Arctic Requiem: The Story of Luke Cole and Kivalina

Oct 23 - Nov 15: Fridays (10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13) 8 PM, Saturdays (10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14) 8 PM, Sundays (10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15) 5 PM, Thursdays (10/29, 11/5, 11/12) 8 PM

Arctic Requiem: The Story of Luke Cole and Kivalina is a true story about the first climate change refugees in the United States and San Francisco lawyer Luke Cole's response to their predicament.

Luke Cole (1962-2009) was a leading environmental justice lawyer in San Francisco. A giant in his field, his work is widely known and respected in the Bay Area and beyond. He founded the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment, a non-profit law firm that helps marginalized communities fight the unwanted imposition of environmental hazards.

This unusual play with music presents a collage of stories in layered timeframes. An Inupiat myth tells of Raven, a trickster character existing in all dimensions of time, who creates the world. Raven ushers Luke through an end-of-life dream, as he relives his experiences in Kivalina. Interspersed are stories from the 10,000-year-old Inupiat culture, such as a whaling story of envy and forgiveness among the Kivalina villagers. Deep friendships are formed during the arduous six-year-long Clean Water Act case that Luke works on with the Villagers. Luke shares the Villagers' frustration at the lack of help to relocate their eroding village, and dares to make the controversial Global Warming case on their behalf. Arctic Requiem mourns the loss of Luke Cole, the loss of the Native Inupiat culture, and the loss of Kivalina's habitat due to pollution and climate change.

A world premiere, presented by Bootstrap Theater Foundation, the production is directed by Tracy Ward, with a book by Sharmon J. Hilfinger, music by Joan McMillen, and dramaturgy by Brian Thorstenson. The cast of "Arctic Requiem" features Damon Sperber***, Michael Torres*, Lawrence Radecker**, Cathleen Riddley*, Lynne Soffer* and Gendell Hing-Hernandez* (*AEA) (**SAG/AFTRA).