Native Voices at the Autry Presents World Premiere of "The Frybread Queen" March 9, 2011

NATIVE VOICES AT THE AUTRY
PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF CAROLYN DUNN’S
THE FRYBREAD QUEEN

Production is Culmination of Three-and-a-Half-Year Development Process
by Native Voices, the Country’s Only Equity Theatre Company
Dedicated Exclusively to Developing Work by Native American Playwrights

Two "Talk Back" Audience Discussions; LA Native Women Playwrights Round Table
Moderated by The Public Theater's Liz Frankle; and Online "Frybread Queen & Court" Quiz
are Four Free Activities Featured During Run of the Play;
Frybread Selections Also Offered at Autry's Golden Spur Café

Saturday, March 12 – Sunday, March 27, 2011
(previews begin Wednesday, March 9)
Wells Fargo Theater at The Autry National Center, Los Angeles

Native Voices at the Autry continues its vital role as the country’s only equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing work of Native American playwrights with the world premiere main stage Equity production of The Frybread Queen, which runs from Saturday, March 12 through Sunday, March 27, 2011 (previews begin March 9), at the Wells Fargo Theater at The Autry National Center, Los Angeles. Written by esteemed playwright Carolyn Dunn (Muskogee Creek, Cherokee*) The Frybread Queen is a quietly poetic drama with all the haunting qualities of a Chekhovian tragicomedy -- Navajo-style. Native Voices' deep commitment to nurturing new works and seeing them fully realized is illustrated by this production, which is the culmination of the play’s pivotal three-and-a-half-year development process shepherded by Native Voices. Robert Caisley, who served as dramaturg during the play’s development, directs, and the four-member cast features Jane Lind (Aleut*) as Jessie Burns, Kimberly Norris Guerrero (Colville, Salish-Kootenai, Cherokee*) as Annalee Walker Hayne, Shyla Marlin (Choctaw*) as Carlisle Emmanuel Burns, and Elizabeth Frances (Cherokee*) as Lily Savannah Santiago Burns.

The Frybread Queen portrays three generations of strong, opinionated, passionate Native women bound by marriage and family ties who come together for the funeral of a beloved son, and in their grief confront long-simmering tensions and family secrets that threaten to tear them apart. The play addresses many of the challenges facing Native people across the country today, from the erosion of traditional values to the loss of family and tribe and ownership of belonging, elements that factor into the relationships of the women as they struggle to deal with their troubled situation. Each character has her own unique recipe for frybread, a Native American staple, all reflecting their individual attempts to assert some kind of “authority” over the past and to take some kind of control over the future. In competing, both literally and metaphorically, to be the real "frybread queen" in the play, they illustrate the friction between traditional Native ways and contemporary assimilation, from the grandmother’s traditional use of lard to her daughter-in-law’s "new-fangled" use of self-rising flour.

During The Frybread Queen's development process, the thought-provoking play was described by a theatre critic as “one of the most celebrated new Native American theatre pieces in the country.” The play began its developmental evolution when it was selected by a national panel for Native Voices' 2007 Playwright's Retreat, an opportunity for beginning, emerging and established Native American playwrights to work closely in shaping their plays with nationally recognized directors, dramaturgs and an acting company comprised of exceptional Native American actors, culminating in public readings. In September 2010, Native Voices co-produced a developmental production of the play with Montana Rep and The University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance. In November 2010, a reading of the work was staged as part of Native Voices' signature FIRST LOOK SERIES: Plays in Progress, which brings playwrights together with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors for a workshop and public presentation at the Autry. The March 2011 performances of The Frybread Queen at the Autry National Center represent the play's first Equity production.

Four free special activities are offered in conjunction with the performance, including two post-performance “Talk Back” audience discussions with the cast, director, playwright and executive producers on Sundays, March 13 and 20 (after the 2 p.m. performances). In addition, Liz Frankle, literary manager of The Public Theater in New York, moderates an LA Native Women Playwrights Round Table with noted playwrights Carolyn Dunn, Larissa Fasthorse and Laura Shamas on Saturday, March 19 (following the 2 p.m. performance). Native Voices at the Autry also offers “The Frybread Queen & Court Drawing,” a free, fun on-line quiz about frybread – with a top prize of a $200 gift certificate to the Autry store – culminating on Sunday, March 27 with a “queen” and three runners up being named to the honorary “2011 Frybread Queen & Court.” To further celebrate frybread, the Autry’s Golden Spur Café offers, for a limited time during the play’s run, special frybread menu items created by chef Carolyn Baer that put a tasty modern spin on this old time classic.

*refers to the artists’ tribal affiliation

Tickets to The Frybread Queen are $20; $10 for students/military/seniors (55+); and $12 for Autry members; groups of 10 or more save 40%. Previews are half price, and free for Autry members. Performances take place at The Autry National Center's Wells Fargo Theater, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1462. To purchase tickets, please call (323) 667-2000, extension 354, or visit www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org.

WHO: Native Voices at the Autry, America’s leading Native American theatre company

WHAT:
The Frybread Queen by Carolyn Dunn (Muskogee Creek, Cherokee*)
Robert Caisley, director
Randy Reinholz (Choctaw*) and Jean Bruce Scott, executive producers

CAST:
Jane Lind (Aleut*) as Jessie Burns
Shyla Marlin (Choctaw*) as Carlisle Emmanuel Burns,
Kimberly Norris Guerrero (Colville, Salish-Kootenai, Cherokee*) as Annalee Walker Hayne
Elizabeth Frances (Cherokee*) as Lily Savannah Santiago Burns

WHEN:

PREVIEWS:
Wednesday, March 9, 8 pm
Thursday, March 10, 8 pm
Friday, March 11, 8 pm
Saturday, March 12, 2 pm

OPENS: Saturday, March 12, 8 pm

RUNS:
Sunday, March 13, 2 pm (post-performance “Talk Back” with cast, director, playwright)
Thursday, March 17, 8pm
Friday, March 18, 8 pm
Saturday, March 19, 2 pm
Saturday, March 19, 8 pm
Sunday, March 20, 2 pm
Thursday, March 24, 8 pm
Friday, March 25, 8 pm
Saturday, March 26, 2 pm
Saturday, March 26, 8 pm
Sunday, March 27, 2 pm

WHERE:
Wells Fargo Theater
The Autry National Center
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462

TICKET PRICES:
$20 general admission; $10 students/military/seniors(55+); $12 Autry members
groups of 10 or more save 40%

previews are half price:
$10 general admission; $5 students/military/seniors(55+); free Autry members

TICKETS & INFO:
(323) 667-2000 ext. 354
www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org

Official Website: http://www.nativevoicesattheautry.org