Native Voices Premieres TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN March 13, 2010

WEST COAST PREMIERE OF TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN
PRESENTED BY NATIVE VOICES AT THE AUTRY
DURING 10th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

One-Man Show, Written and Performed by Darrell Dennis (Shuswap*),
Premiered in 2009 at New York's The Public Theater

Saturday, March 13 - Sunday, March 28, 2010
(Previews begin Thursday, March 11)

Native Voices at the Autry, America's leading Native American theater company, continues its 10th Anniversary Season with the West Coast premiere of the critically applauded one-man show Tales of an Urban Indian by noted Canadian playwright/actor Darrell Dennis (Shuswap*). Dennis, a veteran of the noted comedy school Second City, stars in the dark comedy directed by Herbie Barnes (Ojibway*), which opens Saturday, March 13 and plays through Sunday, March 28, 2010 (previews begin Thursday, March 11).

Two special post-performance “Talk Back” programs, featuring an opportunity for the audience to talk with the playwright, are slated for Sunday, March 14 and Sunday, March 21. On March 14, Dennis will be joined by special guests Micah Ian Wright (Muscogee Creek*) and Jason Gavin (Blackfeet*), members of the American Indian Writers Committee for the Writers Guild of America, West.

Tales of an Urban Indian is produced by Native Voices at the Autry in association with New York's The Public Theater, which premiered the play last spring. The play is also the basis of a hit Canadian television show of the same name. Of the New York production, a New York Post critic proclaimed, "This semi-autobiographical tale of a young man's transition from reservation to the city amusingly counters our stereotypical notions of Indian life.” Village Voice's critic wrote, “Dennis has a lovely theatrical presence - charming, high-spirited, a little dorky, and a little anguished.” Backstage called Tales of an Urban Indian, "a searing blend of anger, pride, and resolution."

Dennis' extensive credits include roles on such popular Canadian television shows as The Rez and Northwood.

Tales of an Urban Indian portrays a life observed through the lens of a contemporary urban Indian making his way from the reservation to the city and experiencing his own unique (and often devastatingly hilarious) brand of culture shock. Dennis creates a sad, funny and always entertaining world where overcoming the odds is just the beginning.

Native Voices at the Autry, celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season, is led by Founder/Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw*) and Founder/Producing Executive Director Jean Bruce Scott and is the country’s only Equity theater company dedicated exclusively to producing new works by Native American playwrights and performed by Native actors. It maintains successful long-term relationships with New York's The Public Theater, Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT), Washington's Kennedy Center and La Jolla Playhouse.

Single tickets are $20 for general admission, $12 for Autry members and half price for previews. Groups (10 or more), save 40%.

NATIVE VOICES is located at the Autry National Center of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462. To purchase tickets, call (866) 468-3399 or visit www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org

WHAT:
Native Voices at the Autry, America's leading Native American theater company

WHO:
Tales of an Urban Indian, written by and performed by Darrell Dennis (Shuswap*)
Herbie Barnes (Ojibway*), Director

WHEN:
Previews:
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 8 PM
Friday, March 12, 2010, 8 PM
Saturday, March 13, 2010, 2 PM

Opens:
Saturday, March 13, 8 PM

Runs:
Sunday, March 14, 2 PM – followed by “Talk Back” with playwright and special guests Micah Ian Wright (Muscogee Creek*) and Jason Gavin (Blackfeet*), members of the American Indian Writers Committee of the Writers Guild of America, West
Thursday March 18, 2010, 8 PM
Friday, March 19, 2010, 8 PM
Saturday, March 20, 2010, 2 PM & 8 PM
Sunday, March 21, 2010, 2 PM – followed by “Talk Back" with playwright
Thursday, March 25, 2010, 8 PM
Friday, March 26, 2010, 8 PM
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 2 PM & 8 PM
Sunday, March 28, 2010, 2 PM

WHERE:
Wells Fargo Theater,
Autry National Center of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462

TICKET PRICES:
$20; ($12 for Autry members)
Previews: half price
Groups (10 or more), save 40%

TICKETS & INFO:
(866) 468-3399 www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org

*refers to the artists' tribal affiliation

Official Website: http://www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org