The Cherokee National Theatre Company, a division of the Cherokee Arts & Humanities Society,  is in the pre-production phase of bringing the story of War Woman, and later to be elevated to status of Beloved Woman, Nancy Ward to the stage as a major theatrical production.

            The public is invited to a preview of the play, Nanyehi – Beloved Woman of the Cherokee, at a selected reading and musical score presentation during the Cherokee National Holiday, Saturday, September 5, at 2:00 p.m. in the Cherokee Nation Council Chambers, Cherokee Complex, Tahlequah, OK.  The presentation will be concurrent with the annual meeting of the Association of Descendants of Nancy Ward.

            Nanyehi is the story of Cherokee Beloved Woman, Nancy Ward.  After her husband, Kingfisher, was mortally wounded in battle with the Creek, she took up his fight and led the Cherokee to victory.  She became a Warrior Woman, a Beloved Woman and a leader of her people setting in Grand Council.  She advocated for peace during the Revolutionary War era, and because of her decisions would forever become a prominent figure in Cherokee history.  She always pleaded “Let there be Peace.”  She would marry Bryant Ward and become Nancy Ward.

            The musical score was written, and will be co-performed by Becky Hobbs, country music icon.  The “Beckaroo,” as she is called by her friends, has had over 20 chart singles/albums, including “Jones on the Jukebox” and Billboard Top Ten duet with Moe Bandy, “Let’s Get Over Them Together.”  She has written songs for Alabama, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris, John Anderson, Janie Fricke, Lacy J. Dalton, Ken Mellons, Shelly West, Helen Reddy, Shirley Bassey, Jane Oliver, and more.  Her co-written “Angels Among Us” (recorded by Alabama), has raised money for many charities throughout the world, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

            Hobbs lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, guitarist/producer Duane Sciacqua.  She continues to tour, and has performed in over forty countries around the world, including nine in Africa.  From her piano-pounding rockers, to her heartfelt ballads, she has entertained people from all walks of life. Composer and co-playwright,  Hobbs is the fifth-great granddaughter of Nancy Ward.  She was born and reared in Bartlesville, OK.

 

            Members of the production team will perform with Hobbs during the presentation on Saturday, Sept. 5th, including Duane Sciacqua, musical producer/arranger,  Director/Co-playwright Nick Sweet,  Assistant to the Director Peggy Ritter, and Business Consultant Gary White.

 

            Introductions will be by Producer Roy Hamilton, a board member of the Cherokee National Historical Society (the Cherokee Heritage Center), chair of development, and past president, and interim executive director of the CHC.  Hamilton has been active in Cherokee arts and humanities since he retired in 1999, a founder member of the CAHC.  He was a recipient of the Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award for Community Service in 2008.  He was a graduate of the first Oklahoma Arts Council “Arts Leadership Academy” in 2008.  Hamilton is a member and past state board member of the Trail of Tears Association, the Goingsnake Heritage Association and the Adair County Genealogical and Historical Society.  He is a Grantsmanship Center graduate, and is the author of Ned Christie, Cherokee Warrior. He is a Cherokee Nation citizen, living at Wauhillau, Adair County, OK. 

            Roy has consulted with many professionals as he works to bring Nanyehi to the stage, including JudyLee Oliva, Chickasaw playwright (TeAta), and Dr. Randy Reinholz, Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film at San Diego State University, and Producing Artistic Director, Native Voices at the Autry.

            Sweet, has been a freelance stage director since 1977.  He has directed over 120 productions for theatre groups in Oklahoma, Texas and Alaska.  In 2002, he directed the outdoor historical drama, Trail of Tears, at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, OK.  The script was written by TONY Award nominee, Joe Sears of Greater Tuna fame.  The previous year, Nick portrayed the stockade doctor and understudied the role of Will Rogers, the narrator, under Sear's direction.  Nick's work with special populations includes directing a dozen shows with inmate theatre groups as drama instructor for Institution Programs, Inc.  He has also conducted drama residencies for Okla. School for the Deaf since 1987 and wrote and directed the School's Centennial play, In Our Own Words.  From 2002 to 2008, Nick was an adjunct faculty member at Okla. Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, OK, and directed the college's first five musicals.  He has written nine original scripts, and he is an Artist-In-Residence for the Okla. Arts Council and Texas Commission on the Arts.

            Sciacqua, hails from Madera, California, in the San Joaquin Valley, where he learned his trade, and has been playing music since the 6th grade. His love of music took him to Los Angeles in 1979 where he became a noted ‘guitar slinger’ for over 30 years playing with the likes of Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh (Eagles) & Paul McCartney (Beatles).  Since moving to Nashville in 1992, he has shared the stage with such notables as Vince Gill, Rodney Atkins, Gary Morris, and his wife, Becky Hobbs.  Duane has also composed numerous soundtracks, and his playing has been featured in dozens of film and television scores, including Hotshots, Navy Seals, Cobra, Stone Cold, and more.

            Ritter, has been dancing, singing and acting on stage since age four.  She got an early education in the Oklahoma University Children's Theater and has been performing most of her life.  Peggy took a 15 year hiatus from theatre to become an RN and finish raising her five children.  Since returning to the stage, she has been featured in numerous productions with her most recent leads being in Arsenic and Old Lace and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (musical version).  Currently Peggy is Assistant to director/playwright, Nick Sweet.  Both she and Nick will make their home theatre at the Poncan Theatre in Ponca City, OK beginning in August, 2009.

            Business and Production Consultant, Gary White, is semi-retired from the Oil and Gas Industry, having served in several executive capacities throughout his career.  He is active in numerous volunteer organizations both within and outside of the Cherokee Nation, including the Oklahoma chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, the Goingsnake District Heritage Association as well as being a certified Oklahoma Master Naturalist.   Originally from Adair County, Oklahoma, he is a graduate of the University of Tulsa,  a U.S. Air Force veteran and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.   Gary, and wife Barbara currently live on a ranch near Chelsea, Oklahoma.  Barbara White is a publication contributor to Nanyehi.

            To become a sponsor, corporate or individual, or for more information Hamilton may be contacted at (918)  696-8334 – gwytutsi@yahoo.com and at www.cherokeeculture.org  P. O. Box 594, Park Hill, OK 74451.