"Coyote Tales" receives regional awards from Kennedy Center
By Laura Hancock | Media and Publications Writer
University Advancement | lhancock@eou.edu
La Grande, Oregon – Eastern Oregon University’s production of “Coyote Tales,” an adaptation of American Indian tribal legends, has received regional recognition from The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Submitted photo
"Coyote Tales" goes on the road, performing at
the Wildhorse Casino and Resort in Pendleton.
A representative of The Kennedy Center presented the cast with a Certificate of Excellence in Acting, an award that is rarely given to an ensemble, and a Certificate of Excellence in Design to the puppet design team. Twenty larger-than-life sized puppets were created for the show.
The theater festival encourages the celebration of student work, hosting regional conferences across the country where colleges and universities have the chance to compete to present their productions at the national level.
The “Coyote Tales” script was submitted as an associate entry, enabling a representative to view the show, present certificates and nominations, and provide feedback on the performance. The cast and crew will attend the regional conference in February at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash.
Submitted photo
The cast of "Coyote Tales" toured the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute on their way to the show in Pendleton. Here they pause for a group photo in front of the mural of Celilo Falls.
Students Ken Faust and Frederick Stutzman were nominated for Irene Ryan Acting Awards for their individual performances as “Coyote” and “Eagle,” allowing them to compete for scholarships at the regional conference.
The show opened at EOU in November and was written by Micheal Leslie Minthorn, an EOU alum, and April Curtis, professor of theater and speech. American Indian legends were carefully selected for their ability to help perpetuate the tradition of storytelling as a learning tool and to entertain through live theater. The final performance was held at the Rivers Event Center at the Wildhorse Casino and Resort in Pendleton for an audience of more than 300 people.
A cast of 13 used the large and elaborate puppets to bring the stories of the Umatilla, Nez Perce, Wasco, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes to life, all under dramatic black lighting. Minthorn, who narrated the stories, is a descendent of the Cayuse and Yakama tribes and is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla.
“My former colleagues at the casino (Wildhorse) were thrilled with the production and some of the elder natives who attended had nice things to say about it as well,” said Minthorn, who worked as the director of slot operations at the Wildhorse Casino for several years. “It was very exciting to find out about the awards.”
“Coyote Tales” was the result of a unique collaboration between the theater, art and music departments on campus. Support from the EOU Foundation and the Wildhorse Foundation helped to make it a success.
“It was a unique experience and it has opened the door for more creative projects between the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the EOU arts programs,” Curtis said.
The cast was comprised of EOU students Cassy Beers, Rikki Jo Hickey, Erin Kinzer, Woody McCall, Iggy Benavente, Alex Ashby-Andrew, Michale Cooper, Tony Meda, Maggie Driscoll, Nicole Bensching, Danae Yurgel, Faust and Stutzman.
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