The National Science Foundation (NSF) once allocated close to $700,000 to produce a climate change musical titled The Great Immensity, a decision that has since drawn sharp criticism over federal spending priorities. The production premiered in Kansas City in 2012 and later appeared in New York City for a brief run in 2014. Adjusted for inflation, that funding would exceed $1 million today.
The musical’s storyline followed a woman searching for her missing sister in Panama’s jungle, leading her through fragile ecosystems such as the Arctic and culminating in uncovering conspiracies around an international climate conference in Paris. Despite its environmental message, critics described the play as uninspiring and uninformative. One reviewer noted that the songs resembled “Wikipedia entries set to music” and that audience members struggled to remain engaged throughout the performance.
This expenditure was highlighted in the 2012 edition of “Wastebook,” a federal oversight report compiled by the late Senator Tom Coburn, known for controlling government waste. The report aimed to expose questionable government spending and included the musical among over one hundred instances of what Coburn categorized as frivolous or ineffective use of taxpayer funds. Coburn’s advocacy earned him the moniker “Dr. No” for blocking numerous projects he deemed wasteful.
The musical resurfaced in public discourse in 2014 when Representative Lamar Smith criticized the NSF for diverting research funds to an artistic project, arguing that taxpayer money should support higher-priority scientific research rather than theatrical productions. In 2017, Mick Mulvaney, then director of the Office of Management and Budget, also cited the musical as an example of excessive and misguided government spending.
While the government plays a critical role in funding scientific research to address climate change, the decision to back a costly musical sparked debate about the most effective ways to educate the public and allocate limited resources. Tools like the OpenTheBooks.com database now provide transparency on federal spending, helping watchdogs and taxpayers track how government dollars are used across all levels.