Native Radio Theater

Native Radio Theater

The goal of NRT is to bring audio theater to public radio and Native audiences, using works by Native authors, theater and recording artists. This is a project of Native American Public Telecommunications and Native Voices at the Autry with planning funds from the Ford Foundation.

Catch these productions on your local tribal, public or community radio station. For more information contact Native Voice One Radio -- NV1.org

2009 PRODUCTIONS

The Red Road: Verna Yahola’s All Nation’s Café in Sapulpa, Okla., is where the all magic—and mayhem—happens. Legendary Choctaw country music star Patty Jones has asked Verna if she can do her 10th anniversary TV special at the eatery. Add a punk rock star from England, mix in a Navajo fry cook, stir in an Indian activist and fold in six more characters to let one of the most energetic productions from actress / singer / songwriter Arigon Starr and you’ll have the makings of a smorgasbord filled with laughter, original music and fun.

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

Raven's Radio Hour: This hour-long Native Radio Theater Production celebrates the vast diversity of Alaska Native cultures with this heartwarmingly funny radio show. Hosted by Raven—the trickster/creator character in all Alaska Native traditions—this homage to the radio variety shows of the 1940s features timeless stories, traditional songs ... and jokes that’ll make you blow moose milk through your nose!

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

2008 PRODUCTIONS

The Bullfrog Lover is a play based on stories of the Eastern Band of Cherokee in North Carolina, adapted for radio by Robert Vestal (Cherokee) and performed by the Cherokee Youth before a live audience, recorded on location in Cherokee North Carolina.

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

Boozhoo and Waste Yahi from Minneapolis: A Native Radio Theater Variety Show was recorded live in on May 24th, 2008, these programs feature some of the most outstanding talent from the Twin Cities' Native American community from writers and poets to singers and traditional storytellers. An exciting cross pollination of Native humor and the old variety show form, this show delivers a "wish you were here" postcard from Minnesota.

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

The show features:

Really Real News from Native America by Rhiana Yazzie & Clara NiiSka

North Spirit, a powwow drum group led by John Oakgrove

Traditional storytellers Faith Bad Moccasin and Gary Ten Bear

Singer/songwriter Raphael singing a song about powwow food and health

Cochise Anderson’s monologue Billy Sky from his play The Only Good Poet is a Read Poet

Poems from Ardie Medina

Kohl Miner’s humorous and poignant story Native Fruit – The Race

Shinob Jeopardy, a play by Ojibwe Humorist Jim Northrup

And Ojibwe Elvis impersonator Howie Atherton

2007 PRODUCTIONS

Why Opossum's Tail is Bare is an old Cherokee tale which was one of many traditional stories recorded by James Mooney in the 1800s. This story was adapted for radio theatre by Kevin Norris, Shawn Crowe (Cherokee), and the Cherokee High School Theatre Arts class. The story is about the vanity of Opossum and his beautiful furry tail, and tells how Opossum lost all that beautiful fur. Possum's Tail was directed by Kevin Norris with mentor director Janine Marr, and produced by John Gregg (Hopi/Inupiat).

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

Sound bites and photos can be seen at Janine Marr's website

The Peach Seed - A young Navajo girl learns about the Long Walk and the history of desert peaches from an unusual teacher who takes her on a journey through time. The Peach Seed was written and directed by Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo) with Mentor Director Charles Potter and Produced by John Gregg (Hopi/Inupiat).

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

Super Indian written by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo). Produced by Native Voices at the Autry, this story features the return of Turtle Island's favorite hero in 10 new episodes. Including the origin of Super Indian, his side kicks, and his foes. SI is joined by a zany cast of characters in these fast paced episodes, sprinkled with parody ads all along the way.

Check our schedule to see when it is on the AIROS livestream

2006 PRODUCTIONS

Melba's Medicine, written by Rose-Yvonne Colletta (Lipan Mescalero Apache) a story about native talk show host Melba Walker who uses her radio show to provide advice to listeners who call in to the radio show with questions on health and social issues using traditional healing practices with a cultural "twist". Melba's Medicine was directed by Ian Skorodin (Choctaw), with Mentor Director: Charles Potter, Assistant Director: Sarah Apache (Navajo), and produced by D'Anne Hamilton (Inupiat).

The Best Place To Grow Pumpkins is a wonderful story for kids of all ages. Written by Navajo playwright Rhiana Yazzie, "Pumpkins" is about a young girl who discovers that life with "ShiCheii" (grandfather) out on the Navajo Reservation can be very strange, as well as THE best place to grow pumpkins! Directed by Merritt Youngdeer,Jr. (Cherokee) with Mentor Director George Zarr, and Produced by Patricia Gomes (Purepeche).

Super Indian, written by recording artist, actor and writer Arigon Starr (Kickapoo) is a "comic book comes alive" tale about an Indian who has super powers aided by his side kick rez dog "Diogi" Super Indian uses his powers to bring justice to the rez! Directed by Carolyn Dunn (Cherokee) with Mentor Director: Marssie Mencotti and Produced by John Gregg (Hopi/Inupiat).

Native Producer Profile: John Gregg, Sr. The longtime AIROS manager and now project coordinator for Native Radio Theater has decided it's time to move on after 12 years producing Native American radio for NAPT. Read our Producer Profile Download the MP3 interview Subscribe to the Producer Profile Podcast
Native Producer Profile: Arigon Starr and Dirk Maggs Arigon Starr, a member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, and Dirk Maggs talk about their collaboration on their radio theatre production of The Red Road.  The one-woman musical production features Starr playing a full cast of characters, while transporting audiences back to 1977 and Verna Yahola's All Nations Cafe in Sapulpa Oklahoma. Read our Producer Profile Download the MP3 interview Subscribe to the Producer Profile Podcast
Native Producer Profile: Randy Reinholz As producing artistic director of Native Voices at the Autry and new permanent director of San Diego State University's School of Theatre, Television and Film, Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) discusses the challenges of getting American Indians in the field. Read our Producer Profile on Randy Reinholz Download an MP3 interview with Randy Reinholz Subscribe to the Producer Profile Podcast
Native Producer Profile: Robert Vestal Reporter Nancy Kelsey recently spoke with Vestal about his new Native Radio Theater production, The Bullfrog Lover. The two also talked about Rob's involvement with Native Radio Theater and Native Voices at the Autry, as well as his future in Native American theater.. Read the Article on Rob Vestal Download the interview with Rob Vestal Subscribe to the Producer Profile Podcast
Native Producer Profile: Rhiana Yazzie As playwright Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo) commences on her newest work, The Really Real News from Native America, for the third season of Native Radio Theater with co-producer Clara NiiSka (Ojibwe), she pauses a moment to share her writing path and past done the Rhiana way. Read our Producer Profile on Rhiana Yazzie Download an MP3 interview with Rhiana Yazzie Subscribe to the Producer Profile Podcast

Resources

Transom.org is an experiment in channeling new work and voices to public radio through the Internet, and for discussing that work, and encouraging more. Designed to serve as a performance space, an open editorial session, an audition stage, a library, and a hangout. The site's purpose is to create a worthy Internet site and make public radio better: www.transom.org.

The Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) provides the producing community an array of professional development programs and resources, including mentoring, training and printed and online publications, as well as conferences and activities that expand networking, advocacy, employment and funding opportunities: www.airmedia.org.

The National Audio Theatre Festivals offer resources to new and established audio drama producers, writers, actors and directors. Workshops offer hands on education along with performance possibilities.

RuyaSonicSite.com is a site committed to audio theatre, sound effects, technology, technique, dreams and sonic magic

Contact Info

For more information on the Native Radio Theater Project, contact NAPT, at (402) 472-3522, or e-mail: native@unl.edu

More information

For more information about the project and opportunities for Indigenous theater and audio artists, visit http://www.airos.org or Native Voices at the Autry. For more information about National Audio Theatre Festivals visit http://www.natf.org. You can also join www.myspace.com/nativevoices

Check Out What is Showing Currently at Native Voices at the Autry