theatre KAPOW launched Expanding the Canon: a play reading circle in January 2021 to expand our familiarity with the works of Black, Indigenous, Latinx and global majority playwrights. We simply must do the work to change "the canon." Becoming familiar with these works is one small thing that we can do to move toward the equity we want to see in the world. A guest dramaturg will curate a list of plays the circle will read and come together to discuss. In the first circle, we focused on works by contemporary Black playwrights, and on Asian American playwrights in the second.
In the third circle, Danielle Soames, a theatre artist from the Mohawk Nation will lead a study of works by contemporary Native playwrights. Danielle acts, writes, directs, and has had an art exhibition at the Iroquois Museum in Howes Cove, NY. Danielle has performed on stage since she was 12 years old. She received her Master’s Degree in Educational Theatre from NYU and graduated with Honors. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University, attended University of MN for Theatre and was the President at AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society). After graduating from NYU, Danielle was a Native American Fellow at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA for the Education and Interpretation Department. Her personal mission has been to break stereotypes of mixed-ethnicities and mixed cultures by exploring identity, primarily in new plays and poetry events which address conflict within cultures.
Danielle has chosen five plays by contemporary Native playwrights from five different Nations to explore the world of Native identity.
Participation is free and the circle will meet over Zoom. The playscripts will be made available to participants as pdfs.
Danielle will provide a dramaturgical packet for each of the five plays as a resource for reading, study, and conversation.
Reading and Discussion Schedule (Please note: all are Eastern Time)
Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 2 pm: CARLISLE by Myrton Running Wolf (Blackfeet from Browning, Montana)
Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 2 pm: Smoke by Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora)
ADJUSTED SCHEDULE:
Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 2 pm, More Than Feathers and Beads by Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahannock Nations)
Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 2 pm: Este Cate by Nicholson Billey (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)
Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 2 pm: The Fish by Madeline Sayet (Mohegan of Connecticut)
This project was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.
Previous Circles:
Expanding the Canon 1
Expanding the Canon 2