Photos: Spiderwoman Theater Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Brooklyn Block Party

The celebration will continue with a takeover of La MaMa's East 4th Street venue featuring Indigenous artists from Turtle Island and beyond.

By: Chloe Rabinowitz Aug. 21, 2026

Spiderwoman Theater - the oldest, continually running, Native feminist theater company in the Americas - celebrated its 50th Anniversary with SPIDERWOMAN THEATER'S BLOCK PARTY POW WOW: AN INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION on Saturday, August 15. See photos from the celebration!

This family-friendly afternoon of art, culture, heritage and neighborhood unity was held on DeGraw Street between Court and Smith Streets on the border of historic Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill where founding members of Spiderwoman Theater, the Miguel sisters, were born and grew up. The Miguels opened up their childhood block for this look back at the history of the community and the neighborhood where Spiderwoman was born. Gloria, the eldest Spiderwoman, was also féted as she marked her 100th birthday.

Performers for SPIDERWOMAN THEATER'S BLOCK PARTY POW WOW: AN INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION included: drummers Wicozani (from CT); The Tonepahhote Dancers, Joe Cross, Alyssa Mosely and Jamie John; Ms. Josephine and David Terhune with vocalists Jayden Avery Love and ISA; Aanmitaagzi (Penny Couchie, Sid Bobb and Ouske Couchie-Bobb) from Nipissing First Nation with dancers from their Summer Arts Program; SilverCloud Singers; MC Louis Mofsie of the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers; and Murielle Borst-Tarrant performing an excerpt of her one woman show "Tipi Tales from the Stoop." This event was curated by Josephine Tarrant.

SPIDERWOMAN THEATER'S BLOCK PARTY POW WOW: AN INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION kicked off a year-long celebration that will continue in Autumn of 2026 as Spiderwoman Theater takes over La MaMa's main East 4th Street location for two weeks, highlighting Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island and the world for a unique mixture of performances, workshops and a visual arts exhibit that will be open to the public.

Photo credit: Yuri Fujita