NOW – OCTOBER 27
A.R.T./New York Theatres
502 West 53rd Street (10th Ave & 53rd St) • Phone Orders & Groups: (212) 563-2565 M-F Noon—5:00 pm
BOX OFFICE: 1 Hour Before Curtain
For information on the A.R.T./New York Theatres including directions and accessibility information, please CLICK HERE
“AN OFF-BROADWAY GEM!”
–Times Square Chronicles
“From the opening moments, the musical immerses the audience in the beauty of Native American culture. The integration of traditional songs, language, and rituals, skillfully woven into the score, provides a rich and textured atmosphere. The music, composed with an ear for both modern and indigenous sounds, creates a bridge between the two worlds. THE CAST IS EXTREMELY TALENTED AND VOCLLY IMPRESSIVE, memorable and so authentic. They support the story beautifully, with standout performances from both seasoned actors and those making their off-Broadway debuts. The songs music and lyrics are gorgeous, especially when sung in native tongue. Distant Thunder presents a deeply resonant exploration of cultural identity, familial ties, and the reclamation of one’s roots.”
—Times Square Chronicles
“THE MELODIES ARE GORGEOUS”
–Theatermania
...particularly those with the native-influenced backup. Other songs incorporate a country music sound, and though pleasurable, the most effective songs intertwine traditional musical theater motifs with Indigenous rhythms, vocals, and instruments. The choreography, blending these elements, brings together musical-theater moves, Indigenous dance, and western line dancing. The Indigenous dances in particular were beautiful and meaningful.”
—Theatermania
“A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEATERGOERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.”
-Manhattan Digest
...to take pride in their heritage or to learn about it, with bona fide authenticity... Directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the original musical fuses current pop stylings and references with Native American drumming, dance, costumes, and language. The musical features fourteen songs and an Indigenous cast of fifteen that together express the characters’ sincere feelings, divergent views, backstories of parental inspiration, familial dysfunction, and affecting memories, the joy and pride in communal activities and ‘the paradigm of being Native American in America.’”
—Manhattan Digest
POST PERFORMANCE TALKBACKS
Join us for illuminating discussions about Indigenous representation and reclamation.
In our talkback panels, you will hear from Indigenous organizers, writers, activists, and artists across Turtle Island who will discuss how their work connects to major themes of Distant Thunder.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 (Indigenous People's Day)
In this talkback panel, join Shaun Taylor-Corbett and the cast of Distant Thunder for an informative discussion on the creative process, major themes, and impact of the production.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
In this talkback panel, Indigenous community builders and writers in NYC will discuss how they create spaces of reclamation in urban areas.
First Nations Performing Arts - Danielle Olana Jagelski is a composer, conductor, and creative producer. She is the Artistic Director of Renegade Opera, Producer for First Nation Performing Arts, and Faculty at Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division. A fierce advocate for equity in artistic spaces and citizen of the Oneida Nation/Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe, Danielle is especially passionate about decolonization through collective creation and performance. A composer of narrative music of all kinds, her works have been performed throughout the country at Roulette Intermedium, Performance Space New York, The Green Room 42, and Shaking the Tree Theatre. Recent premieres have been by New Native Theatre, Voices of Ascension | Voices of the New, and American Patriots Project among others. Currently she is commissioned to contribute to The North American Indigenous Songbook curated by Timothy Long. A passionate collaborator, she is the arranger/orchestrator for The Carlisle Project by Annalisa Dias and Ronee Penoi as well as music copyist for Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate. As a conductor she is sought out for her execution of contemporary works and has worked with companies such as Opera Theatre Saint Louis, Anchorage Opera, and Opera Ithaca. She has received grants from The Plimpton Foundation, Oregon Regional Arts and Cultures Foundation, and Opera America, Oregon Regional Arts and Cultures, as well as earning awards for her work from the National Opera Association.
Osage News - Tristan Joseph Espinoza is a writer and proud Osage Native from outside Dallas, Texas. He is a senior at Columbia University studying Political Science and is a former General Course student at the London School of Economics. His work has appeared in Osage News, The Plentitudes Literary Journal, the Columbia Daily Spectator, Solange Knowles’ BlackPlanet, and others. He is the creative director of the Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative, a youth-led organization that works to combat the stereotypes and stigmatism that plague Indigenous communities. In his spare time, Espinoza likes to watch Survivor reruns and post-film photos of his loved ones on Instagram @thetristane
Urban Indigenous Collective (Tentative)
Delilah is a Taino descendant born in the Bronx, NY. She has spent her life organizing, advocating, and mentoring some of New York City's most underserved communities. This includes youth in foster care, the LGBTQ community, and the BIPOC community. Helping others was something Delilah had always been passionate about, but she started taking it more seriously after she placed herself into the foster care system at 15 years old. Being part of New York City's foster care system opened her eyes to the lack of available resources and opportunities for the young people around her especially those who identify as BI-POC and LGBTQ. She learned advocacy and organizing at The Center for environmental justice, food justice, and homeless youth during this time. Since then, Delilah has accumulated over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, working for organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club as an educator and at Good Shepherd Services, where she worked in development. Delilah's goal at UIC is to use her experience, knowledge, and community-building skills to uplift other urban natives in Lenapehoking (NYC).
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
In this talkback panel, Indigenous artists and scholars discuss the importance of Indigenous creatives in theatre.
Eagle Project
Opalanietet - actor, singer, director, writer, and multi-disciplinary artist is Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, originally from Southern New Jersey and Delaware. While he grew up around various U.S. cities (Cincinnati, Ohio, Boston, Massachusetts, and the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area), he had the privilege and the honor of receiving his Lenape name, "Little Eagle," on original Lenape land at the age of 12 by his great uncle, the late Rodney "Strong Oak" Edwards. Opalanietet has appeared on television, in film, and on stages worldwide, including the Public Theater (New York), New York Theater Workshop, New Dramatists, LaMaMa E.T.C., Playwrights Horizons, and New York City Opera at Lincoln Center. In 2020, Opalanietet gave the Land Acknowledgement in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Throughout his career, Opalanietet has also devoted much of his time performing in and helping to develop theatrical works of indigenous people from the U.S. and worldwide. Having a passion for incorporating American voices that aren't frequently heard, especially those of Native Americans, into the performing arts arena, Opalanietet founded the Eagle Project in 2012. Opalanietet holds a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and is currently a Ph.D. student in theatre and performance at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, Actors' Equity Association, AGMA, and AGVA.
North American Indigenous Center of New York
Iakowi:he’ne’ Oakes is a Kanien:ke’ha’/Mohawk woman, mother, cultural curator, leader, advocate, producer, coach, artist, designer and athlete. She was born and raised in Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, a reservation that straddles the border of New York, Ontario and Quebec. Her experience and intentions are focused on Nation building, maintaining and strengthening sovereignty; stewardship, economic development, social justice, culture and the arts. She is the Founder and Director of the North American Indigenous Center of New York: (for) Culture, Equity and Economic Development. The Chief Executive Officer of Mohawk Coterie at Mohawkcoterie.com. Iakowi:he’ne’ is a cultural curator and producer of COVID 19 Relief Programs for Indigenous community, Premier Native Theater, FIT Native workout Series, Sacred Space gatherings for elders, Women’s Empowerment Gatherings, weekly online community activities, Socials, Language Forums, Community Feasts, Cultural Symposiums, and Traditional to contemporary Native American Arts and design workshop (series), lectures, panels and seminars.
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