Del.icio.us Digg! Facebook Google LinkedIn MySpace reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Twitter Live Yahoo! Buzz Email
Past Productions
Native VoIces at the Autry
Tales of an Urban Indian
Written and Performed by Darrell Dennis (Shuswap)
Directed by Herbie Barnes (Ojibway)
March 14-28, 2010Acclaimed Canadian writer and performer Darrell Dennis told the semi-autobiographical tale of a young Indian man, Simon Douglas. From living life on the “Rez” to navigating the mean streets of Vancouver’s east side, Dennis weaved a funny and stirring story of identity, discovery, choice, and self-respect. This one-man show made its West Coast premiere following a Canadian tour and two nominations for the Dora Mavor Award, the highest theatrical honor in Canada, and its US premiere at The Public Theater last spring.
Carbon Black
Written by Terry Gomez (Comanche)
Directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
November 7-22, 2009This taut psychological drama focuses on the relationship between an agoraphobic mother and her precocious son, Carbon ‘Inky’ Black. When young Inky claims to have witnessed a horrific murder, his mother’s refusal to acknowledge the tale, and her crippling dependence on sensationalized media coverage of violence in their city, serve to isolate them both even further. Dejected and often truant from school, Inky Black turns to young and well-meaning guidance counselor Lisa YellowTree, who must fight her own battles with Mr. Tucker, a gruff and seemingly uncaring Vice Principal.
Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light
Written by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke)
Starring Joy Harjo (Mvskoke) and featuring Larry Mitchell
Directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
March 12–29, 2009From musician, poet, and now playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke) comes a deeply compelling personal journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and ultimately healing. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, and song, Harjo reflects on life stories, the tales and traditions of her people, and takes a few turns blowing a mean jazz saxophone. An allegorical work of tremendous power, Wings demonstrates how theater and art can bring life full circle.
Los Angeles Times IndyBay.org L.A. Weekly
Salvage
Written by Diane Glancy (Cherokee)
Directed by Sheila Tousey (Menominee, Stockbridge Munsee)
October 31–November 23, 2008Cut Bank, Montana. Blackfeet country. Here, a hard-working family scratches out a life running a salvage yard. In this taut, suspenseful drama, a deadly accident throws them into a turbulent world of doubt, recrimination, and vengeance, pushing their lives into horrific new territory. Can traditional ways pull them back to safety? Or will they be torn apart forever?
Teaching Disco Square Dancing to Our Elders: A Class Presentation
Written by Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Nation)
Directed by Jose Cruz Gonzalez
February 8 - March 2, 2008Follow Kenny and Martin’s adventure as they combine their school projects into “Teaching Disco Square Dancing.” The delicate balance of their friendship is tested when they enlist the aid of Kenny’s Grandma and Amanda, a shy outcast whose presentation topic is on cultural history. Can they work together to finish the project and graduate from middle school, or will stereotypes and teen angst undermine their determination? Bring the entire family and hang on for a bumpy spin around the dance floor!
Super Indian
Written by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo, Creek)
Directed by William Dufris (Mi'kmaq)
April 13 & 14, 2007After eating tainted commodity cheese, a young Hubert Logan discovers he has amazing powers that transform him into “Super Indian.” With his trusty sidekick Mega Bear, Super Indian uses these newfound powers to foil evil on the Leaning Oak Reservation. Don’t miss an exciting evening of hilarity and superhero action as Super Indian and Mega Bear rocket to the rescue.
Berlin Blues
Written by Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibway)
Directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
March 1 - 25, 2007
Using humor to give us insight into love and losses in the land of the Ojibway, the play focuses on a large German conglomerate that descends upon a small Canadian reserve with visions of building the world’s largest Native theme park, “Ojibway World.” This theme park comes complete with bumper canoes, a dream catcher made of laser beams, and Dances With Wolves: The Musical!
Red Road
Written and Performed by Aragon Star (Kickapoo, Creek)
Directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
March 30 - April 30, 2006
Join Grand Ole Opry singer Patty Jones as she leads us through a particularly busy day at Verna Yahola’s All Nations Cafe off legendary Route 66 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. There’s a heap of trouble and a huge storm a-brewin’ as Verna tangles with über-Indian Richard Doolittle, meets British bad boy Danny Dacron, and contemplates a proposal from her good-hearted Navajo fry cook, Emmitt Tsinajinnie. This family-friendly comedy with music features a cast of characters straight out of Indian country—ages 9 to 57—and Miss Starr plays them all!
Stone Heart
Written by Diane Glancy (Cherokee)
Directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
February 17 - March 12, 2006Behind her was a history of betrayal. Before her was an entire continent.
This is the story of Lewis and Clark’s 1804 - 1806 Corps of Discovery told for the very first time through the eyes of Sacajewea and York, the Shoshoni woman and the African slave who courageously traveled to the sea and back. Supported by a unique soundscape of Native flute, cello, fiddle and African drums, this talented cast transforms the stage into the Mandan Village, the Great Falls, the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. Experience the torrents and the snowstorms, the Northern Lights and the pouring rain, the devastation of the Bitter Roots and the magnificence of the Pacific Ocean.
Kino & Teresa
Written by James Lujan (Taos Pueblo)
Directed by Ken Martines (Pueblo)
March 4 - 20, 2005Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this beautiful and poignant romance provides a look into the hearts and minds of two warring communities in 17th-century Santa Fe—the Taos Pueblo and their Spanish conquerors—and demonstrates the need to create a new world free from the political maneuvering of power-hungry leaders on an unwitting path to their own destruction.
Please Don't Touch the Indians
Written by Joseph A. Dandurand (Kwantlen First Nation)
Directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
March 19 - April 4, 2004With Sister Coyote, Brother Raven, Mister Wolf, a tourist, and two wooden Indians, Dandurand’s tender and heart-wrenching tale portrays the struggles and dreams of Native Americans through history. His powerful storytelling style uses animal imagery and social stereotypes to create a strong and moving depiction of Native Americans and their ability to love, laugh, and survive despite tragic loss.
