Casting

Please join the NMAI in congratulating our local community members who were cast in our production:
Craig Robe - David H. Sawyer
Brent Robe - Raymond Caldwell
Elmo Robe - Jonathan Douglass
Carol "Sugar" Robe - Tanera Hutz
Stevie Jackson - Albert "Abby"Ybarra
August Jackson - Leila Butts
Juanita Jones - Shirley Cloud-Lane
Kevin Tassel - Caleb Strickland
Thanks to all who auditioned!

Our design and production staff is as follows:
Director - Vincent P. Scott
Assistant Director - Azania Dungee
Dramaturg - Jacqueline Lawton
Production Stage Manager - Janet M. Clark
Choreographer - Erika Archer
Fight Choreographer - Michael Nephew
Set Designer - David Dwyer
Costume Designer - Valerie St. Pierre Smith
Lighting Designer - John P. Woodey
Sound Designer - Brendon Vierra
Props Designer - Carmen Gomez

Auditions for GRANDCHILDREN OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. (Assiniboine)

Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., examines issues of racial identity and prejudice experienced by a descendant of a "buffalo soldier" -- of the famous post-Civil War cavalry regiment. The play's main characters are descended from a Native American grandmother and an African-American grandfather. This community-based theater production is part of an ongoing series of programs in support of the museum's exhibit, INDIVISIBLE: African-Native American Lives in the Americas. Performances are free and open to the public. Seats are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Recommended for middle-school grades and higher. This play will be performed in the museum's Rasmuson Theater from April 22 through May 2, 2010: 7:30pm each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 2:00pm on Sundays.

Cast includes:
Craig Robe, a man in his late thirties
Brent Robe, the second-oldest brother in the Robe family, in his mid-thirties
Elmo Robe, the youngest of the Robe brothers, in his early thirties; he has abilities and disabilities
Carol "Sugar" Robe, the baby of the family, in her late twenties
Stevie Jackson, the husband of Sugar, in his mid-thirties
August Jackson, the daughter of Sugar and Stevie, around ten years old
Juanita Jones, a Robe family relative, in her mid-sixties
Kevin Tassel, powwow glitter trash, a man in his early thirties
Please note that this is a NON-EQUITY production

You will be asked to do a cold reading from the script, usually paired with another actor. Script is published in Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers and Other Untold Stories: Five Plays by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. edited by Margo Lukens.

Auditions will be held in the National Museum of the American Indian's Rasmuson Theater on Wednesday and Thursday, March 3 and 4, beginning at 5:00pm. Please email or call to schedule an audition time: Vincent Scott at scottv@si.edu (202-633-6653) or Janet Clark at clarkjm@si.edu (202-633-6652). The museum is located at 4th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC www.AmericanIndian.si.edu

Compensation: small stipend available

youtube media

The Media Initiatives unit at the museum has created a short media piece about our production that is now available for viewing at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE1G5Oy30Q8
Enjoy the video and watch for additional pieces in the near future!

Audience Evaluation

At each performance of The Conversion of Ka‘ahumanu audience members were asked to fill out evaluation cards. Feedback on our programs is always important to us, but particularly so for this production. The play is the first that NMAI has produced in-house and as such was an experiment in whether or not the museum can build its own Native theater program. The evaluation cards asked audience members for their opinions on the performance, what they would like to see in our theater, and their impressions on doing local Native theater in our museum. Responses were overwhelmingly positive. Here is a sample of what audience members thought of the show:

“I have been to other presentations here and all have been of great quality, but this was absolutely the best. The play, set and actresses gave us a wonderful experience.”

“The play increased our understanding of how the Hawaiian culture was impacted by the missionaries. It was educational as well as entertaining.”

“This was an excellent production. I felt that the story was compelling. The actors were very persuasive and I feel as if I’m leaving thinking of the many complex issues presented.”

“Very excited that NMAI is doing this now! Wishing you great success!”

Following the successful presentation of The Conversion of Ka‘ahumanu we are exploring possibilities for the future. Watch this space for updates on the continued work of building a Native theater program at NMAI and, as always, your comments and feedback are welcomed.

Article About Our Set Designer

The following is a link to an article about David Dwyer and his set design for The Conversion of Ka'ahumanu.

http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090519/NEWS01/90519003/1002/news01

Suddenly it's all over...

On Friday, May 15 at 7:30 pm, and on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 pm, in the Rasmuson Theater, NMAI Cultural Arts presented a production of Victoria Kneubuhl’s The Conversion of Ka’ahumanu. This play examines the complex relationships among Christian missionaries and indigenous Hawaiian women 40 years after the islands’ first contact with the West. There was a special event preview performance for NMAI members on Thursday, May 14, followed by a reception where members met and talked with the playwright and the cast. This was the first play produced by the NMAI’s Mall museum drawing entirely on local resources, including Cultural Arts Program Specialists Vincent P. Scott, director, and Janet Clark, stage manager. Prior to the Thursday and Friday evening shows the Mitsitam Café offered a special menu of Hawaiian-style tapas, with music provided in the café by members of Halau Ho’omau. Approximately 550 people attended the performances, which were received with great enthusiasm and standing ovations.

Opening!

Here we are - time for our opening performance tonight. This last week we concentrated on technical and dress rehearsals. Last night we held a preview/final dress performance. This was a special "Sneak Preview" event for NMAI members. The rehearsal went very well. The audience was engaged in the performance during the entire play. Comments were very positive. Most importantly, we did justice to Ms. Kneubuhl's play. We have been honored to be hosting Victoria Kneubuhl this week. She was the featured writer in our Native Writer's Series this week and has been with us for dress rehearsals and performances.

Before the preview last night and the performance tonight, our famous Mitsitam Cafe is featuring a Hawaiian menu of:
Hui Hui Chicken Skewers
Kalua Pig
Ahi Poke
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Coconut Shrimp
Lumpia with ginger dipping sauce

Specialty Cocktail:
Pineapple Coconut Cocktail

While folks dine, the Halau Ho'Omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai'i entertains cafe patrons with beautiful Hawaiian music. Mahalo to our cafe and to Halau Ho'Omau for making an evening of Hawaiian culture and performance an even more memorable one!

To the cast and crew and many folks who helped to get all of us to this opening night, I send a very heartfelt "Mahalo!"