Where are the whales?
This question is a main one the characters of Deep Blue Sound by Abe Koogler pose in the play. An answer audiences will discover for themselves when Alley Repertory Theater’s production hits the stage at Visual Arts Collective in March 2026.
On an island in the Pacific Northwest, the community gathers to address the disappearance of the local orca pod. Friendships fray, tumors grow, new love blooms, wood is chopped, and poems are written. Is the absence of the whales a seasonal glitch? Or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? Deep Blue Sound is a funny and moving play about the connections we make — and the ones we long to make — to other people, and to the world around us.
Powerhouse cast comprises quirky community of Deep Blue Sound
Patti O’Hara, David Rose, Janet Lo, Liberty Leeds, and Andres Maldonado are long-time performers on the Alley Rep stage. Patti was last seen in Grand Horizons (2025), while David first performed with Alley Rep back in its inaugural season, and was most recently seen in The Normal Heart (2023).
Janet has multiple appearance with Alley Rep, the most recent in Hot Asian Doctor Husband (2022). Liberty has worn many hats (directing, staff, acting) with Alley Rep, last appearing on stage in Cabaret (2022) and at both Alley Palooza events. Andres recently returned to the Treasure Valley after completing graduate school, and last appeared with Alley in In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play) in 2023.
Nova Calverley-Frye, Katy Weyand, Rebecca Paterson, and Jonathon Lythgoe are making their Alley Rep debut but bring plenty of experience, joy, and knowledge to the stage.
Nova has appeared with in productions at Boise Little Theater and The Boise Bard Players. Katy is making her first onstage appearance since she moved to Boise and was the stage manager for Alley’s production of Oklahoma! last December.
Rebecca recently appeared in Perfect Wedding at Stage Coach Theatre, while Jonathon has performed around the world — from Boise to Pittsburgh to Hong Kong and back to Boise now with this production.
Deep Blue Sound opens with a pay-what-you-want performance on March 5, with performances running through March 15.
PRODUCTION TEAM: Buffie Main (director), Taylor Hawker (assistant director), Sophie Ventresco (stage manager), Amber Ellis (scenic design/properties manager), Wendy Fox (costume designer), Chaz Gentry (lighting designer), Blake Green (sound design steward/sound engineer), Jason Haskins (dramaturg), Elena Maddy (production manager), Samuel Stimpert (technical director)