Don’t Feed the Indians – A Divine Comedy Pageant
World Premiere
Conceived, Written and Directed by Murielle Borst-Tarrant [Kuna/Rappahannock Nations]
Musical Direction by Kevin Tarrant [Hopi/Hochunk Nations]
A Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective Project
Watch out when Indian show business meets the Doctrine of Discovery! A raucous play and political satire loosely based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. A comedic Native-Aesthetic look at the marginalization of Indigenous Peoples and the appropriation of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property. See what happens when the Indians push back.
CAST
Henu Josephine Tarrant
[Hopi/ Hochunk/ Kuna/ Rappahannock Nations]
Nic Billey
[Choctaw/ Delaware/ Creek Nations]
Danielle Soames
[Mohawk]
John Scott-Richardson
[Haliwa-Saponi Nation]
ABOUT SAFE HARBORS INDIGENOUS COLLECTIVE
La MaMa’s Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective seeks to create a new paradigm for the presentation of Indigenous arts and culture within the broader American theatre. The Collective will address Indigenous cultural and socioeconomic issues through theatrical performances, panel conversations, and community events. Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahanock Nations) is a second generation artists from the acclaimed company Spiderwoman.
Acknowledgement:
Early workshop development of Don’t Feed the Indians – A Divine Comedy Pageant was made possible with the support of Pangea World Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This production of Don’t Feed the Indians – A Divine Comedy Pageant is funded in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ national Theater Project with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Densford Fund of the Riverside Church of New York, Tides Foundation, NoVo Foundation and H.B. Henson Fund.
La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
The La MaMa Indigenous Initiative aims to provide a platform for Indigenous arts and culture, both nationally and worldwide. La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is committed to supporting ethnic diversity, cultural pluralism, and marginalized identities in the arts. The Initiative curates original Indigenous programming, including workshops, markets, and theatrical productions, to elevate the voices and artistic works of Native communities both nationally and internationally.
“Don’t Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant! is a bold, honest, thought-provoking piece of work from Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective Project running in La Mama’s downstairs theatre.” – Jamie Rosler, ReviewsHub
Molly Grogan reviews Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective Project’s travels to hell and back
Showbiz Is Hell for Native Americans in ‘Don’t Feed the Indians’
“It is painfully familiar for actors who don’t fall into cis/straight/white/thin/male classifications, and it also walks the fine line of being specific to this life experience and relatable for anyone with a beating heart and a sense of right and wrong.”
Photo Flash:
Meet the Cast of Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective’s ‘DON’T FEED THE INDIANS’ at La MaMa
Jersey City playwright’s production examines the American Indian experience
Interview with Murielle Borst-Tarrant
“All theatre excites me, but I am extremely interested in those Indigenous voices that are breaking the mold of American Theatre and showing us as human beings that are beautifully flawed.”
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“Native New York Director Produces ‘Don’t Feed The Indians – A Divine Comedy Pageant’” by Tony Enos
Special Event
Post-show Talkbacks and Panels
November 5th
Native Fashion in Theater and Appropriation
Moderated by Herb Frichner — FIT Professor of Marketing and Design & Fashion Designer and Business Owner of 30 Years
with Costume Designers Sheldon Raymore, Melissa Oakes & Nadonis Tarrant
November 12th
Native American Music in Theater and Performing Arts
Moderated by Muriel Miguel — Founder and Director of Spiderwoman Theater
with Composer Dawn Avery, Musical Director Kevin Tarrant & Ulali Co-Founder Soni Moreno
November 19th
Q & A Session
with the Full Cast & Creative Team of Don’t Feed the Indians — A Divine Comedy Pageant