Go live this weekend -- Native Voices turns 10

November 6, 12:36 PMLA Stage Scene ExaminerEvan Henerson

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Carbon Black opens this weekend at the Autry
Native Voices at the Autry

It is the only Equity theater in the nation dedicated exclusively to producing works by Native American playwrights. And, starting off this weekend, it celebrates a decade of existence.

This is the company for which actors, directors and playwrights offer not credits next to their names, but tribal affiliation, as in Co-Founder/Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) or actress Tonantzin Carmelo (Tongva, Kumeyaay).

Native Voices at the Autry, founded and run by the husband and wife producing director of Reinholz and Jean Bruce Scott, opens its 10th season this weekend with the world premiere of “Carbon Black” by Terry Gomez (Comanche).

A psychological drama laced with humor, “Carbon Black” tells the story of an agoraphobic mother and her son who claims to have witnessed a murder. Mom doesn’t buy the tale, and her obsession with press coverage of world wide violence keeps mother and son trapped. Gomez’s play was inspired by an outbreak of violence in her New York neighborhood as well as the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“Carbon Black” features Carmelo, Michael Drummond, Sheila Tousey (Menominee, Stockbridge Munsee) and Stephan Wolfert.

Performances begin Saturday and run 8 p.m. Thur.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. through Nov. 22 at the Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry National Center of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way., L.A. (866) 468-3399 www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org.

Native Voices returns in March 2010 with the solo show “Tales of an Urban Indian” written by and starring Canadian playwright Darrell Dennis (Shuswap), followed by the company’s Playwrights Retreat and Festival of New Plays in June and the Young Native Voices Theater Education Project in the summer.

Also of note this weekend:

“Noises Off,” Michael Frayn’s manic backstage/frontstage farce is presented by Glendale based classical theater company “A Noise Within” and directed by Geoff Elliott (who also stars as the play’s crazed director). Previews begin this weekend with opening night scheduled for Nov. 14. The play runs in rotating repertory through Dec. 20. (818) 240-0910 xtn.1, www.ANoiseWithin.org.


And the Ensemble Studio Theatre presents “Tree” by Julie Hebert, a world premiere play about a white Southern woman who discovers love letters that lead her to the African American half brother she didn’t know existed. Jessica Kubzansky directs Chuma Gault, Tessa Thompson, Sloan Robinson and Jacqueline Wright.

“Tree” plays at [Inside the] Ford Amphitheatre, 8 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Dec. 13. 2580 Cahuenga Blvd., East. Hollywood. (323) 461-3673, www.FordTheatres.org

Info: Native Voices, (866) 468-3399 www.NativeVoicesattheAutry.org., A Noise Within, (818) 240-0910 xtn.1, www.ANoiseWithin.org., Ford Amphiotheatre, (323) 461-3673, www.FordTheatres.org