Seattle teens perform Pieces of Us

Seattle Youth Honor Local Native Heritage

By Nicole KidderRainier Valley Youth Theatre (RVYT) recently wrapped its SummerSTAGE 2009 season with the Northwest premiere of Pieces of Us: How the Lost Find Home. Written by American playwright William S. Yellow Robe Jr. (Assiniboine), the all-teen cast explored modern-day issues of Native identity and mixed heritage through the eyes of Adam, a fictional member of the Coast Salish Tribe who sets out on a voyage to reclaim his heritage.

A program of SEEDArts, RVYT provides a unique summer theatre training and production experience for Seattle youth, who receive the opportunity to work with professional local artists. The program partnered with Red Eagle Soaring (RES) Native American Youth Theater, which has sought to empower Native American and Alaskan Native youth in the Pacific Northwest through the theater arts, cultural workshops and performance projects for the past 18 years.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Below:  "Cast member Jacob Braxton was among the all-teen cast who staged a local version of William S. Yellow Robe, Jr’s play Pieces of Us: How the Lost Find Home this summer at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center in Seattle." (Photo courtesy of RVYT)