About Native Voices

Mission Statement

Native Voices at the Autry is devoted to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights.

History

Native Voices at the Autry is the country’s only Equity theatre company devoted exclusively to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights. The company has been hailed by critics as “a virtual Who’s Who of American Indian theatre artists,” “a hotbed for contemporary Native theatre,” “deeply compelling,” and “a powerful and eloquent voice.”

Native Voices provides a supportive, collaborative setting for Native theatre artists from across North America and is committed to putting Native narratives at the center of the American story in order to facilitate a more inclusive dialogue on what it means to be American

Founded in 1994 by Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) and Emeritus Producing Executive Director Jean Bruce Scott, Native Voices became the resident theatre company at the Autry Museum in 1999 and has produced 26 plays (including 22 world premieres) in 39 productions, 25 New Play Festivals, 8 Short Play Festivals, 16 Playwrights Retreats, numerous national and international tours, more than 230 workshops and over 275 play readings.

In 2014 the company established the Native Voices Artists Ensemble to more fully support the extraordinary talents of its Native actors, writers, musicians, directors, designers, and producers. The Ensemble is devoted to developing new work in a collaborative process as well as supporting Native Voices’ ongoing focus on the work of individual playwrights.

Widely respected in both the Native American and theatre communities for its breakthrough plays and diverse programming, Native Voices maintains successful long-term relationships with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, New York’s Public Theater, Vision Maker Media, Washington’s Kennedy Center, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Perseverance Theatre, Montana Rep, and La Jolla Playhouse, where Native Voices at the Autry was also the 2016-2018 resident theatre company.

Native Voices is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, LA Stage Alliance, and the Dramatists Guild; an associate member of the National New Play Network; and a Constituent Theatre of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre.

Equity Productions

Native Voices has produced plays by a diverse group of Native writers, covering an array of subjects from satiric comedies to urban dramas and even radio plays. Please click on Past Productions for a full list of previous shows.

Media Sponsor

first nations experience logo

NATIVE VOICES WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS:

Actors Equity Foundation · Laura and Dean Beresford · Rafael Bruno and Cristian Hamilton · Tonantzín Carmelo · David Cartwright · Peter Chalk and Daniel Neal · Elena Finley Endlich · First Peoples Fund Native Arts Ecology Building Grant · Patty Glaser and Sam Mudie · Carole Goldberg and Duane Champagne · Greenberg Foundation · Shawn Imitates Dog · Helene Jacobs · Judy Jacobs · Shelby Jiggetts-Tivony · Diane Levine · Heidi Levine-Gonzalez · Peter Glenville Foundation · Brenda and Gary Ruttenberg · Seeley W. Mudd Foundation · The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation · Cynthia Burstein Waldman and Vincent Waldman

NATIVE VOICES SUPPORT COMMITTEE:

Tonantzín Carmelo · Elena Finley Endlich · Carole Goldberg and Duane Champagne · Kimberly Guerrero · Shelby Jiggetts-Tivony · Diane Levine · Heidi Levine-Gonzalez · Daryl Roth · Gloria Steinem
 

Land Acknowledgment

The Autry Museum of American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

The Autry Museum in Griffith Park

4700 Western Heritage Way

Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Located northeast of downtown, across from the Los Angeles Zoo.
Map and Directions

Free parking for Autry visitors.


MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

DINING
Food Trucks are available on select days, contact us for details at 323.495.4252.
The cafe is temporarily closed until further notice.