The personal and the political are one and the same in the deeply moving, daring drama from native Oklahoman playwright and lawyer Mary Kathryn Nagle. Sovereignty splits its time in two parallel, deeply connected timelines: the early 1830s in Cherokee Nation, and in what is now called Oklahoma in the year 2020. In the first, tensions rise as Andrew Jackson’s White House threatens to remove the Cherokee from their land; in the second, Sarah Polson must confront her ubiquitous past in her work as a young Cherokee lawyer fighting for the restoration and preservation of her Nation’s inherent jurisdiction.
Cast (in order of appearance):
Mitch/Samuel Worcester – Luke Thompson
Ben/Andrew Jackson – TBA
Watie/Elias Boudinot – Quentin Blevins
White Chorus Man (Drunk Man/Father/Georgia Guard/William Wirt/Bartender/Reverend Schermerhorn) – Andy Axewell
Sarah Polson – Candice Byrd
John Ridge – Chance Rush
Sarah Bird Northrup/Flora – Tina Flournoy
Major Ridge/Roger Ridge Polson – Zack Morris
John Ross/Jim Ross – Tommy Cummings
Crew:
Director – Carolyn Dunn
Stage Manager – Susan Fenrich
Set Designer – John Cruncleton
Costume Designer – Paulette Record
Fight Coordinator – Candice Byrd
Lighting Designer – Chris Vaughns
Sound Designer – Aaron Veale
Cherokee Language Advisor – Joe Byrd
Producers – Susan Apker & Daniel Hitzman
Heller Theatre Company has been dedicated to producing compelling and provocative new works that challenge and entertain the audience. While Sovereignty has been produced twice before, this run will mark the Oklahoma premiere, the play’s setting and the home state of playwright Mary Kathryn Nagle. The story is timely, relevant, and focuses on very real and very painful truths that have been largely left out of the national conversation.
Sovereignty marks the latest in a series of plays Heller Theatre Company is producing that highlights plays by and featuring women and people of color. We are dedicated to supporting and magnifying the voices of the marginalized through these powerful and well-written works.
Performances will be held Oct. 26, 27 & Nov. 2, 3 at 7:30PM and Oct. 28 & Nov. 4 at 2:00PM at Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Liddy Doenges Theater. Tickets are available in advance here and card-carrying members of the Cherokee Nation can receive a discount with the promo code “CN2018”. Group rates for parties of 10 or more are also available in person at the PAC Box Office or by phone at 918-596-7109.
This production is made possible through the generosity of the Cherokee Nation, Tulsa PAC Trust, and George Kaiser Family Foundation. Heller Theatre Company is a member of Arts Alliance Tulsa. This show contains mature themes and adult language. For more information, visit www.hellertheatreco.com or check out Heller Theatre Company on Facebook and Twitter.
