Set in a war-stricken, dystopian South where women are confined to homemaking and men reign as self-proclaimed God-fearing leaders, If The Creek Don’t Rise follows Lindsey and Susie as they struggle to survive the sudden outbreak of what appears to be an alien apocalypse. When eerie, otherworldly beings begin to rise from the waters of Ebenezer Creek, a site haunted by the tragic drowning of enslaved people during the Civil War, the women must rebuild from the ruins of their lives and beliefs. As history resurfaces in terrifying new forms, the arrival of a man named “Dick” forces them to confront a chilling truth: the creatures may not be invaders, but something far too familiar.

Help Bring If The Creek Don’t Rise to Life: Support a Workshop Process

If The Creek Don’t Rise was developed with The Vagrancy for their BLOSSOMING: Workshop Edition and received a public reading in May 2025.

My name is Tyree Marshall and I’m raising $12,000 to support a vital next step for my new play: a workshop process that will help bring this story fully to life. The funds will cover artist stipends, space rentals, dramaturgical support, and the resources needed to develop the play with care, rigor, and imagination.

As an emerging playwright, I’ve poured my heart into this piece writing through grief, ancestral memory, and the hope of transformation. This workshop would be more than just a phase of development. It’s a chance to honor the voices this play holds, deepen its impact, and ensure it’s staged with the creative ecosystem it deserves.

If you believe in stories that challenge form, resurrect memory, and uplift Black futures, please consider donating. Every contribution, big or small, brings this play one step closer to reaching the stage.