Indiana Repertory Theatre launches INclusion Series with Native American memoir

​Indiana Repertory Theatre launches INclusion Series with Native American memoir
Contemporary Cherokee activist explores identity and history along The Trail of Tears

Indianapolis, Ind.—The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s INclusion Series, new this year and focused on celebrating diverse storytelling, will begin with And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears, a one-woman play created and performed by Cherokee artist and activist DeLanna Studi. On the IRT Upperstage October 15 - November 10, the production highlights the universal desire to honor one’s roots and the places that we call home, while sharing the modern impact of an often forgotten part of our shared American history.

“The INclusion Series has come about to broaden our perspectives on what it means to be an American,” Executive Artistic Director Janet Allen said. “We selected And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears to give audiences personal insight into a chapter of American history that continues to resonate deeply today in the marginalizing of Native peoples.”

And So We Walked weaves present-day and ancestral characters seamlessly through time and place as it reflects on Studi’s experience traveling the 900-mile trail and the conflicts that the Cherokee Nation still wrestle with today. Cherokee on her father’s side and German-Irish on her mother’s, Studi hoped to not only explore the history of the Cherokee Nation, but also gain a deeper understanding of her father, his sense of pride in his language, and their shared ancestry and traditions. As she and her father retraced the steps their ancestors were forced to take in the 1830s, Studi conducted interviews and research, hosted workshops and storytelling circles through community partnerships, and participated in traditional ceremonies to help tell this complicated story.

“This is a story of trauma, loss, resilience and, most importantly, hope,” Studi said. “This isn’t just my story about my journey. It is a Cherokee story, one that transcends my own personal identity and experiences, and one that belongs to the Cherokee people, past and present.”

Based on Studi’s six-week journey, the script was developed in close collaboration with individuals and institutions within Eastern Band of Cherokee and Cherokee Nation, as well as with the support of Native Voices Theatre and the American Indian Center and Process Series at UNC–Chapel Hill. Major support was provided through the Arts and Society Initiative of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts.

Tickets for the Midwest premiere of And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears are available now, as are tickets for the other two productions in the INclusion series, The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963 and The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin.

DETAILS

WHERE: Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W Washington Street, IRT Upperstage

RUN DATES:  October 15 - November 10, various times. And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears is approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. Tickets and performance schedule available at IRTlive.com. 

TICKETS: Tickets start at $25. Click to buy.

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM:
DELANNA STUDI | Creator & Performer
COREY MADDEN | Director
JOHN COYNE | Scenic Design
ANDJA BUDINCHICH | Costume Design
NORMAN COATES | Lighting & Projection Design
BRUNO LOUCHOUARN with JOHN-JOHN GRANT & SARAH ELIZABETH BURKEY | Sound Design & Original Music
AIMEE LYNN PHILLIPS | Associate Sound Design

And So We Walked is produced in association with the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts and Octopus Theatricals, and has been developed with support from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts. And So We Walked is co-represented by Octopus Theatricals and Walrus Arts Management and Consulting.

Lead Support for our INclusion Series by the Margot L. Eccles Arts & Culture Fund, a fund of CICF.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

OPENING NIGHT
Friday, October 18, 2019 | Performance at 7:30 PM
Raise a glass and cheers to the cast and crew at IRT’s Opening Night! After the show, delight in a champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres, and a one-time-only chance to explore the set with IRT Artisans.

COOKIES & COFFEE
Thursday, October 24, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM
Before the 2 PM performance, sweeten your afternoon at the IRT with complimentary cookies, coffee and tea served in the lobby.

HAPPY HOUR
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 | Happy Hour starts at 5:30 PM | Performance at 6:30 PM
Start your evening at the Theatre with IRT’s Happy Hour! Beginning at 5:30 PM, sample appetizers and drinks from local distilleries, breweries and more before the performance. Sip, savor, and save with half-price drinks at the bar available throughout the evening.

COOKIES & COFFEE
Thursday, October 31, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM
Before the 2 PM performance, sweeten your afternoon at the IRT with complimentary cookies, coffee and tea served in the lobby. 

IRTEA TALK
Sunday, November 10, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM
Stay after the performance to take part in a post-show discussion led by actors, staff and special guests. Learn behind-the-scenes details and additional information about the show and its themes while enjoying tea and cookies courtesy of the IRT.

ASL/AD PERFORMANCE
Sunday, November 10, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM
The IRT offers ASL/AD services to our patrons with vision and hearing needs. Patrons with hearing needs are encouraged to sit in the interpretation zone and meet with the interpreter before the show. We also offer Assisted Listening Devices free of charge at each performance. To learn more visit irtlive.com/accessibility

For more information contact Kerry Barmann, Marketing Communications Manager at kbarmann@irtlive.com or 317.916.4824.

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ABOUT THE IRT
Founded in 1971, the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is the largest professional not-for-profit theatre in the state and one of the leading regional theatres in the country. The mission of the Indiana Repertory Theatre is to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that will engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, helping us build a vital and vibrant community.

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