PBS Newshour with Joy Harjo

For an introduction to the work of Joy Harjo, watch a 2007 PBS Newshour interview featuring her performing on alto sax with Larry Mitchell. Larry will be accompanying Joy on guitar, drums, and more during Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light. Also, see a sneak peak of Joy reciting some of her unique and beautiful poems!

Click to watch on YouTube.

The Landscape of Performance

Joy shared this with me. It is a short snippet from an email she wrote to playwright and friend Laura Shamas:

"Performance reminds me of going out into the ocean. No two days are ever the same. The Moon continues to move. Winds, currents, thoughts shift. They can change from one moment to the next. The trick is learning how to surf whatever is there. And if you huli, or flip out of the canoe, you have to know how to get back in. And keep moving."

Eagle Poem

Sing, dance and fly along to the musical version of Joy Harjo's deservedly famous "Eagle Poem." Visit CD Baby to purchase this song, and experience the other powerful tracks that Native People's Magazine described as "brimming with soul and beauty."

Click to watch on YouTube.

Joy's Reflection

Joy refelcted on transitioning from musician to actress.

A note to the actor in me:

You were there before I could speak
You were all the permutations of yes and no
You were the front door, the back door, and the place in the middle where the soul stands naked
You told the truth before it could be spoken
You spoke before there were words
You let me in when I asked you to open the door
I had to first ask
The heart stepped through first
All the rest of me followed: wind, elbows, lips, feet, a pool of sunlight before language, a sky of black peopled by stars, the awkward next to awesome grace
Here we are again
Back to the beginning of the urgent urge, to the first spark
We noticed it, spoke it, and became it.
We are.

Rehearsals AND Dance Parties!

Rehearsing with Joy is so much fun! She is so close to her music, and we often listen to it as we rehearse the songs in the show. It is so much a part of her, I couldn't imagine Joy without her music.

This has been quite a treat for Ally (the stage manager) and me! During breaks, when actors usually relax, Joy puts on music and we all dance! We have become fast friends. The music truly unites us. Randy smiles as all the girls have fun dancing. I am tempted to record us dancing, for fun! But, it is almost sacred.

Subconsciously, as we dance, we recreate the moments and movement in Wings. We stomp dance, we shake, we thrash, we release, we laugh, we follow, we lead, and my favorite... we fly.

Tonight, Joy shared with me that she went flying in her dream last night. I wish I could fly in my dreams as often as she does. She said that it was very similar to the dreams she talks about in the play. You'll have to come to the play to hear about the exciting dreams...!

Check out Joy Harjo's "Reality Show!"

Renowned poet, writer and musician Joy Harjo shares some lyrical moments with the camera in this brief but beautiful documentary. Produced and directed by Lurline Wailana McGregor.

Click to watch on YouTube.

Tickets! Get your tickets!

A VERY SPECIAL LIMITED RUN - 3 WEEKS ONLY! MARCH 12TH through MARCH 29TH. Previews March 10th and 11th.

Music can save you, stories can heal you; in the words and the song, there is an answer. From the imagination of musician, poet, and playwright Joy Harjo, (Mvskoke) comes a deeply compelling journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and healing. Embracing life stories, sharing universal truths, and taking back a Native woman's place in the world, Harjo teases out a tale of how poetry, music, art and theater can bring a life full circle. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, and song, Harjo channels multiple voices, taking us on a wild musical ride where she tells it like it is with spirit and a mean jazz sax. Joining her for this personal tour-de-force is Grammy Award-winning producer and guitarist Larry Mitchell infusing blues, funk, rock and jazz into an allegorical work of tremendous power.

WINGS OF NIGHT SKY, WINGS OF MORNING LIGHT

By Musician, Poet and Playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke - Creek Nation)

With Grammy-Award Winning Producer and Collaborator, Guitarist Larry Mitchell

Executive Producers Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) and Jean Bruce Scott

Director Randy Reinholz

SHOW DATES AND TIMES:

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 p. m. ~ Saturdays & Sundays 2:00 p. m. at The Autry in Griffith Park across from the LA Zoo where the 5 and 134 freeways meet

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

General Admission $20 / Autry Members $12 available at Autry Box Office 323-667-2000 X354 or TicketWeb 1-866-468-3399 or www.ticketweb.com

40% off for GROUPS of 10 or more. Purchase 10 or more tickets for your GROUP at only $12 per ticket! GROUP leaders: for more information, or to reserve tickets, call 323-466-5830 or e-mail christi@flagmarketing.com

** Save your ticket stub and get free admission into the 2009 Intertribal Arts Marketplace!** Museum discount and special meal price at cafe may also be available. Ask Christi for details.

Native Voices At The Autry is devoted to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American playwrights and performers. Visit www.nativevoicesattheautry.org or www.myspace.com/nativevoices to learn more.