Bessie, Alice and Margaret are three of the many wives of George Joseph Smith, an Edwardian opportunist who made a living marrying women, taking out life insurance policies for them and subsequently drowning them in their baths. Three ghostly brides surface from bathtubs full of water, to gather evidence against their womanizing, murderous, husband by reliving the shocking events leading up to their deaths. As they make their case, they discover how they have been victimized not only by George Joseph Smith, but also by society at large. Full of rich images, a myriad of characters, a quirky sense of humor and lyrical language, The Drowning Girls is both breathtaking fantasia and social critique.
Get tickets online. Showing January 16 – February 1, 2026 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.
