Developing The Frybread Queen

Spotlight on playwright Carolyn Dunn for THE FRYBREAD QUEENCarolyn Dunn (Muskogee Creek, Seminole, Cherokee) is a poet, playwright and scholar whose poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She's the founding director of the American Indian Theatre Collective and her play Ghost Dance is currently in development with the Los Angeles Theatre Project. She's also a songwriter and member of the all–women Native drum group The Mankillers.

The Frybread Queen centers around three generations of Indian women who have come together for the funeral of a beloved son. The collision of personalities forces them to confront long-simmering tensions that threaten to tear them apart. This play was developed at Native Voices' 2007 Playwrights Retreat and during NV's 2008 First Look Series.

Native Voices: Briefly describe your play.

Carolyn Dunn: Four women, four frybread recipes, one man. Let the beans fall where they may.

NV: What do you hope your play will elicit in an audience member?

CD: That we are all haunted by ghosts and those ghosts can be many things--including home and landscape.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.