American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) will present the World Premiere of POWWOW HIGHWAY, a stage adaptation of David Seals novel turned cult classic film by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. Directed by Madeline Sayet, previews begin October 10 at HERE. Opening night is slated for Thursday, October 16.
When Philbert, a local misfit, is asked to travel with Buddy to rescue Buddy's sister from jail, the unlikely pair set out on a roundabout journey from the Cheyenne Reservation in Montana to New Mexico. POWWOW HIGHWAY is a funny and heartfelt story about being there for each other and finding ones faith where you least expect it.
The production stars Wyatt True Ash-Milby (Navajo), Dylan Carusona (Ojibway/Turtle Clan Oneida), Donna Brooks (Sac and Fox),
Joe Cross (Caddo/Potawatomi),
Bob Jaffe, Tanis Parenteau (Métis/Cree/Sioux), Autumn Peters (Ojibway/Pueblo), Anna Rahn,
John Scott Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi). The design and production staff includes Raphael Mishler (set and puppets), Lux Haac (costumes),
Evan Roby (lighting), Mark Van Hare (sound),
Samantha Davis (stage manager) and
Victoria Barclay (assistant stage manager).
William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian reservation in Montana. His plays are published in two anthologies entitled Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers and Other Untold Stories, and Where the Pavement Ends. He is an affiliate of Penumbra Theater Company, The Eagle Project Company, Ensemble Studio Theater, AMERINDA, Red Eagle Soaring Theater Company, The Missoula Writing Collaborative, and the Minneapolis Playwrights' Center's Affiliate Writers' Program. He is a founding member of the American Indian Playwrights Guild and the National American Indian Theater and Performing Arts Alliance. He is a recipient of a Native American Achiever's Award from the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of the American Indian, a New England Excellence Award in Theater, the First Book Award for Drama from the Gathering of Nations, a Princess Grace Theatre-Fellowship, and a recipient of a Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Residency.
Madeline Sayet is the Resident Artistic Director of AMERINDA, Artistic Director of the Mad & Merry Theatre Company, A Van Lier Directing Fellow at
Second Stage Theatre, a National Arts Strategies' Creative Community Fellow, and a recipient of the White House Champion of Change Award. Her directing credits include Miss Lead (59e59), Daughters of Leda (Dream Up Festival, Women Center Stage Festival), The Tempest (Brooklyn Lyceum). Upcoming: The Magic Flute (Glimmerglass).
American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) established in 1987, is a community-based multi-arts organization that works to empower Native Americans and foster intercultural understanding of Native culture. Located in New York, AMERINDA is the only American Indian community-based arts organization of its kind in the US, and has been widely recognized for its artistic and cultural integrity. AMERINDA Theater produces staged readings and full productions of new plays by Native American playwrights. In addition to continuing this vital work, AMERINDA will launch the first Native Shakespeare Ensemble in early 2015. The ensemble will focus on full productions that re-imagine the original text.
This production is a part of the Sublet Series@HERE, HERE's curated rental program, which provides artist with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.
POWWOW HIGHWAY runs October 10 - 25, Wednesday - Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm with an added matinee on Weds. Oct. 15 at 2pm.
HERE Arts Center is located at 145 Avenue of Americas at Dominick Street, one block south of Spring Street (accessible from the C,E trains at Spring Street). The box office is open after 5pm on show days or 2 hours before any performance. Tickets are $18, available at 212-352-3101 or
www.here.org.
