SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – High Water Theatre Company, founded in 2022, has announced its first full season of productions.
The reveal came at an event at Gilded Club, where the local theater company gathered its “closest friends” to hear the lineup. The announcement comes on the heels of the company’s production of Cabaret, which Jason Pope-Bayne, the managing director of High Water Theatre Company, said made announcing a full season possible.
“Starting out we have to buy the rights one at a time. But thanks to Cabaret and thanks to everyone who came out to support us with Cabaret this past year, we were able to fund our whole season up front,” Pope-Bayne said.
The season includes at least three productions:
- “The Ninth Hour,” a rock opera retelling of the epic “Beowulf” (Nov. 20-21)
- “Quadways,” a world premiere (March 19-20, 2027)
- “The Grown-Ups,” a new play (July 2-3, 2027)
While they are still planning to add some more productions to this year’s lineup, Thorne Hall, the artistic director of HWTC, called it “their most experimental yet.”
“We’re doing at least one show, a little immersive. I’m hoping for two. I love German theater, translations, stuff that’s not usually done in Syracuse. Like, we’re not doing A Chorus Line,” Hall said.
High Water is also taking an unusual approach to the audition process. Usually when a theater company announces a season, it does so before auditions are posted. But for this theater company, it was the other way around.
“We had the permission to do the show, but had not signed the contract yet. I have noticed that the people who have picked up on the hints have picked up on the hints,” Hall said.
Auditions were held only two days after the season announcement, leaving its performers to sign up for auditions without knowing what they were auditioning for. For some, that was nervewracking.
“It’s really weird and nerve-wracking to have auditions in two days and not know what the show is going to be,” Jane Briar, a frequent performer of High Water productions said. “I have no idea what’s going to be coming at me.”
Others had full confidence that the show would be great, despite not knowing anything about it.
“I have, just in general, a lot of faith in High Water to put on a good show,” Maya Foos, another member, said.
Seamus Greene, a newer member to the High Water community, said the secrecy was part of the appeal.
“I liked the mystery of it,” Greene said.
Regardless of not knowing the show, the overall consensus among members was it wasn’t the specific shows that bring them back, but the community they have built for people of all walks of life.
“I knew I was going to audition for High Water again anyway, because I just had the most wonderful time working on Cabaret,” Greene said. “It still feels like I’m coming up short when I say it. It changed my life.”
And for Thorne Hall, that’s been his goal since 2022.
“High Water is growing into something that is really community focused, really trying to do things that other people aren’t doing.” Hall said. “Trying to make opportunities for people who haven’t been in the theater for a little bit, or who have been returning to theater, or people who just want to try something new. And I think that really close to our heart and identity is the community aspect of it.”