March 9, 2016
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Page 9
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
York
Powerful play
comes to Portland
A powerful one-man play told by York, William
Clark’s childhood companion slave, who accompa-
nied the Corps of Discovery as the only black man
on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, comes to Jeffer-
son High School for two public performances this
weekend.
“York” as a benefit for the early college acade-
my at the Native American Youth and Family Center
(NAYA) in northeast Portland and the ReBuilding
Center’s Community Outreach Program.
David Casteal plays the character of York. In a
stirring performance, the Spokane actor weaves the
story of York’s challenges and accomplishments,
blending gripping first-person narration with ener-
getic, live African drumming and traditional Native
American drum recordings.
Although York proved an important participant in
the Expedition, as a black man and a slave, he was
not recognized as a member of the Corps of Discov-
ery until nearly 200 years after the Expedition. In
2001, President Bill Clinton posthumously awarded
York the rank of Honorary Sergeant in the Corps of
Discovery.
“York” premiered at the Spokane Civic Theatre in
2005, directed by Susan Hardie and performed by
Casteal, and had its first showing in New York City
the following year.
The production was conceived by Casteal and
playwright Bryan Harnetiaux, Spokane Civic The-
atre’s playwright-in-residence, and has been per-
formed across the Northwest to packed houses and
standing ovations.
Showtimes for the Portland performances are 7
p.m. on Saturday, March 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday,
March 13 in the Jefferson High School auditorium.
Tickets are $7 for students and $12 for adults and
may be purchased online at rebuildingcenter.org/
york.
David Casteal plays the character
York, the only black man on the
Lewis and Clark Expedition, in a
powerful, one-man performance.