by Marcus Renner
- Performance Date: June 1, 2013
The Washing of the Water is about issues of ecology and community in the Hahamonga Watershed Park and the Arroyo Seca waterways. "Dramatic writing depends on conflict," says playwright Marcus Renner, "but this play aims to bring Altadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, and Northwest Pasadena closer together."
A Pasadena native, author Marcus Renner set out to write a play about the Arroyo Seco and Hahamongna Watershed Park. He studied the ecology of the park, read local history, and interviewed over 60 people to understand the issues current residents grapple with. Two years later, he had a play that weaves together the stories of an artist-activist, a homeless teenager, and a divorcing mother as they fight a polluted past and search for a fresh start amidst the wilds of the park.