DIRT, created by the collective SOUR MILK (TRAFFIC, FEAST), is an immersive, participatory theatre experience that asks audiences to imagine a radically altered New York City after the East River mysteriously disappears. Rather than observing from their seats, participants step directly into the world of the play, adopting roles as citizens and candidates who must campaign for mayor and debate the future of newly revealed land once hidden beneath the river.

As the performance unfolds, the city is constructed live before the audience’s eyes using unexpected materials: fifteen pounds of pudding form the foundation, while everyday food items become buildings, infrastructure, and symbols of power. This playful yet pointed approach turns urban planning into a tactile, collaborative act.

Blending improvisation, collective decision-making, and hands-on creation, DIRT transforms civic processes like elections and development into a shared game. The result is a constantly evolving theatrical landscape where humor, imagination, and audience choice shape a city—and a story—built in real time.