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News Releases 
"We show how much we have gotten by how much we give away." -Marshel, Average Family 
For Immediate Release: July 20, 2007
WHO:
The Children's Theatre Company (CTC), the nation's leading theater for young people and families and recipient of the 2003 Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.
WHAT:
Average Family is a world premiere by Larissa FastHorse, with direction by Peter C. Brosius, set and costume design by Skip Mercier, lighting design by Geoff Korf, sound design by Andre Pluess, fight choreography by Ted Sharon, with video by Ron Halpern and stage management by Chris Schweiger.
"I have wanted to bring a piece about contemporary American Indian reality to our stage for some time," said Peter C. Brosius, CTC's artistic director. "Larissa FastHorse, who was raised in South Dakota and is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Lakota, brought this powerful and inventive story to us. Her talent, her heart, and her commitment to her native culture are at the center of all she does. It is my great pleasure to present her first piece of work for theater."
The Roubidouxs, an urban American Indian family living in Minneapolis; and the Monroes, a back-to-nature clan from Northern Minnesota, sign up to face-off in a reality TV show which promises a brand new vehicle as the prize. Their challenge is to survive for three months as an 1840's frontier family on the Minnesota prairie and they've been given roles to play. The Roubidouxs' assignment is to portray the "Indians." Both families embark on an adventure fraught with laughable predicaments and harrowing incidents - all of which is caught on the confession cam! In the end, when one family reconnects with their Dakota culture, it leads to startling revelations for all, inspiring the true spirit of generosity.
"Being able to do this play, with a primarily American Indian cast in a large theater, is a dream come true for me," said Larissa FastHorse. "American Indian characters are rarely the majority of a cast or mainstream productions and their stories are often dealt with as 'special,' 'diverse,' or 'alternative.' For CTC to put this show up as a main stage work like any other is very brave and terribly exciting for the future of theater."
The cast includes guest artists George Keller, Steve Mones, and EJ Subvoviak; student actors Jack Jue, Raven Bellefleur, Noah Kol Balfour, Elaine Patterson, Mitchell Perry and Connor Flanagan; and CTC company member Reed Sigmund.
Larissa FastHorse has been involved with the arts and been an advocate for her heritage for many years. After devoting some time to being a dancer and choreographer, she became involved with the American Indian film community and spoke at film festivals and panels. In 2000, she was a delegate to the United Nations in Geneva, speaking on the power of film for indigenous peoples. She worked in feature film and television development at Universal Pictures and Paramount. Her film work has been seen at festivals all over the world. She's also served as a panelist and nominator for The Film and Video Fellowships (formerly Rockefeller). Her feature script, LAZARUS RISES, received a Sundance Institute/Ford Foundation Fellowship and Grant. She is from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Lakota and grew up in South Dakota.
WHEN:
Average Family previews September 4, 5 and 6, opens on September 7; and runs until October 7, 2007. Running in repertory with Average Family is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, directed once again by David Schweizer.
WHERE:
Main Stage at The Children's Theatre Company, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets range from $13-$34. To purchase tickets call the CTC Ticket Office, 612-874-0400 or go to www.childrenstheatre.org.
Photos will be available at www.ctcpix.org.
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