I gratefully acknowledge indebtedness to poet and playwright Robin Metz for his play, Anung’s First American Christmas (copyright 2008), based on my draft narrative and a traditional story of the Annishinable (Ojibway) people, as told to me by Steve Fobister. In his play, Robin Metz transforms Turtle (Mishike) into Anung’s spiritual guide, and creates Trumpeter Swan, One Antler, Cheengwum, Ningobianong, Crooked Stick, Whale, and many others, gives them voice, and dramatizes a fusion of Native American and Christian beliefs in a vision of rebirth and renewal. The play’s central emblem is a towering dream catcher representing space/time, memory, imagination, and the seamless web of life.
I also acknowledge with gratitude Vitalist Theatre’s World Premiere production of Anung’s First American Christmas in a six week run (2008-2009) at Theatre Building Chicago (production and design copyright 2008). The Vitalist Theatre production was directed by Elizabeth Carlin-Metz, who brought her own artistic vision to bear on elements of the play. The production team included set design by Craig Choma; light design by Gina Patterson; costume design by Rachel Sypniewski; sound design by Gregor Mortis; movement, puppetry, and fight direction by Molly Feingold; puppet and mask design by Tracy Otwell; percussion master, W. Carson Hooley; properties master, Kat Powers; projections artists, Brita Nordgren and Tracy Otwell; stage manager, Nicole Smith.