Critical Companion to Native American and First Nations Theatre and Performance - (Critical Companions) (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This foundational study offers an accessible introduction to Native American and First Nations theatre by drawing on critical Indigenous and dramaturgical frameworks. It is the first major survey book to introduce Native artists, plays, and theatres within their cultural, aesthetic, spiritual, and socio-political contexts. Native American and First Nations theatre weaves the spiritual and aesthetic traditions of Native cultures into diverse, dynamic, contemporary plays that enact Indigenous human rights through the plays' visionary styles of dramaturgy and performance. The book begins by introducing readers to historical and cultural contexts helpful for reading Native American and First Nations drama, followed by an overview of Indigenous plays and theatre artists from across the century. Finally, it points forward to the ways in which Native American and First Nations theatre artists are continuing to create works that advocate for human rights through transformative Native performance practices.

Addressing the complexities of this dynamic field, this volume offers critical grounding in the historical development of Indigenous theatre in North America, while analysing key Native plays and performance traditions from the mainland United States and Canada. In surveying Native theatre from the late 19th century until today, the authors explore the cultural, aesthetic, and spiritual concerns, as well as the political and revitalization efforts of Indigenous peoples. This book frames the major themes of the genre and identifies how such themes are present in the dramaturgy, rehearsal practices, and performance histories of key Native scripts.

Review Quotes

"This volume is the newest, and in many ways, most impressive, achievement in the scholarly field of American Indian theatre critical studies and research. The overall approach the authors have taken, one that emphasizes Native critical and dramaturgical frameworks rather than the western notions of theatre and performance that have long been imposed on scholarly readings of Native theatre, enlarges and, in my view, enriches the body of scholarship available for use by college students, academics, theatre artists and tribal educators and community builders." --Hanay Geiogamah, Professor of Theatre, UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television, USA

About the Author

Jaye T. Darby is Lecturer in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

Courtney Elkin Mohler is Assistant Professor of Theatre in the Jordan College of the Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis, USA.

Christy Stanlake is Professor of English at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, USA.