In 2020, Kathy Arfken and Mark Baer, from the Performing Arts Department at IU Northwest approached CAR to be a partner in The Climate Season, a full school year of climate related theater and community programming.

As a follow up with the previous work of Jeff Biggers in collaboration with CAR, we decided to commission him to write something new, IU Northwest specific, as a Climate Narrative Playwright in Residence.

Biggers developed Kaminski’s Lot through a process of interviews with students, faculty and community members, as well as historical and field research

Set in Gary, Indiana in 2021, Kaminski’s Lot follows the journey of a vanload of IUN students and their professor, who must take refuge in a greenhouse at a seemingly abandoned lot when a disastrous storm shuts down the area. In a celebration of storytelling, led by an urban farmer and her niece, Kaminski’s Lot places the questions of legacy, culture and personal histories on stage, in a time of climate crisis.

It played onstage at Theater Northwest November 4,5,6 and 11,12,13,2021. It was directed by IUN faculty Mark Baer. Katherine Arfken and Corey Hagelberg were the co-producers.

Cast: Denina White (Earline), Mia Godfrey (Simone), Joseph Bugajski (Professor Alex), Emma Ton (Eva), Jasmine Jaramillo (Reyna), Tyler Marrie (Stace), Shallon Farmer (Joyce)