Native American Youth Theater Project
“Indian 101” performed by the Native American Youth Theater Project

“Indian 101” is a dark comedy about a class of Indians with literary
aspirations.  Set in a writing class for adults a few days before Christmas, the students decide to have class as usual despite the teacher's absence.  The result is both hilarious and tragic as the critique of work soon degrades into criticism of each other, ending in all out war.

“Indian 101” was written by the Fourplay Theater Company that director
Steve Elm belonged to in London.   Elm adapted “Indian 101” for the
American Indian Youth Theater Project, which is a part of the American
Indian Community House Youth Council. The council serves as a cultural and social outlet for Native American Youth concerned with current issues facing our community.

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HIDVL Call # HI2005.040_01

Interview with Steve Elm
Interview with Steve Elm, Oneida

Steve Elm (Oneida), editor of AMERINDA's Talking Stick Native Arts Quarterly, has worked in the arts on both sides of the Atlantic. Trained at London's Rose Bruford College, Steve has appeared as an actor in film, television and on the stage. He has worked as a playwright and director with London's Common Body Theatre, University of Manchester (England), the American Indian Community House Youth Theatre Project, and was a founding member of Chuka Lokoli Native Theatre Ensemble in New York City. He currently works as an actor with the Only Make Believe company in New York City and is also an actor/teacher with CUNY's Creative Arts Team. He does professional development nationwide as a Master Artist for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Steve was recently published in Amerinda/Nation Book's anthology "Genocide of the Mind".  In this interview Steve Elm addresses the uphill battle he has faced in the theater world as he's worked to break stereotypes and to address urban Native issues.

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HIDVL Call # HI2006.022_01