INTERVIEW: Native Voices play keeps tradition alive
Photo: From left, Michaela Escarcega (Azteca) stars as Dakota Zuni; Kenny Ramos (Barona Band of Mission Indians—Diegueño Iipay/Kumeyaay) as Raleigh (Ray) Rodriguez; and Kholan Studi (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) as Edward Anaya. Photo courtesy of © 2018 Craig Schwartz photography / Provided by Native Voices with permission.
Dillon Chitto is ready to yell, “Bingo!”
The playwright, of Mississippi Choctaw, Laguna and Isleta Pueblo heritage, is currently having his first play receive its world premiere in Los Angeles. The opportunity comes courtesy of Native Voices, the acclaimed theater company that presents new works by Native American artists. Randy Reinholz serves as producing artistic director of Native Voices, and Jean Bruce Scott serves as producing executive director.
Chitto’s play, which continues through March 25 at the Autry Museum of the American West, is called Bingo Hall. The show follows Edward Anaya, a teenager who calls the numbers at a local bingo game. His life is disrupted when college-acceptance letters start coming in, and this means he has some big life decisions to make.
Chitto explores themes of tradition and identity, all the while layering his play with plenty of jokes and unexpected occurrences. Recently, Hollywood Soapbox spoke with Chitto about his first professional production. Here’s what he had to say:
On how he found out about the Native Voices opportunity …
“My brother, he saw some advertisements for Native Voices on Facebook, and he just passed it on to me. I took a chance and just applied.”
On the setting of the play …
“It takes place on a Native American reservation in New Mexico, and it has all these native themes to it, like tradition. We all have our traditions. We have our families that we grow close to, so I think that’s what audiences can expect. It’s a very native story, but it’s very human. And I think everyone can relate to it because we’ve all been through these things before. … I tried to make it as universal as possible while also staying true to my native roots.”
On his work during the rehearsal process …
“Native Voice has been really good about keeping me active and involved, so I’ve been working with dramaturgs. And the producers helped me, so if I do have rewrites or anything, they’re just very gracious about it and really helpful. I think the big thing about Native Voices is that they want to develop them, so they can go on to more productions. So they just want to make the best script possible, so they’re just helping me to further the script and make it stronger.”
On how he entered the world of playwrighting …
“Playwrighting I got into just a few years ago, but before that, I would write short stories and stuff. And when I was little, I would make comic books. I would write comic books. … My parents were very involved in bringing my brother and I to the theater. I think I started going when I was 5, and the first actual theater experience I had was going to the Santa Fe Opera. So we would go every year and then also to plays around Santa Fe.”
On the importance of Native Voices …
“I think it’s very important. Although I hadn’t heard about it before I actually submitted, hearing about all the work that they do and all of the native playwrights who have been involved and all the dramaturgs that have been involved in the past, it’s a very present and strong force to bring these native plays and native-written pieces, native artists, native actors into the theater because I don’t think that’s a side to the story that many of us hear. I certainly didn’t really, and I’m native. It was really nice to see that someone is actually working on that.”
On what he will be thinking on opening night …
“Excitement, joy — mixed with fear. I know the artists, the actors, they have been working really hard to bring it to life. I’m still having these anxiety dreams, just thinking, OK, this is my first production, and I still can’t believe that it got chosen to be on stage.”
On the future beyond Bingo Hall …
“This helps show me that playwrighting is something that I’m actually very passionate about, and I’ve been working on a couple of plays since then. … I love writing so much now.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Bingo Hall from Native Voices is currently playing through March 25 at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. Click here for more information and tickets.
