The plot is plotting, and the story keeps getting bigger. From bringing The Bird Blind home to Alaska to welcoming new talent behind the scenes, there's plenty happening at New Native Theatre. Up next? Where the Summit Meets the Stars lands in Minneapolis this December, and tickets are officially on sale! Here's what's happening across the ever-expanding world of NNT.
Tickets are on sale for Where the Summit meets the Stars
Our winter production, Where the Summit Meets the Stars, takes the stage at Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis, December 2–20! Against the vast landscape of Alaska, a journey by boat becomes a passage through memory, family, and the choices that shape who we are. Rooted in Tlingit culture and carried by music, movement, and ancestral connection, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse’s play explores love, loss, parenthood, and the ties between generations. Through relationships connecting past and present, the story asks what we inherit, what we carry forward, and how we choose a new path for those who come after us. Tickets are on sale now!
The Bird Blind Comes Home to Alaska
This October, New Native Theatre traveled to Anchorage for four free staged readings of The Bird Blind at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The performances marked a special Alaskan homecoming for the work and an opportunity to connect with audiences in the community. We're grateful to our Anchorage collaborators and everyone who joined us for this experience. Special thanks to the Bering Straits Native Corporation for their support.
"Universal is spot on. So relatable and that I saw so much of my own life reflected. Pain, joy, grief, but also how people come together in the most wonderful ways."
--Alaska Community Audience Member
Meet Melanie and Shannon!
We're excited to welcome Melanie Figg and Shannon Epplett to the New Native Theatre team! Melanie is our new Grants Manager, supporting the sourcing and stability of our funding and Shannon joins us as our Education and Outreach Coordinator to expand our education and community impacts.
Melanie knows her way around a grant proposal, but did you know she's also an award-winning poet and essayist? Her creative writing has earned both NEA and McKnight Foundation Fellowships! She brings a storyteller's perspective to the work of supporting NNT's future.
Shannon holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History and Criticism and he's experienced in turning history and big ideas into live performance! One of his projects, Sunset on the Longest Day, was a site-specific collaboration with a sculptor exploring land acknowledgment. Talk about taking theatre outside the box!
We'll see you at the theatre!
As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month this November, we're reminded that Native stories deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated year-round. That's what drives our work at New Native Theatre, and it's work we couldn't do without you. This month, we invite you to turn that celebration into action with a donation that supports Native artists, creates opportunities for new voices, and keeps our stories onstage for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of it.
