Native Writers’ Theater
Native Writers’ Theater
What we’re up to…
2023 June Zoom reading of Olivia by Claude Jackson, Jr.
2023 November Fresh Native Works: Short Plays and Music with the Innovator Showcase at
the Potrero Stage
2023 November Dedication of a new mural at the Potrero Stage
What we’ve done…
2023 Ongoing NWT participates in Indigenous Magic at the Magic Theater
2022 December NWT helps Casting Collective cast understudies for San Francisco Playhouse
World Premier of Cashed Out
2022 November Native Writers Theater performs at Innovator Showcase at Potrero Stage and
simulcast via Vimeo featuring: Sister Spirits by Linda Amayo-Hassan, excerpts from The
Missing Songs, La Bendición by W. Fran Astorga, Transitions by Eddie Madril, excerpts from
Little Drummer Girl by Jeanette Harrison, Godzilla an improvised short play by Eddie Madril,
stand-up by Jackie Keliiaa, Washoe Hand Game Song by Dr. Greg Johnson and Matt Kizer
2022 February PlayGround Solo Performance Festival: The Missing Songs, written and
performed by Linda Amayo-Hassan, directed by Matt KIzer
2021 November Native Writers’ Theater debut at Innovator Showcase at Potrero Stage and
Simulcast via Vimeo featuring Starlings by Matt Kizer, Indian Reality Show by Beth Piatote,
Braided by Shannon Davis, Steven Flores, Freddy Gutierrez, Yumi Kabori
2021 May Attended six-week Native Playwriting Class at The Guthrie taught by Marissa Carr
2021 January Native Writers’ Theater was formed
Seen many Native American plays lately? Neither have we. But we know that can change.
Native Writers’ Theater aims to bring Native American stories to Bay Area stages through the development and production of new plays.
We appreciate your tax-deductible donation supporting our work.
DONATE
Native Writers’ Theater Presenting Partners
To become a Native Writers’ Theater Presenting Partner for our upcoming presentation (see below), click the button.
PRESENTING PARTNER
To be notified of upcoming events, please contact us and put “Hey, email me!” in the subject line.
Native/Indigenous writers: To submit a play to be considered for production by our team, please get in touch and put “Hey, read my play!” in the subject line.
CONTACT
Our Team:
Matt Kizer (Artistic Director) is a seasoned song-and-dance man. His decades-long career has spanned his choir-singing as a kid, and his singing with Nevada Opera as a teenager, to his recent role as Tashtego in Dave Malloy’s Moby Dick at American Repertory Theater. Matt is a member of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. He’s eager to share the stories and perspectives of his people in his new role as a playwright. By day, Matt works as a manager at everyone’s favorite grocery store (you know which one). He plays ukulele with his band and is co-leader—along with his wife—of his own tribe of three daughters.
Nick Garcia (Director) has worked extensively across the country as a teacher, actor, director, and designer. He has performed, directed, and designed for venues such as the National Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco, Alter Theater Company in Marin, 9Pella Shakespeare Festival in Iowa, The Miner’s Union Theatre in Silverton, Colorado, The George Daily Auditorium in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and both the Iowa New Play and Fringe Festivals. He is currently the Chair of Dramatic Arts at Los Medanos College
Armando Solorzano, Jr. (Researcher) studied the liberal arts and social sciences at UC Berkeley in the Interdisciplinary Studies program. He focused his research on early New Media Theory and silent-era film history. He has Blackfeet, Choctaw, and Nutachi ancestry, in addition to being Mexican-American. By day, Armando works as a journeyman painter.
Karen Kizer (Communications) has performed in Bay Area plays and musicals and has directed extensively in educational theater. She currently works as a substitute teacher and lifestyle journalist. In her role as wife of Matt Kizer, she’s one of the first people to read and offer endless criticisms of his early drafts of plays.
Native Writers’ Theater is a member of PlayGround’s 2022 Innovator Incubator cohort. Native Writers’ Theater is a fiscally-sponsored project of PlayGround (Federal ID 94-3336399) and all donations to NWT are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.