April 17, 2019
CAREERS Special Edition
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
photo by K ate s zrom /p ortlanD C enter s tage at t he a rmory
Chris Murray (from left), Nick Ferruci, Nathalie Standingcloud and Robert Mesa star in ‘Crossing
Mnisose,’ a new world premiere play that weaves together Sacajawea’ story with that of current
efforts by Native Americans and others to save the Missouri River from the Dakota Access Pipeline.
From Sacajawea’s Point of View
Native voices
heard in ‘Crossing
Mnisose’
“Crossing Mnisose” (minne-
show-she) tells the story of one
of America’s first feminists, Sa-
cajawea, and draws a line from
a completely original view of
Lewis and Clark to the present
day, as descendants of the Da-
kota and Lakota Nations con-
tinue their fight for the Mnisose
(or what Europeans named the
“Missouri River”) and the lands
that contain the burials of their
ancestors.
The play is from celebrated
playwright, activist, and attorney
Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee
Nation), whose “Manahatta” re-
cently captivated audiences at the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Commissioned by Portland
Center Stage at the Armory,
Crossing Mnisose began its run
with preview performances on
Saturday, April 13. Opening
night is Friday, April 19 with
shows continuing through May 5
on the U.S. Bank Main Stage at
The Armory.
Tickets start at $25. For more
information, visit pcs.org.
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