A Deep Musical Comedy
THE WATERMAN is a new musical comedy, like if “Splash” met “Little Shop of Horrors” with a soundtrack by The Decemberists. At the bottom of the sea lives a peaceful race of “Water People” who come into conflict with the so-called "Land Men" over their reckless pollution and illegal fishing practices. The two civilizations, both deeply suspicious of the other, are on the eve of a globally destructive war when a half-fish, half-man secret agent called The Waterman goes deep undercover as a human to save the day. We grapple with questions about familial obligations, political war tactics, and what it means to love a half-human/half-fish.
Learn more about THE WATERMAN from cast member Rachel Rosenthal on her blog post!
Production History
THE WATERMAN first surfaced in 2012. Sam De Roest and Kyle Acheson, on a steady diet of improv comedy, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Lagunitas, crafted this show in a matter of weeks to make the cut for Portland's Fertile Ground Festival, a festival for new works...
...where it was well-received as having "sheer wit and nerve" and "beautiful balladeering" (you can check out the press!)
THE WATERMAN then premiered on television! There was a full staged reading and an interview for the Part-Time Playhouse on May 5th, which aired for a few weeks on Portland’s public access cable channel. In Autumn 2013, the first fully produced run of Waterman debuted to sold-out, standing-room-only crowds at Action/Adventure Theatre!
Most recently, THE WATERMAN has made its way to NYC and found a new home with Thicket & Thistle's collaborative family. There it was produced as a part of Ars Nova's All New Talent Festival (ANT FEST) in June 2016 to a sold-out-house. Then in 2021, The Players Theatre in Greenwich village offered T&T a 3-week residency in their beautiful black box!
Cast & Crew
The team that brought you The Waterman at Players Theatre:
Director
JONATHAN FOSTER
Assistant Director
JOSHUA STENSETH
Lighting Designer
ERIN GIBLIN
Stage Manager
PAU TOBAR
Sound
EMMA RUOPP
Music Director
KYLE ACHESON
Assistant Music Director
LINDSAY ZAROOGIAN
The Waterman ….. KYLE ACHESON
Ursula ….. LINDSAY ZAROOGIAN* (also Accordion/Flute)
The Captain ….. SAM DE ROEST
James ….. RACHEL ROSENTHAL
The Doctor ….. JULIANA WHEELER (also Accordion)
Ensemble ….. JONATHAN FOSTER*
Ensemble ….. WILL WATT
Ensemble ….. SARAH YEAKEL
Piano ….. JASON KAEL
Bass ….. MAGDA KRESS
Drums/FX ….. KENDALL PERRY
Guitar ….. ROBERT THOMAS
*Appearing courtesy of the Actors Equity Association
