Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa

By: Nov. 03, 2017

La MaMa presents the world premiere of Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective's Don't Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant, conceived, written and directed by Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahannock Nations), with musical direction by Kevin Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk Nations), and featuring an all Native American cast.

Don't Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant opens tonight, November 3, and runs now through November 19, 2017 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Downstairs Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Come one, come all to the greatest sideshow of Indigenous people you'll ever see! We've got everyone's favorite Native clichés from the Stoic Indian to the Wise Indian Guide, from lounge singers to fortunetellers, all the bare chested, broad shouldered, feather wearing Indians you could want...but this time with a twist. Don't Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant uses vaudeville, dance, musical theatre, storytelling and Native performance rituals to expose and explore the treatment of Indigenous cultures in the entertainment industry. Created by a family of three generations of Native American performers, and inspired by the carnival freak shows and human zoos of the 19th and early 20th century, Don't Feed the Indians is a raucous and biting look at cultural appropriation at its most grotesque and absurd. See what happens when the Natives fight back!

The all Native American cast includes Nicholson Billey (Delaware/Choctaw Nations), Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahannock Nations), John Scott-Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi Tribe), Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations), Henu Josephine Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk/Kuna/Rappahannock Nations) and Kevin Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk Nations).

The production team includes Dawn Avery (Composer, Mohawk Nation), Sheldon Raymore (Costume Design, Lakota Nation), Ann Mirjam Vaikla (Set Design), Cecilia Durbin (Lighting Design), Nicholson Billey (Movement), Obie Award winner Morgan Jenness (Dramaturge) and Pamela McCaddin (Production Stage Manager).

For tickets and more information, visit lamama.org.

Photo Credit: Maya Bitan

high res photos

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations), Nicholson Billey (Delaware/Choctaw/Creek Nations), John Scott-Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi Nation)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Kevin Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk Nations)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahannock Nations), Nicholson Billey (Delaware/Choctaw/Creek Nations)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Henu Josephine Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk/Kuna/Rappahannock Nations), Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Henu Josephine Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk/Kuna/Rappahannock Nations), Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations), Nicholson Billey (Delaware/Choctaw/Creek Nations)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations)

Photo Flash: First Look at 'DON'T FEED THE INDIANS' at La MaMa
John Scott-Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi Nation), Danielle Soames (Mohawk/Kahnawake Nations), Kevin Tarrant (Hopi/Ho-Chunk Nations), Nicholson Billey (Delaware/Choctaw/Creek Nations), George Stonefish (Delaware/Chippewa Nations)



RELATED STORIES - Off-Off-Broadway

1
New Cast Members Set to Join spit&vigors GRIND Photo
New Cast Members Set to Join spit&vigor's GRIND

spit&vigor welcomes Caitlin Dullahan-Bates and Federico Mostert to the cast of GRIND. Monthly performances continue December 2nd at 7 PM.

2
The Bread & Puppet Theater To Return to NYC with Political Puppet Shows Photo
The Bread & Puppet Theater To Return to NYC with Political Puppet Shows

The Bread & Puppet Theater returns to NYC with two urgently-needed political puppet shows. Limited tickets available.

3
HAMLET | TOILET Makes its New York Premiere in January Photo
HAMLET | TOILET Makes its New York Premiere in January

Japan Society presents the New York premiere of Hamlet | Toilet, written and directed by Yu Murai and performed by the acclaimed theater company Kaimaku Pennant Race (KPR). 

4
Ashley Chen Brings Unisson, Rush, Distances and More to La MaMa, November 30 – Decem Photo
Ashley Chen Brings Unisson, Rush, Distances and More to La MaMa, November 30 – December 10

Former Merce Cunningham Dance Company dancer, Ashley Chen comes to La MaMa with two diverse programs of dance in The Ellen Stewart Theatre.

More Hot Stories For You

Videos


Awake in the Dark in Off-Off-Broadway Awake in the Dark
First Unitarian Congregational Society Brooklyn (12/14-12/15)Tracker
POLYMATH: La Comédie de la Mort in Off-Off-Broadway POLYMATH: La Comédie de la Mort
the cell (3/15-3/16)Tracker
Mario the Maker Magician in Off-Off-Broadway Mario the Maker Magician
SoHo Playhouse (11/04-12/30)Tracker PHOTOS VIDEOS
Kahn Artist: Madeline And Me in Off-Off-Broadway Kahn Artist: Madeline And Me
Don't Tell Mama (12/02-12/02)Tracker PHOTOS
Picking Up Speed in Off-Off-Broadway Picking Up Speed
Royal Family Performing Arts (12/06-12/11)Tracker PHOTOS
Witchland in Off-Off-Broadway Witchland
Chain Theatre (4/05-4/14)Tracker PHOTOS
The Doris Dear Christmas Special in Off-Off-Broadway The Doris Dear Christmas Special
The Triad Theater (12/15-12/16)
Enjoy Asian Entertainment at Its Best in Off-Off-Broadway Enjoy Asian Entertainment at Its Best
Enjoy Asian Entertainment at Its Best (11/12-11/12)
The Nutcracker in Off-Off-Broadway The Nutcracker
Ajkun Ballet Company at Ballet Arts Rudolf Nureyev Studio in the historic landmark The City Center (12/02-12/17)
The Museum of Modern Art Presents Iranian Cinema Before The Revolution, 1925–1979 in Off-Off-Broadway The Museum of Modern Art Presents Iranian Cinema Before The Revolution, 1925–1979
The Museum of Modern Art (10/13-11/27)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You