Mentor Artist Playwright Project (MAPP) - Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Portland, OR Summer 2005 - Spring 2006 – Fall 2006
Thomas Dean Kellogg designed and led a week-long summer intensive writing workshop mentored by Portland-area theater artists and guest artist Thirza Defoe (Ojibwe) for high school-age youth. The workshop included a day-long field trip/writing workshop at Wahclella Falls in the Columbia Gorge. The project culminated in a performance of traditional Native American song and dance by Defoe and staged readings by local professional actors of the young writer’s plays.
In March 2006, MAPP produced a series of staged readings with four professional Native actors from Los Angeles and 11 Portland-area actors at the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, OR, Portland State University Native Students and Community Center, the Kennedy School (McMenamins) Theater, and the Hollywood Library, all in Portland, OR. Ms. Defoe accompanied the readings with performances of traditional Native American hoopdancing and Iroquois social songs.
In November 2006, Kellogg led a 10-day after-school workshop for high school-age youth. Mentors included Portland theater artists and playwrights, and guest artist, Obie award winning actress, Zilah Mendoza. The program included a day-long field trip/writing workshop at Silver Falls State Park in Sublimity, OR. This workshop culminated in a public presentation of the work at NAYA Family Center’s new facility in Portland, OR.
In March 2007, MAPP will produce a series of readings from the November NAYA Young Native Playwrights workshops. See News and Events - Events for more information.