the ripple, the wave that carried me home
by CHRISTINA ANDERSON
Directed by JACKSON GAY
Produced in association with Goodman Theatre
World premiere
Peet’s Theatre
SEP 10–OCT 16, 2022
Running time: one hour and 45 min, no intermission
the ripple, the wave that carried me home contains light haze effects and one instance of a loud noise.
In this world premiere commissioned by Berkeley Rep, Tony-nominated playwright Christina Anderson brings us a poignant, transporting, and quietly subversive story of racial justice, political legacy, and family forgiveness. Janice’s childhood was steeped in her parents’ activism as they fought for the integration of public swimming pools in 1960s Kansas and taught scores of Black children to swim. But Janice later steps away from her parents’ politics and starts her own life and family far away—until she’s pressed into speaking at a ceremony honoring her father. the ripple, the wave that carried me home is a moving exploration of a family’s response to injustice and a daughter’s reckoning with her political inheritance.
the ripple, the wave that carried me home was developed in The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.
Reviews
“Powerful…brings every period to life with vivid immediacy…Anderson’s enthralling language is peppered with brilliantly evocative turns of phrase.”
– Bay Area News Group
“Christina Anderson has written a touchingly humorous and passionate play that explores racial justice, family dynamics, and the importance of forgiveness. She has captured the essence of decades of a family’s search for racial justice using only her sparkling talent, elegant direction, four excellent actors, and a creative stage set.”
– Berkeleyside
“Anderson’s brilliant writing shows evidence of a careful hand…expertly telling a story of political and familial turmoil…every vignette of a memory passed is immaculate. The work is deeply empathetic, nuanced and above all, honest.”
– The Daily Californian
“In her moving new drama…playwright Christina Anderson gives us what we want — or, more accurately, what we need. A generous and empathetic writer, Anderson allows for triumph amid the tragedy and for growth and understanding amid hostilities and resentments…she even leaves us swimming in the possibility of joy.”
– Chad Jones’ Theater Dogs
Company & Creative Team
For full bios, please see our digital program.
TODD ROSENTHAL | SCENIC DESIGN
MONTANA LEVI BLANCO | COSTUME DESIGN
JASON LYNCH | LIGHTING DESIGN
NOEL NICHOLS, UPTOWNWORKS | SOUND DESIGN
ERIKA CHONG SHUCH | MOVEMENT
MADELEINE OLDHAM | DRAMATURG
JILLIAN CIMINI, CSA | CASTING
LAUREN PORT, CSA | CASTING
ELISA GUTHERTZ* | STAGE MANAGER (SEP 10-OCT 2)
DEIRDRE ROSE HOLLAND* | STAGE MANAGER (OCT 4-16)
KATIE RIEMANN* | ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
BRIANNA BUCKLEY* | GAYLE; YOUNG CHIPPER AMBITIOUS BLACK WOMAN
CHRISTIANA CLARK* | JANICE
RONALD L. CONNER* | EDWIN
ANEISA J. HICKS* | HELEN
PAIGE MAYES | U/S HELEN, GAYLE & YOUNG CHIPPER AMBITIOUS BLACK WOMAN
JAMES WDL MERCER II* | U/S EDWIN
JEUNÉE SIMON* | U/S JANICE
* Indicates a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Season sponsors
In-kind season sponsor
See and hear
- Ronald L. Conner (Edwin) in the world premiere production of Christina Anderson’s the ripple, the wave that carried me home. Directed by Jackson Gay. In association with Goodman Theatre.
- Christiana Clark (Janice) in the world premiere production of Christina Anderson’s the ripple, the wave that carried me home. Directed by Jackson Gay. In association with Goodman Theatre.
- (l to r) Christiana Clark (Janice), Brianna Buckley (Gayle), Ronald L. Conner (Edwin), and Aneisa J. Hicks (Helen) in the world premiere production of Christina Anderson’s the ripple, the wave that carried me home. Directed by Jackson Gay. In association with Goodman Theatre.
- Christiana Clark (Janice) in the world premiere production of Christina Anderson’s the ripple, the wave that carried me home. Directed by Jackson Gay. In association with Goodman Theatre.
- (l to r) Aneisa J. Hicks (Helen), Brianna Buckley (Gayle), and Christiana Clark (Janice) in the world premiere production of Christina Anderson’s the ripple, the wave that carried me home. Directed by Jackson Gay. In association with Goodman Theatre.
By Christina Anderson | Directed by Jackson Gay | Scenic design by Todd Rosenthal | Costume design by Montana Levi Blanco | Co-Lighting design by Jason Lynch and Ray Oppenheimer | Sound design by Noel Nichols, UptownWorks | Movement by Erika Chong Shuch