Flooded allows audiences to examine the apparent American cultural crisis by exploring the current context of American identity. The play’s narrative reveals the disconnect between urban and rural America, juxtaposing positive elements like BBQ, country music, and community values with its darker aspects, such as opioid addiction, violence, racism, and various societal challenges. It emphasizes the need to confront the less savory facets of American culture in order to gain a holistic understanding. Through a collection of autobiographical events retold by two different voices, Flooded introduces the audience to a snapshot of the American experience—a collection of true stories, memories, and lived experiences gathered over the course of four years. This theatrical experiment aims to provide insights into the multifaceted nature of American culture. The presenter acknowledges the show's somber tone, questioning the underlying happiness of Americans and inviting the audience on a journey to understand the nation's deeper identity and to determine its future direction. As the narrative unfolds, the focus shifts to exploring America's roots, delving into the heartland, rural communities, and the individuals who form the lifeblood of the country. This retrospective approach sets the stage for a deeper understanding of where America stands today and where it might go in the future.

Celebrated for her work in contemporary music, opera, and musical theatre, Emily has become a vital force in the Chicagoland arts scene since 2014. A dynamic performer, educator, and entrepreneur, her innovative and collaborative spirit cultivates new audiences through creative, accessible programming. With over fifteen years of executive and arts leadership experience across both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Emily's commitment to her craft and community shines through her diverse body of work.

Her company, Cox Productions, has spearheaded the creation of seven full-length independent albums of contemporary American composers’ vocal, solo piano, and instrumental music since 2020. Emily also made her debut as a solo artist and producer with her one-woman show I Do, I Did, I’m DONE! in New York City with Frigid Theatre in 2023, followed by a co-production of the same show in March 2024 as part of the double-bill Before & After with Petite Productions. Her immersive song cycle Written on the Table Where You Starved Me, supported by a grant from the Musicians Club of Women, had its world premiere in April 2024 as part of the New Music Presents series in collaboration with DCASE and New Music USA. 

Emily has served as Managing Director of /kor/ productions in Chicago since 2020. This past November 2024, Emily served as Executive Producer and Production Manager for the world premiere of Hindsight, a thrilling new opera by Bea Goodwin and Felix Jarrar. This co-production between /kor/ productions and Chicago Fringe Opera was featured in WNIN and WBEZ Chicago, and won over audiences with its sold-out run. In an effort to innovate new experiences for audiences,  /kor/’s digital production of Don Giovanni was nominated for ‘Best Local Opera Production of 2020’ by The Chicago Reader. In 2018, Emily acted as Managing Director of Underscore Theatre Company and oversaw the New Musical Theater Festival, the only American festival for emerging authors and innovative musical theater artists in America. Despite Underscore’s closing in 2022, this Festival continues in production today with Kokandy Productions and Steppenwolf Theatre. Emily’s leadership was instrumental in developing original musicals, including Haymarket: The Musical, which garnered three 2019 Jeff Award nominations and won Best New Musical. The Chicago-based production was extended twice before continuing on in New York at the Globalist Theatre. The show was in development for London's East End before the 2020 global shutdown.

Other production credits include the upcoming the Holiday Concert with Grant Park Music Festival (2025), the annual Bach Marathon Concert with the Chicago Civic Orchestra (2022-present), the Tower Brass Holiday Concert (2022-present), Friday Noonday Concert Series with Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago (2022-present), /kor/ productions’ ‘The Pearl Fishers’ (2021), Eclectic Full Contact Theatre’s Audio Series (2020), Chicago A Capella Holiday Concert (2022-present), The Audio Hour Half Hour series (2020), the annual Mozart Sing Along with Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church (2020, 2021 and 2022), Lux Cantorum’s Holiday Diversity Concert series (2022-present), the Present Musings recording project (2023), the Forget Me Not Ball event (2023), the ”D:Activate” concert series with the City of Chicago (2016), the Scapigliatura Music Festival (2015), Elizabeth Rudolph’s Litany (world premiere, 2020) and Finding Home, Finding Self (world premiere, 2021), Circles, Cycles and Seasons (world premiere, 2022), Reflected Reverberations (world premiere, 2022), Memories in Music: An Evening of Chamber Music by Elizabeth Rudolph as part of the New Music Presents series, sponsored by DCASE and New Music Chicago (Sept 2024), Daniel Felsenfeld’s She:After (world premiere, 2017), and multiple original cabarets with Davenport’s Piano Bar. 

Emily is an active member of Opera on Tap, Opera America, the Musicians Club of Women, The Dramatists Guild of America, New Music Chicago, the Chicago Cabaret Professionals, Chicago Opera Theatre’s Educational Subcommittee, the Illinois Theatre Professionals, and the Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Musicians Club of Women and Petite Productions. Emily is a 2020 Chicagoland Stratera Artist Mentorship Mentee, and the Artistic Director and founder of Cox Productions. She currently writes and directs new musical works throughout the Chicagoland area.

Emily Cox (she/her) - Writer, Actor, Producer
Johanna Moffitt (she/her) - Director, Actor, Producer