Black Elk Speaks, Amazing Production Coming to Dana College!

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dana.edu/about/blackelkspeaks

In July 2009, Dana College will collaborate with St. Charles Community College History Theatre to present a production of John Neihardt’s book Black Elk Speaks, adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel.

Talented young Americans from across the United States with differing backgrounds, native and non-native, will convene on Dana’s campus to create an environment for studying, examining and discussing Native American issues of the past, present, and the future.



Auditions will be held on Dana’s campus, as well as other regional locations in the month of May. Rehearsals begin in June 2009. There will be six performances open to the public, July 15-19, 2009. Ticket prices are $7 for general admission and $5 for seniors/students/ alumni.

Black Elk Speaks is the life story of the Oglala Lakota Holy Man, Black Elk, through John G Neihardt, Nebraska’s Poet Laureate. The spiritual and emotional impact of the book itself is powerful; however, most people are not familiar with the rich cultures and painful history, which are the driving forces in Black Elk Speaks. Additional educational options are connected to the main production where people can learn about the tribes within Nebraska; the way Native peoples are portrayed in popular culture, the legacy of a significant poet and author, and have a guided discussion of a remarkable piece of biographical literature.



Nancy Gillis, Executive Director of the John Neihardt State Historic Site and the Neihardt Foundation’s Institute for Vision and Learning, will do 4 presentations to coordinate with the production.

In conjunction with the production, Dana will be hosting a one-day Youth Summer Acting School on June 27. This acting school is designed for students’ ages 10-16 years old. The class will begin at 9 a.m. and end at noon. Michael Lara, will be the artist-in-residence. The course is made up of lessons and exercises in Acting and Improvisation aimed toward helping students put on a successful audition and performance.

The course entitled Hollywood and the Native American will be offered by Dana College, but open to the public. It is being offered as an academic part of the total discovery of Native History through the dramatic work of John Neihardt. This will be a 3 hour credit course taught by Hal Berry, Director of the Black Elk Speaks and a Dana graduate. The class will be held starting June 3-July 6, 2009 on the Dana campus, MWF 9 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

Additional activities surrounding the production include a photographic exhibit by St. Louis photographer, Chris Brewington, celebrating the world of Black Elk, the land of the Pine Ridge Reservation and the tapestry of the badlands and the people. There will be an opening night gala for the performance, as well as Black Elk Day in Blair. A special closing performance will include a Veterans Day for Native Americans. The Native American Commission will also sponsor a craft show in conjunction with the performances.

For more information on this amazing event, please contact Nikki Kinsey, director of marketing and communications, at 402.426.7216 or [e-mail].

[yellerpup]

1. I knew Chris Sergel well.

He published my first play. I hosted several "Black Elk Speaks" get-togethers in NYC when a production was being mounted in Oklahoma back in the early 80's. How was the show, OmahaSteve?