Native Voices at Autry's 2013-14 Season Spotlights Lawmakers, Lawyers and Activists

Native Voices at the Autry, America's leading Native American theatre company with a mission to develop new plays by emerging and established Native playwrights, announces its 2013-14 season, which spotlights themes of law, lawmakers, lawyers and activists.

The season's world premiere of Vickie Ramirez' (Tuscarora*) dramatic STAND-OFF AT HWY #37 illustrates Native Voices' deep commitment to nurturing new works and seeing them fully realized. The production, presented during the fall as a reading and then fully staged in a spring Equity production, culminates a pivotal, multi-year development process that has included staged readings at Ohio Northern University and The Public Theatre in New York and workshops at the Classical Theatre of Harlem, Montana Rep's Missoula Colony and Native Voices at the Autry.

The season also offers the world premiere reading of MEASURE FOR MEASURE: AN INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL COMEDY, a bawdy adaptation of Shakespeare's classic by Native Voices' Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw*); Native Voices' third annual SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL, titled Legal Briefs: Lawmakers & Activists, featuring five- to fifteen-minute plays; and the 16th annual PLAYWRIGHTS RETREAT AND FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS showcasing works selected in a national playwrights competition with performance at both the Autry Nation Center and La Jolla Playhouse. Native Voices, co-founded by Reinholz and Jean Bruce Scott (producing executive director, is the country's only Equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to producing new works by Native American Playwrights and has been acclaimed by critics as "a hot bed for contemporary Native Theatre," "deeply compelling" and "a powerful and eloquent voice." As the Autry's resident theatre company, Native Voices performs in Los Angeles at the Autry's Wells Fargo Theater.

"Every few years there are particular themes or issues that permeate our submissions and demand our attention," says Scott. "Over the last few years we have been receiving more and more plays dealing with legal issues -- land rights issues, the Indian Child Welfare Act and environmental issues, self government issues - and the lawyers, lawmakers and activists who are fighting to bring them to light. This year we decided to pursue the theme of 'Laws, Lawmakers, Lawyers and Activists' with our call for scripts which resulted in more plays on these themes in addition to plays about tribal law and government and the origins of US law. It has also brought exciting new Native American Playwrights to our attention, including a number of practicing lawyers."

Native Voices' 2013-14 season is dedicated to the memory of Robert Owens-Greygrass (1954-2013), who played leads or featured roles in five Native Voices Equity productions, most recently in the 2013 staging of The Bird House. "For nearly a decade, Robert made irreplaceable contributions to the Native Voices company, both on the stage and behind it," says Reinholz. "We will forever remember him for his generosity, talent, achievements, and his spirit of joy."

SCHEDULE:

FIRST LOOK SERIES: PLAYS IN PROGRESS
Staged Reading of Stand-Off at HWY #37 by Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora*)
Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera
TONIGHT, September 26, 2013, 7:30 pm, Free Admission
Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry, Los Angeles

As part of its on-going development process, Stand-Off at HWY #37 by Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora*) is presented in a free public reading as part of Native Voices' FIRST LOOK SERIES: PLAYS IN PROGRESS, which brings playwrights together with professional directors, dramaturgs and actors for an extended workshop and public presentation. A dramatic tale about political, environmental and spiritual convictions, Stand-Off at HWY #37 begins when a clash between protesters and law enforcement over plans to build a highway through a reservation in upstate New York prompts a Tuscarora man to abandon his U.S. military uniform and join the protesters to defend his beliefs. A chat with the playwright and director, Jon Lawrence Rivera, follows the reading. Initially created as a one-act play for the 9th Annual Theater Festival at Ohio Northern University, Stand-Off received a staged reading in Ohio in 2011, followed by a table reading at The Public Theatre in 2012 as well as a workshop at the Classical Theatre of Harlem. Ramirez subsequently extended it to a full-length play, which received its first reading at the Native Voices at the Autry's Festival of New Plays in May 2013. Stand-Off was also featured at Montana Rep's Missoula Colony workshop in July 2013. Ramirez, an alumna of The Public Theater's Emerging Writer's Group 2009, is a member of Chukalokoli Native Theater Ensemble and Amerinda Theater. Her plays include Smoke, Ashes, The Varlettes vs. the Space Rock, Case 24: Roswell, NM and Leona by the Bayou. Her screenplays include MonkeyDog, and Lotto Munney. She is the recipient of the 2009/2010 NYC Urban Artists Fellowship and the 2010 NYSCA Individual Artist Award. Her work has been presented at The Public Theater, the Flea, Ohio Northern University, Santa Fe Theatre Festival, the Roundabout Theater's Different Voices Program, EST, BOO-Arts, Mixed Phoenix Theater Company and the 52nd Street Project.

FIRST LOOK SERIES: PLAYS IN PROGRESS
Stage Reading of Measure for Measure: An Indian Boarding School Comedy adapted by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw*)
Directed by Chris Anthony
Thursday, October 24, 2013, 7:30 pm, Free Admission
Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry, Los Angeles

The second presentation in Native Voices' FIRST LOOK SERIES: PLAYS IN PROGRESS is the world premiere reading of Measure for Measure: An Indian Boarding School Comedy, a bawdy adaptation of Shakespeare's classic by Native Voices' Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw*), who is also Director of Community Engagement and Innovative Programs for the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State University. In Reinholz' version, love, righteousness, faith and mercy compete for provenance on the frontier when an Indian boarding school, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and local town and saloon inhabitants collide over the fate of a young teenage boy unjustly sentenced to death. A chat with the playwright and director, Chris Anthony, follows the free reading.

THIRD ANNUAL SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL
Sunday, November 10, 2013, 1:30 pm
Free with admission to the Autry American Indian Arts Marketplace
($12, $8 for students, seniors and children; free for Autry members)
Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry, Los Angeles

Native Voices at the Autry's 2013-14 season continues with its third annual SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL featuring staged readings of six engaging short plays on the theme "Legal Briefs: Lawmakers & Activists" written by veteran and first-time playwrights. One of the six plays, each ranging from five to fifteen minutes in length, will be selected for the 2013 Von Marie Atchley Excellence in Playwriting Award, a $1000 cash prize, by a national panel of judges. The readings, staged in conjunction with the popular annual American Indian Arts Marketplace at the Autry, are free with admission to the Marketplace ($12, $8 for students, seniors and children; free for Autry members)

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
World Premiere of Stand-Off at HWY #37
Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera
Friday, February 28 - Sunday, March 16, 2014
Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry, Los Angeles

The cornerstone of Native Voices' season is the world premiere Equity production of Stand-Off at HWY #37 by Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora*), directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, with 16 performances running from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 16, 2013. The production follows on the heels of a developmental production in Montana in July as well as Native Voices' FIRST LOOK SERIES: PLAYS IN PROGRESS reading in September. Illustrating Native Voices' deep commitment to nurturing new works and seeing them fully realized, this Equity production is the culmination of a pivotal, three-year development process that has included long-term dramaturgical support, extensive workshop opportunities and invaluable collaboration with a team of theatre professionals.

PLAYWRIGHTS RETREAT AND FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS
May 28-30, 2014, Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry, Free Admission
May 31-June 1, 2014, La Jolla Playhouse, Free Admission

Each year, Native Voices at the Autry staged readings of several new plays selected by a panel of eminent playwrights, dramaturgs and directors from across the country for its prestigious PLAYWRIGHTS RETREAT AND FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS. The festival culminates with readings of the works in progress at both the Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry (May 28-30, 2014) and La Jolla Playhouse (May 31-June1, 2014). The PLAYWRIGHTS RETREAT AND FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, established in 2004, provides the opportunity during an 8- to 10-day retreat for beginning, emerging and established Native American Playwrights to work closely in shaping their plays with nationally recognized directors, dramaturgs and an Acting Company comprised of exceptional Native American actors, culminating in free public readings. This project is hosted by Native Voices in conjunction with La Jolla Playhouse. Many works developed during the Retreat have gone on to enjoy successful runs on the Autry main stage and elsewhere.

NATIVE VOICES is located at the Autry, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462, and performances take place at the Autry's Wells Fargo Theater. To purchase tickets or for more information, call (323) 667-2000, ext. 354 or visit www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org.

NATIVE VOICES AT THE AUTRY is America's leading Native American theatre company. Acclaimed by critics as "a hotbed for contemporary Native Theatre," "deeply compelling" and "a powerful and eloquent voice," the company continues to build on its storied and prolific history as the country's only Equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing and producing new works by Native American Playwrights. Native Voices, which provides a supportive, collaborative setting for Native Theatre artists from across North America, was founded in 1994 by Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw*) and Producing Executive Director Jean Bruce Scott. In 1999, it was established as Native Voices at the Autry, a resident company at the Autry National Center of the American West. Native Voices maintains successful long-term relationships with New York's Public Theater, Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT), Washington's Kennedy Center, the National Museum of the American Indian, Perseverance Theatre, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Montana Rep and La Jolla Playhouse. Hailed by critics also as "a virtual Who's Who of American Indian theatre artists" and "an established presence in Los Angeles and a growing influence elsewhere," Native Voices is widely respected in both the Native American and theatre communities for its breakthrough plays and diverse programming, which showcases the unique points of view within the more than 500 Native American nations in North America. To date, the company has produced 24 critically acclaimed new plays, including 15 world premieres, 10 Playwrights Retreats, 20 New Play Festivals, 2 Short Play Festivals and more than 180 workshops and public staged readings of new plays by Native American Playwrights featuring Native American actors

RANDY REINHOLZ (Choctaw*) founder and producing artistic director of Native Voices at the Autry has directed over 75 productions in the US, Australia and Canada including The Rez Sisters, The Waiting Room, Proof, How I Learned to Drive, Hedda Gabler, Speed the Plow, The Cherry Orchard, Desire Under the Elms, The Glass Menagerie and numerous productions of Shakespeare's plays. For Native Voices at the Autry he's directed and produced Urban Tattoo Jump Kiss, Stone Heart, The Red Road, The Buz'Gem Blues, The Berlin Blues, Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light; executive produced Carbon Black, Please Do Not Touch the Indians; Kino & Teresa, SUPER INDIAN, Teaching Disco Square Dancing to Our Elders, Salvage, Tales of an Urban Indian, The Frybread Queen, Walking on Turtle Island, Ghostlands of an Urban NDN and The Bird House. He is co-founder and producer for the Native Radio Theater Project, a collaboration between Native Voices and Native American Public Telecommunications. He received a BA from William Jewell College and an MFA from Cornell University. He is a Trustee of The National Theatre Conference. He has served on panels for the LA Cultural Affairs Department, TCG, the NEA and the Advisory Committee for the Native Theater Festival at The Public Theatre. He is a tenured professor at San Diego State University in the Department of Theater and on faculty for American Indian Studies. In 2007, after ten years as the Head of Acting, he was named the Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film at San Diego State University. In 2012 he was named Director of Community Engagement and Innovative Programs for the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at SDSU.

JEAN Bruce Scott is founder and producing executive director of Native Voices at the Autry. She has spent nineteen years developing new plays, including more than 150 by Native American Playwrights. At Native Voices, she has produced twenty New Play Festivals; ten Playwrights Retreats; over 180 play readings; and twenty-four new plays, including The Baby Blues, Jump Kiss, Stone Heart, The Red Road, The Buz' Gem Blues, The Berlin Blues, Please Do Not Touch the Indians, Kino & Teresa, SUPER INDIAN, Teaching Disco Square Dancing to Our Elders, Salvage, Carbon Black, Now Look What You Made Me Do, Urban Tattoo, Tales of an Urban Indian, The Frybread Queen, Walking on Turtle Island, Ghostlands of an Urban Indian, Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light and The Bird House. Scott is the co-founder of the Native Radio Theater Project, a collaboration between Native Voices and Native American Public Telecommunications that produces radio plays, including The Best Place to Grow Pumpkins, Melba's Medicine, Why Opossum's Tail Is Bare, The Peach Seed, SUPER INDIAN, The Red Road and Raven's Radio Hour. Her illustrious background includes extensive theatre credits and serving as president of Sine Bahn Productions, an independent Production Company noted for developing screenplays, teleplays and stage plays. She is familiar for numerous lead and recurring acting roles on Days of Our Lives, Magnum P.I., Port Charles, Newhart, Matlock, Airwolf and St. Elsewhere and guest starred on a multitude of other series and television movies. She is a past member of the L.A. Board of Directors for AFTRA and is currently serving on the SAG Local Hollywood American Indian Committee, the Board of Directors for the Media Arts Center of San Diego and the National Advisory Board for the Last Frontier Theatre Conference.

THE AUTRY is a museum dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past to the present to inspire our shared future. The museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs, including lectures, film, theater, festivals, family events, and music, and performs scholarship, research, and educational outreach. The Autry's collection of more than 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection, one of the largest and most significant in the United States.

*refers to the artists' tribal affiliation

Pictured: A scene from "The Frybread Queen". Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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