Distant Thunder, the new indigenous musical, begins performances Off-Broadway September 25.
Premiering via Amas Musical Theatre at A.R.T./New York Theatres, Distant Thunder features a book by Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Shaun Taylor-Corbett, music and lyrics by Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Chris Wiseman, and additional music by Robert Lindsey-Nassif and Michael Moricz. Directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the musical will officially open October 3. Performances will continue through October 27.
Distant Thunder centers on the adult life of a child taken from his Blackfeet tribe. Blending pop-rock music styles with Native drumming and dancing, the musical is a culture fusion on and off stage.
The cast includes Jeff Barehand, Spencer Battiest, Aubee Billie, Xander Chauncey, Bonale Fambrini, Brent Florendo, Chava Florendo, Angela Gómez, Irma-Estel Laguerre, Johnlee Lookingglass, Glenn Stanton, Michelle Rios, Sampwe Tarrant, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Chelsea Zeno.
“When Lynne Taylor-Corbett told me years ago that her son Shaun was working on a contemporary musical based on an amalgam of true events that take place on the Blackfeet Reservation, I immediately knew it was a perfect fit for Amas Musical Theatre,” said Donna Trinkoff in a previous statement. “Shaun began his quest for identity at the age of 14 when he found a mentor in Darrell Robes Kipp, founder of the Cuts Wood School on the Blackfeet Reservation, who dedicated his life to preserving Pikuni language and culture. He encouraged Shaun to tell his story, and the seed was planted. The show deals with real-life issues happening in Browning, Montana and across Indian Country with a score that fuses Native and pop music in a unique way that has not been experienced before. Now is the time to bring this show in its full glory to audiences in New York City and from here to the larger arena of American Musical Theatre around the country."
The creative team includes scenic designer Regina García, costume designers E.B. Brooks and Younghawk Bautista, lighting designer Anthony Pearson, sound designer Ben Selke, music director James Woods, music supervisor and arranger Michael Moricz, properties manager Josh Iacovelli, and production supervisor Peter Feuchtwanger.
Amber Johnson is the production stage manager. Casting is by Stephanie Klapper Casting. The cultural consultant is Brent Florendo, and the Blackfeet advisors are Smokey and Darnell Rides At The Door.
Distant Thunder is presented by Amas Musical Theatre in association with Tall Tree Productions, Butler Tibetts, Paula Chaiken and Joe Kraus, Rand Fishkin and Geraldine DeRuiter, Paula Grosch and Mike Wardell, Willette and Manny Klausner, Isaac Koyfman and Tanya Scott, Richard and Sally Opper, Phoenix Theatre Company, Patricia Ripley and Butch Grier/Ripley-Grier Studios, Terry Schnuck, Andrew and Julia Wang, and Jeff and Liesl Wilke.
