A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Wood Bones

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 6m, 1girl(s), 1 any gender (adult)

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

Yellow Robe's beautifully poetic play, about a spirit trapped in an old house, explores racism, personal greed, duty to community, and the consequences of American colonialism.

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Wood Bones

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 6m, 1girl(s), 1 any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
Wood Bones is the uniquely woven story of a haunted house that is a trapped spirit. The home, called 121, seeks freedom from its earthly existence, and through a dramatic and painful “renovation,” haunts the audience with its transformation. Yellow Robe's deeply spiritual and beautifully poetic play explores racism and personal greed vs. duty to community, and grapples with the consequences of American colonialism.
History

After readings at the Lawrence Arts Centre Black Box Theatre in Lawrence, Kansas, and Playwrights Horizons and Lark Play Development Studios in New York City, Wood Bones premiered at the June Havoc Theatre at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in New York City in May 2013. Produced by the Eagle Project, the production was directed by Bob Jaffe. Wood Bones was subsequently produced by Haskell Indian Nations University at the Thunderbird Theatre in Lawrence, KS in April 2016, and at the School of Performing Arts, University of Maine in Orono, ME in November 2017. Directed by William S. Yellow Robe Jr, the U Maine production featured Carmella Bear, Sierra Crosby, Isabella Etro, Currant Grant, Brady Lambert, Emma Nichols and Zachary Peacock.

Keywords
Performing Groups
121 – A spirit of a home. Timeless and ageless.
LEROY – Native man in his fifties who helps 121.
JACOB – A young Native man.
VERA – A young Native woman, wife to Jacob.
CHRISTEN – A troubled mother.
SAM – A gravely troubled husband.
MARY – Daughter to Christen, a young girl of ten years.
CALVIN – A Native worker, jack of all trades but master of none.
NEIL – A newly-discovered Native man and businessman.
DOUG JENSEN – Deputy Sheriff.
VERONICA PETERSON – A businessman and owner of property.
  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Media

“Effective... about homecomings and identity, assimilation and exploration, external and lateral violence, family conflict, and community connection.” – Project MUSE

“The dip into the supernatural is perhaps most effective in Wood Bones and Falling Distance. However, the supernatural elements that act as a unifying tool really only serve as a backdrop for plays that at their heart are about homecomings and identity, assimilation and exploration, external and lateral violence, family conflict, and community connection.” – Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha, Project MUSE

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

William Stanley Yellow Robe, Jr. (Assiniboine/Sioux) was a playwright, actor, director and teacher. He was a staunch advocate for Native and Indigenous playwrights, beloved by his students and revered by his audiences. His work has been produced around the United States and i ...

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