A Fishy Musical Tale of Toxicity to Debut on the Gowanus Canal

From the murky waters of the Gowanus comes a tale of toxicity in song, with a new musical set to debut on the contaminated waters this month. Taking inspiration from the history of the waterway, the story of displacement and pollution will be staged from the shores and on the waters of the canal.

A multi-headed creature who absorbs the memories of those whose waste has found its way into the Superfund site is at the center of The Fish Queen of the Gowanus Canal by composer Wes Braver. Eight actors portray the Fish Queen through a range of songs, from funny to furious. The production is being produced by the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, Gowanus historian Joseph Alexiou, and Gowanus poet Brad Vogel.

Audience members will have the option of watching the action from shore or canoe. A snack barge will glide along the waters. The production is rated PG-13 because of language; “dirty language” being not inappropriate for the setting, notes the description of the production on the Dredgers website.

Right now there is one performance scheduled, on Friday, August 30 from 7 to 9 p.m., but a second performance may be added, depending on demand. Tickets are $25 for land viewing and $45 for a single seat in a canoe. Those choosing the canoe option must arrive early to get a life jacket and sign a waiver. In case of severe weather, there is a rain date. More information and tickets are available online.

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