The Public's Native Theater Festival Begin's Dec.5

The Public Theater will spotlight Native artists in December with a five day festival dedicated to presenting extraordinary theater from today's Native artists. The Native Theater Festival will run December 5-9 at The Public Theater and will include a concert by Joy Harjo at Joe's Pub, four play readings and a staged presentation on the final night of the festival.  All play readings and the staged presentation will be followed by post-show discussions.  All theater events (excluding Joy Harjo at Joe's Pub) will be free and open to the public but reservations are required.

When Oskar Eustis was Artistic Director at Trinity Repertory Company in Rhode Island, he initiated a groundbreaking Native Theater Festival there to explore the talent and artistry of the Native community. Produced in collaboration with The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center in Connecticut, the festival provided a rare and vital outlet for Native artists and ultimately led to two full productions being staged at Trinity Rep.  The launch of the Native Theater Festival this fall at The Public reinforces the theater's strong commitment to new plays and playwrights and supports Mr. Eustis' mission of cultural diversity and exchange between artists.

This five day Native artist consortium will consist of four play readings plus an additional staged presentation on the final night.  There will also be closed door panel discussions that address issues concerning Native artists today.  Each reading will be followed by a post-show discussion with the author as well as special Native guests who will include Hanay Geiogamah, Terry Gomez, Alanis King, Daniel David Moses, Yvette Nolan, Jennifer Podemski, and Randy Reinholz, among others.

The Public Theater is pleased to partner with the following organizations: Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, American Indian Community House, Amerinda, The Hemispheric Institute, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

IN A WORLD CREATED BY A DRUNKEN GOD
By Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibway)
Directed by Kennetch Charlette (Cree)
Wednesday, December 5 at 7 PM

While Jason packs up his Toronto apartment, looking forward to starting a new life by moving home to his family's reserve, he is interrupted by an unannounced visitor who drags him into the past he had long forgotten.  A finalist for the prestigious Canada Council for the Arts Governor General's Literary Award.

SPECIAL JOE'S PUB EVENT
JOY HARJO AND THE ARROW DYNAMICS BAND
Wednesday, December 5 at 9:30 PM

Poetry-rock-jazz-reggae gone native at Joe's Pub, featuring Larry Mitchell, Keith Golden, Alex Alexander and Robert Muller, Tickets are $12 (plus a food and drink minimum) for this special one-night-only event.  For table reservations at Joe's Pub, call (212) 539-8778.

SALVAGE
By Diane Glancy (Cherokee)
Directed by Sheila Tousey (Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee)
Thursday, December 6 at 8 PM

This dark drama, about lives colliding in the aftermath of a car accident, is also part of the Fall 2007 Festival of New Plays at Los Angeles' Native Voices at the Autry, where it will premiere next year.

A STRAY DOG
By William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. (Assiniboine)
Directed by Gary Farmer (Cayuga as part of Haudenosaunee or Six Nations Confederacy)
Friday, December 7 at 8 PM

Alec returns home to his home on the reservation and has to fight the ongoing struggle of Tribal recognition with his family, like a stray dog returning to its pack.  William S. Robe, Jr. is one of the leading Native playwrights in the United States.

WINGS OF NIGHT SKY, WINGS OF MORNING LIGHT
By Joy Harjo (Mvskoke/Creek)
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Saturday, December 8 at 6 PM

Join us for a sneak-peek at the first piece written for the theater by internationally known poet, performer, writer and musician Joy Harjo, who has performed on "Def Poetry Jam" on HBO, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas, and has recently received the First Nations Composers Initiative Composers Grant.

STAGED PRESENTATION
TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN
Written and performed by Darrell Dennis (Secwepemc)
Sunday, December 9 at 8 PM

Darrell Dennis tells the tale of Simon Douglas, an Indian born on a reservation and named by the U.S. government, who tries to find his way in the big city.

OTHER ANCILLARY EVENTS:
The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian's Holiday Art Market
Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9, 10 am-5 pm
National Museum of the American Indian, Rotunda
One Bowling Green
www.AmericanIndian.si.edu

American Indian Community House's 25th Annual Indian Market
December 1-9, 12 pm-8 pm
Judson Memorial Church 243 Thompson Street (between West 3rd Street & Washington Square South)
www.aich.org

The Native Theater Festival runs December 5-9 at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street.  All theater events are free (excluding Joy Harjo at Joe's Pub on December 5) and open to the public but reservations are required. Two reservations per person, per reading.  Tickets must be picked up 15 minutes prior to each curtain or they will be released. Seating is general admission and subject to availability. Please call (212) 967-7555 or visit The Public Theater Box Office. For more information, visit www.publictheater.org.

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