Casting Announced for Public Theater’s Native Theater Festival

Preliminary casting has been announced the Public Theater’s second annual Native Theater Festival, to be held November 12-15. The four-day event will include free readings, post-show discussions, concerts, and a public dialogue on politics and performance.

The programming, curated by Native Theater Festival Consultant Sheila Tousey, will kick off with a concert by singer/soulwriter Martha Redbone on Wednesday, November 19. In addition, Tousey and Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis will moderate a panel discussion entitled “Politics and Performance,” with panelists including Terry Gomez, Alanis King, Yvette Nolan, Jennifer Podemski, and Randy Reinholz.

Play readings will include Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl’s The Conversion of Ka’Ahumanu (November 13); Chasing Honey, by Laura Shamas, directed by Alanis King (November 14); and Re-Creation Story, by Eric Gansworth, directed by Leigh Silverman (November 15).

Participating actors in those readings will include Tousey along with Avia Bushyhead, Dylan Carusona, Joe Cross, James Fall, Gary Farmer, Cara Gee, Jacquelyn Paulani Johnson, Felicty Jones, Cody Lighting, Billy Merasty, Monioque Mojica, Ryan Victor Pierce, Tamara Podemski, Kim Rosen, Chaske Spencer, Michelle St. John, and Elisabeth Waterston.

Partner events will include a lecture by Dexter Cirillo on Southwestern Indian jewelry at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (November 15), a demonstration of Native drumming at American Indian Community House (November 10), and a Native American Actors’ Showcase at the Kirk Theatre on Theater Row (November 10).

For complete schedule, visit www.publictheater.org.