Milwaukee Public Theatre
Press Release

Milwaukee Public Theatre presents “Stories from the Medicine Wheel”

Theatre Project Honors Native American Traditions

By - Nov 9th, 2015 03:13 pm

Audiences attending Milwaukee Public Theatre’s Stories from the Medicine Wheel will meet Nokomis, a grandmother in the Potawatomi Crane Clan, as she shares stories from the four directions and seasons with her grandchild, a very modern kid. Through entertaining music, dance and amazing puppetry, they will learn about the importance of passing on traditions and lessons about the circle of life.

Stories from the Medicine Wheel is an original production featuring seasonal tales and characters adapted from the Potawatomi, Oneida, Ojibwa, Menominee, and Ho-Chunk traditions. Stories were selected and adapted in cooperation with a panel of Native cultural advisors, and the puppets were created under the direction of national guest artists.

The all-Native cast includes Ellette Connors, Naiya Garcia, Marla Mahkimetas, Vanessa Peters, Raul Sada Jr., Charlene Smith and Shayne Steliga. The cast also manipulates the large puppets representing the characters which help teach cultural values.

“MPT is delighted to be able to work on this production with Woodland Nations Theatre Troupe Director Andy Connors,” said Barbara Leigh, Milwaukee Public Theatre’s Artistic/Producing Director. “This fall show highlights our all-Native cast, who inject their personal and cultural nuances to the scriptwriting (with the help of Jasmine Glasheen), the Storyteller character (Shayne Steliga) and the props and costumes.”

Fall 2015 Tour – November, Native American Awareness Month
Thursday, November 19, Milwaukee Public Museum, Gromme Auditorium, at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm. School and education groups have already pre-registered for this show. Contact Gaye-Lynn Clyde, Distance Learning Coordinator at 414-278-6146.

Tuesday, November 24, Indian Community School, at 2:00 p.m. 10405 W. St. Martins Rd., Franklin, WI. Free and open to students and the school community.

Another school show and a public show will be announced.

More information on the stories included in the play, the cast, the development of the puppets, MPT’s cross-cultural partnerships and Milwaukee Public Museum’s guide to exhibits is available at ww.milwaukeepublictheatre.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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