Between Two Knees
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Between Two Knees

By the 1491s Directed by Eric Ting World Premiere American Revolutions
April 3 – October 27, 2019 Thomas Theatre
Multimedia Suitability and Accessibility The Artists The Venue
Multimedia Suitability and Accessibility The Artists The Venue

It's OK to laugh

In this American Revolutions commission, sketch-comedy troupe the 1491s tell an intergenerational story of familial love, loss, and connection that spans the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee, forced re-education via Indian boarding schools, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam and the 1973 takeover at Wounded Knee.

Directed by California Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Eric Ting and infused with the 1491s’ boldly uninhibited, fearless and subversive approach to comedic storytelling, this world-premiere production takes a hard look at the impacts of systematic oppression after the point that textbooks typically stop teaching Native history. Also, it’s funny.

Development of Between Two Knees was supported by grants from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

Between Two Knees is a co-commission with New Native Theatre.

Length: Approximately 2 hours, 21 minutes, including one intermission

#BetweenTwoKneesOSF

Sponsors

  • PRODUCTION SPONSOR
  • Ed McCurtain and Jane Dryden
  • SPONSOR
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • PARTNERS
  • Marian and Richard Baldy
  • Nancy and Donald de Brier
  • Paul Westbrook and Lynn Cyert
Suitability Suggestions

The play deals in a comic but pointed way with the violent massacre at Wounded Knee. It contains violent imagery and some profanity. Mature audiences who can handle these elements are strongly encouraged to see this fascinating and accessible look at a chapter in our history and the ways that history still resonates today.

Accessibility

The Thomas Theatre is outfitted with an elevator to the theatre level.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is committed to accessibility. We recognize the needs of persons with disabilities and strive to make our facilities and productions accessible to all. OSF offers a variety of accommodations, outlined here.

 

Creative Team

Ramón Vargas
FAIR Assistant Director

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

Cast

Ensemble: Rachel Crowl*, Derek Garza*, Justin Gauthier, Shyla Lefner*, Wotko Long, April Ortiz*, James Ryen*, Shaun Taylor-Corbett*, Sheila Tousey*

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

Image of Thomas Theatre in Three Quarter Thrust
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Image of Thomas Theatre in Three Quarter Thrust
Thomas Theatre

As a result of the generous donation of $4.5 million from a group of donors, comprising of The Goatie Foundation, Roberta and David Elliott, and Helen and Peter Bing, in 2013 the New Theatre was renamed the Thomas Theatre in recognition of longtime OSF Development Director Peter D. Thomas, who died in March 2010.

The gift answered a challenge issued in 1993 when Jo Lynn Allen of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the lead donor for the construction of OSF’s New Theatre, passed on the opportunity to name the theatre, issuing the requirement for other donors to make a significant contribution to secure the naming rights. The combined gift from the above group of donors meets the Allen’s threshold, and gives them the naming rights.

The New Theatre opened in 2002 and it carries on the pioneering spirit of its predecessor, the Black Swan. Here, on this intimate and extremely versatile stage, we present new works and explore familiar plays in ways designed to challenge, excite and illuminate. Depending on the flexible seating configuration (thrust, arena, avenue) in use, the theatre seats from 270-360 audience members.

Our 2019 Season