Bloom Bloom Pow by Genevieve Simon

Bloom Bloom Pow is a climate-doom-comedy. This rural queer adventure is an underwater romance. It’s a workplace nightmare. It’s a devastating reminder that we can’t fix our parents. But good news -- the algae’s growing bigger every day! Oh wait, that’s bad news for us. Inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon, toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes, and phone calls with your mom, this highly theatrical...
Bloom Bloom Pow is a climate-doom-comedy. This rural queer adventure is an underwater romance. It’s a workplace nightmare. It’s a devastating reminder that we can’t fix our parents. But good news -- the algae’s growing bigger every day! Oh wait, that’s bad news for us. Inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon, toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes, and phone calls with your mom, this highly theatrical play celebrates resilience and joy in the face of climate devastation.
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Bloom Bloom Pow

Recommended by

  • Jan Rosenberg:
    17 May. 2020
    “ I am never going to look at the Hudson River the same way again...the dead horse at the bottom of the ocean is the most frightening and metal thing I've ever heard. I love that this will be played by mostly non-cis actors and that it centers on a non-binary person. And the dialogue between the museum employees killed me. Great work! ”
  • Jordan Elizabeth Henry:
    8 Mar. 2020
    “ Wow, wow, wow. This play blew me away. A delight to read, I can only imagine what it would be like to experience BLOOM BLOOM POW as a full production. If you're looking to produce something experimental that delves deeply into our changing, decaying world, this play is for you. If you're looking to read something that will challenge and inspire you, this play is for you, too. ”
  • Paul Michael Thomson:
    24 Feb. 2020
    “ In this psychedelic meditation on isolation, intimacy, environmentalism, and the breast stroke, Simon weaves and unravels a beautiful character study in an increasingly ugly world. The dialogue is sharp, the imagery is visceral, and, in the center of it all, Mag stands charming, infuriating, and very, very scared. I, for one, would love to see a workshop production of this piping-hot new play. ”

Character Information

The role of MAG must be cast with an actor who is nonbinary, or gender non-conforming.
All other roles (except MOM and FLOYD) can also be played by non-cis identifying actors.

This play is built for characters to be doubled or tripled. The only character that cannot double with anyone else is MAG.

For example:
Mag
Mom/Lake Superior
Dead Horse/Keke/Lake Ontario
Creature/Algae
Alice/Lake Erie
Floyd/Oscar/Lake Michigan
Frances/Dad/Lake Huron

  • Mag
    24,
    Any
    ,
    Non-binary, they/them
    trying as hard as possible to be "fine"
    impulsive, deeply private, quietly charming, at times deadpan, losing their grip on what is real
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary
  • Alice
    30s,
    Any but preferably POC
    ,
    She/her
    just moved here temporarily for work, a queer woman Mag likes, finds the beauty in life, might want something more than "casual"
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • A Dead Horse at the Bottom of the East River in New York City, circa 1832
    a know-it-all, quite charming, revels in filth
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Mom
    50-65,
    Any
    ,
    She/her
    Mag's mom, concerned with safety, stuck in a loop
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • The Creature
    elegant and trustworthy, carries a warning for Mag, a shapeshifting vision, quite grounded
    (also plays a Barista and a Gynecologist)

    This character can be played by an actor of any race, however it cannot be the ONLY character played by a POC-presenting actor.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Dad
    50-65,
    Any
    ,
    he/him
    Mag's dad, grateful for sunny days
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Residency
    ,
    Arts on Site
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    The Tank
    ,
    2020
  • Workshop
    ,
    corkscrew 4.0
    ,
    2020

Awards

Finalist
,
Ecodrama Playwrights Festival
,
EMOS
,
2022