Cast, Creatives For TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN Announced

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, the second play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and performed by Darrell Dennis (from the Shuswap nation) and directed by Herbie Barnes (from the Ojibway nation), TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will begin performances on Friday, February 20 and run through Sunday, March 15. TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN is a part of The Public Theater's Native Theater Initiative made possible through the generous support from The Ford Foundation. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

In TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, acclaimed Canadian playwright and performer Darrell Dennis tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young Indian man, Simon Douglas. From living life on the "Rez" to navigating the mean streets of Vancouver's east side, Dennis weaves a funny and stirring story of identity, discovery, choice and self-respect. A hit from The Public's inaugural Native Theater Festival, this one-man play returns to make its U.S. premiere following a Canadian tour and two nominations for the Dora Mavor Award, the highest theatrical honor in Canada.

TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will feature scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Fritz Masten, lighting design by Russell Champa, and sound design by Matt Hubbs.

"Darrell Dennis's fiery and powerful show does what all great theater does: uncovers the universal through its relentless specificity," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "The show lives in a fascinating world of contemporary Native culture, but is also a deeply moving story of forgiveness, recovery and redemption. It deserves a wider audience and I am proud The Public is launching its life in the United States."

"In order to sustain our commitment to Native theater, it is important to us to integrate the goals of our Native Theater Initiative into our ongoing programming," said Associate Artistic Director Mandy Hackett. "Presenting Darrell's deeply powerful story allows us to do just that. I know our audiences in New York are going to be moved and inspired to encounter Darrell and his experience."

Public LAB is an annual series of new plays that lets New Yorkers see more of the work they love from The Public and LAByrinth Theater Company in stripped-down productions. Public LAB allows The Public Theater to support more artists, and gives audiences immediate access to new plays in development. The Public LAB season will also include the world premiere of Raul Castillo's Knives and Other Sharp Objects, the New York premiere of Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers' Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and a world premiere by The Public Theater's Master Writer Chair Suzan-Lori Parks.

The goal of the Native Theater Initiative at The Public Theater is to support the work of Native theater artists across North America; to create a forum for field discussion among native theater artists and professionals; and to further raise visibility and awareness of Native theater artists for New York audiences and the greater field of American Theater.

DARRELL DENNIS (Playwright and Performer) is an actor, writer, and comedian from the Shuswap Nation in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. He is a produced playwright and an award-winning writer for television. His script "Moccasin Flats" was accepted into the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. Darrell is a two-time Dora Award nominee for his one man show Tales of an Urban Indian. He is also an alumnus of the Second City National Touring Company. His playwriting credits also include Trickster of Third Avenue East.

HERBIE BARNES (Director) works as an actor, director, writer and teacher. His film credits include the television movie "Spirit Rider," the feature film Dance Me Outside, and the television series "The Rez." His theatre credits include Toronto at Dreamers Rock, The Rememberer, Boy in the Treehouse, The Illustrated History of the Anishnabe, The Hobbit, The Gap, Sucker Falls, The Epic Period, Sin City, and the Manitoba Theatre for Young's People's production of IMROVident: The Show Where Anything Can Happen.

TICKET INFORMATION
TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will begin performances on Friday, February 20 and run through Sunday, March 15 with an official press opening on Sunday, March 1. The performance schedule is Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM; and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM.

The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street. All tickets are $10 and can be purchased at (212) 967-7555 or by visiting www.publictheater.org.

 

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