CFP: Native American Theater & Performance (10/1/06; 2/19/07-2/21/07)

full name / name of organization: 
William Wortman
contact email: 

"Honoring Spiderwoman Theater / Celebrating Native American Theater"

February 19-21, 2007
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Deadline for proposals: October 1, 2006

      In addition to unique performances, Spiderwoman Theater's legacy
lies in their commitment to Native communities, Native issues, and
their own Native heritage. We wish to honor their achievement and
simultaneously celebrate Native American theater through a conference
and performances. We hope for a diversity of presentations that
explore the nature, the audiences, and the uses of Native
American/Indigenous/First Nation theater and performance. The
following are invited, with book publication of selected
presentations anticipated:
o Academic papers
o Collaborations (interviews/dialogues/conversations)
o Performance pieces or dramatic texts

Submissions could address Native American drama or other forms of
Native American performing arts. Topics that explore community,
spirituality, political resistance, memory, family, or women are
encouraged. Questions that might be addressed include:
o How is Native American performance developed within Native
communities? What methods and techniques are being used to educate
youth, build community, and develop cultural resources? What is the
impact of theater on Native communities?
o How have Native American plays and performances been
presented for non-Native audiences? What is the role of Native
American theater in multicultural theatre in the US? What are the
current identity issues; how have they been explored in work crossing
ethnic and cultural boundaries?
o How are rituals, histories, and traditions explored and
reclaimed in performance? What is their relationship to contemporary
life? What is the role of Indigenous language in dramatic performance?
o How will visions of the future be realized? What are
strategies for encouraging new artistic works, mentoring, and
training?

      The conference includes evening performances by Spiderwoman
Theater, Thunderbird Theater, and Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl's "The
Conversion of Ka'ahumanu"; access to the Native American Women
Playwrights Archive; and conversation with playwrights.

      Supported by the John W. Altman Humanities Scholar-in-Residence
Program, Miami University Libraries, Miami Univ. Press, Departments
of English and of Theatre, and the Center for American and World
Cultures.

      See the Native American Women Playwrights Archive website for
further information about NAWPA and the conference:
http://staff.lib.muohio.edu/nawpa

Proposals by October 1, 2006 to:
William A. Wortman, King Library, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056.

wortmawa_at_muohio.edu 513-529-3936

--+ + + + +William A. Wortman, Humanities LibrarianMiami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056513-529-3936wortmawa_at_muohio.edu ========================================================== From the Literary Calls for Papers Mailing List CFP_at_english.upenn.edu Full Information at http://cfp.english.upenn.edu or write Jennifer Higginbotham: higginbj_at_english.upenn.edu ==========================================================Received on Wed Jul 12 2006 - 16:31:28 EDT