New Native Theatre is premiering the last play in its 15th Anniversary with a new play, The Nut, The Hermit, The Crow, and The Monk. Written and directed by Rhiana Yazzie, the theatre’s founder and Artistic Director, with co-direction by Amber Ball, this comedy follows a zillennial brother and sister on a self-help journey inspired by The Odyssey and Alice in Wonderland. Their adventure is a quest to confront and heal from the boarding school trauma passed down through generations. This is Yazzie’s first project after writing and directing The Other Children of The Sun at The Kennedy Center this winter.
Yazzie says, “My work with New Native Theatre has always been about seeding a meaningful Native Theatre ecosystem in Minnesota, many times that has come at the cost of creating my own new plays, but recently I’ve felt like I’ve really come into my own as a playwright-director with a wildly imaginative visual style and poignant and comedic writing.”
Yazzie was recently recognized with a 2025 USA Artists Fellowship, and in 2023 New Native Theatre was a Bush Prize winner.
As part of its commitment to Native communities, the productions New Native Theatre creates are deeply rooted in authentic storytelling that reflects a full spectrum of experiences as Indigenous people. Their stories highlight not only the joy and laughter that are essential parts of the Native experience but also the struggle. By sharing these stories, New Native Theatre strives to uplift voices, and foster a deeper understanding of the complexities of Indigenous life. Through their work, they aim to create spaces for connection and empowerment.
New Native Theatre will present The Nut, The Hermit, The Crow, and The Monk for fifteen performances at Gremlin Theatre in Saint Paul located at Annex Building, 550 Vandalia Street, #177 from April 16th through May 4th, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. ASL will be provided by the Indigenous Interpreters Organization, with details to be confirmed, so please check New Native Theatre’s website for updates.
All tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $35. Audiences can buy tickets online by going to https://nhcm.bpt.me/, or for group sales contact at boxoffice@newnativetheatre.org.
New Native Theatre is a new way of thinking about, looking at, and creating authentic Native American stories for the stage. Based in the Twin Cities, it is the most frequently producing and largest professional Native American theatre company in the Midwest focusing exclusively on Native American playwrights, actors, directors, and all audiences. For more details, contact New Native Theatre at (612)367-7639, by email at info@newnativetheatre.org or visit www.newnativetheatre.org.
