2012
November 7-18, 2012
By popular demand New Native Theatre is producing a full length version of the play that debuted in Bedlam Theatre’s 2011 TenxTen Play Festival…
2012: THE MUSICAL!
This play for the whole family is a romp through the end of the world as we know it! Inspired by the hoopla of the end of the Mayan calendar, the New Native Theatre Actor Ensemble’s hilarious new play is about the year 2012 from a Native American perspective right from our own Franklin Avenue. Get ready for the return of Indian Alien ancestors who come to fix the ills of our Native people in the western hemisphere, complete with the arrival of rock star ancestors and dancing neon buffalo!
Written by members of the NNT Actor Ensemble, Rhiana Yazzie, Inez DeCoteau, and Andrea Fairbanks
Original music by Marisa Carr
November 7-18, 2012
At In the Heart of the Beast’s Avalon Theatre
1500 E. Lake street
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Nov. 7-8, previews @ 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9, Opening night @ 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10, 14, 15, 16, & 17 @ 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 & 18 @ 3:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 & 15, school & public matinees at 10:00 a.m.
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New Native Theatre @ MAICC Golf Tourney!
New sketch comedy presented by the New Native Theatre Actor Ensemble!
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2012 Bedlam Theatre 10 Minute Play Festival!
2012: The Musical’s Music!
We are working on the songs for our full-length version of 2012: The Musical that debuted last year in Bedlam’s 10 Fest. 2012: The Musical is a romp through the hoopla over the turn of the Mayan Calendar and projected end of the world through a funny Native lens where Indian Alien ancestors arrive to set things straight. The New Native Theatre Actor Ensemble returns to flesh out musical ideas by local composers with a funny bone. Featuring music by Marisa Carr.
Written by the New Native Theatre Actor Ensemble.
May 30-June 3 at Mixed Blood Theater, 1501 South 4th Street, Minneapolis, 55454.
First 100 tickets are FREE with a reservation, call (612)338-6131, all other tickets are $15. Showtimes: Wed 5/30, 7:30pm, Thu 5/31, 7:30pm, Fri 6/1, 7:30pm, Sat 6/2, 3:00pm, Sat 6/2, 7:30pm, Sun 6/3, 3:00pm. More info at www.bedlamtheatre.org.
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Our 2011 season of WELL RED play readings! - Monthly readings of plays written by Native American and First Nations authors
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TUESDAY, November 15th, 7pm - An open dress rehearsal of BUT BABY I LOVE YOU by Sandy Whitehawk and George McCauley, directed by Rhiana Yazzie
Please join us for an open dress rehearsal of this play the day before we present it in Bemidji on November 17th at the Upper Mississippi Mental Health Cultural Competency Conference.
Wolfie and Cecilia are a 50 something Indian couple trying to make it. With years of experience navigating through life and learning to heal personal wounds with roots in historical trauma, Wolfie and Cecilia try their best to make their relationship work. They don’t know it, but there is a spirit who decides to move in with them, a Dark Figure who literally feeds off the dysfunction of Indian people. With moments of deep pain and anger, and the grace of the traditions of our Native peoples, witness as Wolfie and Cecilia love each other, hate each other, and heal each other. This play contains strong language and is not recommended for youth under the age of 13 and unaccompanied by a parent or guardian. 60 minutes.
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center – FREE
1530 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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FRIDAY, October 28th, 7pm - SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF OUR VILLAGE by Juanita Espinosa (Spirit Lake Dakota), directed by Rhiana Yazzie
A mother and a village tell the story of a young woman’s life and the way she completed her short but impactful journey by touching the hearts and minds of an entire village.
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center – FREE
1530 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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FRIDAY, September 30th, 7pm - STOLEN GENERATION by Ardie Medina (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe), directed by Rhiana Yazzie
Two sisters taken away from their Ojibwe parents as children come to terms with their forced adoption and the damaging effect it’s had on their family and their lives.
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center – FREE
1530 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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FRIDAY, September 2nd, 7pm - BUT BABY I LOVE YOU by Sandy White Hawk and George McCauley, directed by Rhiana Yazzie
Meet Wolfie and Cecilia. Witness as they love each other, hate each other, heal each other. Join us for this first look at Sandy and George’s new play written about dealing with the complexities of loving and being Native. Sure to be lots of NDN humor too!
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center – FREE
1530 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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TUESDAY, August 2, 2011 – 7pm – INDIGENOUS MUSIC AND MOVIES IN THE PARK - NNT’s infamous karaoke stylings provide the kick-off music for the 2011 series!
At the Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, 100 6th Ave. SE, Minneapolis
Theatre Karaoke = Interactive Theater. NNT presents an Interactive Karaoke performance, a first of its kind. It will include audience participation in a live performance and will give community shower singers of all kinds an opportunity to take it to the stage.
It is followed by an evening of Navajo Short Films at dusk.
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WEDNESDAY, June 22nd, 7pm - ASDZANI SHASH: THE WOMAN WHO TURNED INTO A BEAR by Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo), directed by Marion McClinton
Set near the Navajo reservation, based on a legend, this is a story about being a sensual Native woman in a world where elders are not valued (and are not ready to take on the responsibility of being an elder) and where Native culture is seen through the lens of ever present social service organizations. Featuring a national cast of Navajo actors, Harrison Lowe, and Kim Gleason. Made possible through a Jerome Fellowship for Emerging Playwrights’ workshop provided by the Playwrights’ Center.
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center – FREE
1530 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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FRIDAY, May 20th, 7pm - FIRE BIRD TATTOO by Thirza Defoe (Ojibwe/Oneida)
FIRE BIRD TATTOO, tells the story of a young woman, Sky, on the eve of her coming-of-age- ceremony. Desperate to leave the only life she’s known on the reservation, eager to experience life in the outside world, and longing to solve the riddle of her late father Raven, she clashes with her powerful mother in her search for identity. Sky finds an ally in her uncle, who also had a powerful and complex relationship with Raven, and is watched over by a mysterious and benign presence, Windigo, a transsexual shape shifter. Brought to you in collaboration with Native Punx of Wisconsin, a young vibrant Native arts organization!
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s Two Rivers Gallery – FREE
1530 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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SATURDAY, May 21st, 2pm - Native Punx, an Afternoon of Short Films
NNT and Native Punx arts present an afternoon of short films hosted by Grammy Award winning musician and actor, Thirza Defoe, co-creator of Native Punx arts of Wisconsin.
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New Native Theatre’s New Actors Ensemble’s debut in Minneapolis’ own Bedlam Theatre’s10×10 Fest, a ten minute play festival!
Written and performed by the New Native Theatre Actors Ensemble
May 11-15, 2011 at the Capri Theatre, 2027 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis 55411-1848
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FRIDAY, May 13th, 6-9pm – FRANKLIN AVENUE INDIAN IDOL! and Walleye Dinner
Join us for our second annual Franklin Avenue Indian Idol contest, cash prizes for winners. Compete to win the title of FRANKLIN AVENUE INDIAN IDOL 2011. Brought to you in collaboration with The Wolves Den Cafe serving a Walleye Dinner for a suggested donation.
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center – FREE to sing
6pm – Sign up
7pm – Contest begins
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FRIDAY, April 29th, 7pm - COYOTE CITY by Daniel David Moses (Delaware)
Coyote City, a play haunted by myth, unravels the love story of Lena and Johnny. Lena, at home in the bush, receives a call from Johnny who asks her to come to him in the city – and she agrees. There is only one problem: Johnny has been dead for six months. Coyote City was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama 1991.
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FRIDAY, March 25th, 7pm - CHILI CORN by E. Donald Two-Rivers (Anishinaabe Seine River Ontario)
Chili Corn, set in Chicago’s urban Native community, is about a woman hiding out from her abusive boyfriend at an AIM “safe house” that turns out to be the seat of a mad-cap scheme to remove an offensive statue from the steps of the Historical Society—a scheme created by a posturing self proclaimed AIM “warrior” and a “college boy” who is still not sure what he’s gotten himself into. At the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s Two Rivers Gallery.
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FRIDAY, February 25th, 7pm - THE BABY BLUES by Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibway)
The story of a pow-wow lover boy who returns to a certain pow-wow after 17 years to find the daughter he never knew he had. A very funny play by one of Canada’s leading playwrights. At the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s Two Rivers Gallery.
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2010 – New Native Theatre’s Debut Production:
THE DREAMING BUNDLE: A play about dreams – December 10 to 19, 2010
Conceived and Directed by Rhiana Yazzie
Featuring the dreams of Native American community members performed and created by an all Native cast.
The Dreaming Bundle dives into the Native subconscious and explores the dreams of Twin Cities Native community members. It answers the questions: What are our collective dreams as a community? What stories play out in our unconscious? What dreams are in our DNA?
Riffing on the conventions of western theatre, combined with music commissioned by Lyz Jaakola, a Fond du Lac Ojibwe composer and musician, New Native Theatre will transform the familiar Minneapolis American Indian Center into a place where dreams are staged.
Minneapolis American Indian Center
The 2010 Well Red Series
January 21st, 7:00 pm & 9:00 pm – Powwow Comedy Jam! Featuring: J.R. Redwater, Vaugn Eaglebear, Marc Yaffee, and Jim Ruel. Mark your calendar to warm up with some laughter during the thickest part of the Minnesota winter with some of the country’s best native comedians –and to participate in a stand-up comedy workshop! Check out the Showtime special Goin’ Native: The American Indian Comedy Slam debuting on December 31st!
May 2010 NNT celebrates Minnesota’s Native American Heritage Month with a reading of Vine Deloria’s CUSTER DIED FOR YOUR SINS.
May 3, 10, 17, and 24, 5:30-7pm AND JUST ADDED May 31 1:00-3:00pm — CUSTER DIED FOR YOUR SINS: An Indian Manifesto, a book reading on the Ave
New Native Theatre presents a free reading of Vine Deloria’s groundbreaking book, CUSTER DIED FOR YOUR SINS: AN INDIAN MANIFESTO in the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s open air ampitheater along Franklin Avenue. Over the course of the first four Mondays in May we will read the entire book. For those who have read the book ten times before and those who have never read it, we invite you to take a journey in understanding why we celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Join an eclectic group of well known community members read portions of this monumental text. Those in the audience will also have an opportunity to sign up to read portions of the book too.
At the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s outside ampitheatre at the corner of Bloomington and Franklin Avenue.
Franklin Avenue Indian Idol! – Friday, May 21st, 6:30-9:00pm at the Wolves Den in the Minneapolis American Indian Center
The 2009 Well Red Series
October 4th, 5pm – We will present a reading of two short works by visiting Sami author, Harriet Nordlund. This reading will be accompanied by other short pieces written by local Native authors with perspectives on government Boarding Schools, an international phenomena experienced by indigenous people throughout the world. A talk-back with Harriet and information about the new New Native Theatre will follow the reading! Location is upstairs at Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, 55454.
Then at 7pm CST tune in to First Nations Radio on KFAI 90.3 FM Minneapolis, 106.7 FM in Saint Paul, or online at www.kfai.org/firstnationsradio to hear an interview with Harriet and more play readings.
November 17th, 5-7pm – An evening at Macalester College in Saint Paul with playwrights Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibway) and Rhiana Yazzie (Dine’) with scenes from their plays presented by New Native Theatre! This event is made possible by Macalester College’s SPEAK (Students Participating Engaging and Accessing Knowledge) Series, an initiative of the Lealtad-Suzuki Center. Location is in the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom on the Macalester College campus in Saint Paul, MN.