Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective’s Native theater festival, Reflections of Native Voices*, is taking place in New York City January 7 – January 19, 2020, coinciding with the Annual Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) conference. The festival will feature Native playwrights, actors, producers, directors, and song-makers at three locations: LaMaMa Experimental Theater; New York Theater Workshop and Carriage House Annex.
Through the lenses of creative expression and cultural perseverance, Native performing artists will explore original Native material in a cultural exchange involving new plays, directing workshops and song-making. Week one of the festival will consist of Native performances, music, theater & cultural exchange. Week two will feature emerging directors staging readings of playwrights as part of the Native Director’s Lab.
Performances include Don’t Feed the Indians a divine comedy pageant, and a raucous political satire by Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahannock Nations), which takes a comedic Native aesthetic look at the marginalization of Indigenous peoples. Western Arts Alliance will also feature five artists from their Native Launchpad program: ritualist Timothy White Eagle, folk singer Thea Hopkins (2016 NACF National Artist Fellow), dance artist Maura Garcia, drag clown Anthony Hudson (2018 NACF National Artist Fellow), and hip hop sensation DDAT.
WEEK 1: Native Performances, Music, Theater & Cultural Exchange
January 7 – 5pm-7pm
AU’A’LA:HOLDING ON – TAMMY HAILI’OPUA BAKER
Safe Harbors Cultural Exchange With Hawaii, Including Welcoming Blessing By Chief Harry Wallace, Unkechaug Nation
January 8 – 5pm-7pm
LOCAL NATIVE MUSIC NIGHT – LONNIE HARRINGTON, SONI MORENO, JENNIFER KRIESBERG, MIXASHAWN
Come Enjoy A Evening With Local Native Musicians As They Share Some Of Their Talent With The Community As Part Of The Festival.
January 9 – 5pm-7pm and January 12 – 3pm-5pm
TIPI TALES FROM THE STOOP – MURIELLE BORST TARRANT
“New York City Has Always Been A Gathering And Trading Place For Many Indigenous Peoples, Where Native Nations Intersected From All Four Directions Since Time Immemorial. It Was A Place To Gather And Sometimes To Seek Refuge During Times Of Conflict And Struggle.”
January 10 – 5:45pm-7pm
RED MOON BLUES – HENU JOSEPHINE TARRANT
Red Moon Blues Is A New Workshop By Henu Josephine Tarrant Based On The Life On Lillian St Cyr (Red Wing) The The 1st Native American Silent Movie Star And Other Extraordinary Female Native Performers.
January 11 – 5pm-7pm
WESTERN ARTS ALLIANCE – NATIVE LAUNCHPAD ARTISTS
Five Artists From The Western Arts Alliance Native Launchpad Program: Ritualist Timothy White Eagle, Folk Singer Thea Hopkins, Dance Artist Maura Garcia, Drag Clown Anthony Hudson, And Hip Hop Sensation DDAT.
January 12 – Indigenous Peoples Reception & Social
(Reservation Required)
The Indigenous Reception & Social invites local Tribal Leadership, the APAP Indigenous community and the New York City Native community & entertainers to share a meal and performance.
WEEK 2: Native Director’s Lab
January 13 – 5pm-7pm
Queen Cleopatra and Princess Pocohantas
By Rhiana Yazzie
Directed by Tara Moses
January 14 – 5pm-7pm
It Came from Across the Big Pond and Files of the Indian Police
By William Yellow Robe
Directed by Amber Bell
January 15 – 5pm-7pm
Quantum
By Tara Moses
Directed by Ed Bourgeois
January 16 – 5pm-7pm
Firedbird Tattoo
By Ty Defoe
Directed by Jasmine Goodspeed
January 17 – 5pm-7pm
Crossing Mnisose
By Mary Kathryn Nagle
Directed by Danielle Soames
January 18 – 5pm-7pm
Three Sisters
By Carolyn Dunn
Directed by Chenae Bullock
January 19 – 3pm-5pm
Raven’s Radio Show
by Ed Bourgeois
Directed by Sir Curtis Kirby Day
Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective is dedicated to creating a new paradigm with regards to the presentation of Indigenous arts and culture within the broader American theaters to combat stereotypes and support vibrant Native American communities.
* Reflections of Native Voices and the Indigenous Peoples Reception & Social are projects supported in part by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF).