothers; the production technician is Phoenix Murns; set pieces are designed by Kit Sailer and Erin K. Orr. Cooking is by Alicia Grega and Helen Baldus; and poster design is by Karen Hudson.

“Conference for Those Still Living” tells the story of a group of people who are invited to a climate change conference organized by their mutual friend Benjamin Drake, a world-famous ornithologist. The guests include an international mix of artists, scientists and activists. Each guest has been asked by the ornithologist to prepare a presentation with the prompt: How has climate change affected your life and livelihood?

When the ornithologist does not show up at his own conference, a mystery ensues to his whereabouts. As the presenters carry on with the conference in his mysterious absence, the anxiety and concern for their missing friend parallels the anxiety they feel about climate change and their own lives. 

The audience will be invited to walk the farm led by a Willow Wisp Organic Farm farmer. Each actor-presenter will share their research and work with the audience.

It is the mid-point of the Dream on the Farm decalogue. “We aim to offer our community an artful message that will hopefully inspire action and ideas for bettering our community,” a Farm Arts spokesperson said.

Farm Arts Collective is located at 38 Hickory Ln.

Learn more and purchase tickets at www.farmartscollective.org.