Materials created/edited/published by Archive team as an assigned project during remote work period in 2020
February 4, 2016 - MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews the creators of new play “George Bonga: Black Voyageur.” The History Theater pulls together a dream team of playwright Carlyle Brown, director Marion McClinton, and actor James A. Williams to tell the story of African American voyageur George Bonga.
February 29, 2016 - MPR’s Marianne Combs reports on Penumbra Theatre’s opening run of "The Dutchman" and "The Owl Answers" - two surreal one-act plays that explore race relations, sexual politics and biracial identity.
May 9, 2016 - MPR’s Euan Kerr speaks with Freya Manfred, daughter of author Frederick Manfred, about her father’s book “Lord Grizzly.”
May 17, 2016 - MPR’s Kerri Miller talks with Minnesota author Louise Erdrich about her novel “LaRose” at a Fitzgerald Theater event.
June 17, 2016 - MPR’s Marianne Combs profile on the story of a young Filipino's fascination with the world of pro wrestling. The play is titled “tot: The Untold Story of a Filipino Hulk Hogan,” and is the 50th new work Mu Performing Arts has produced.
June 22, 2016 - MPR’s Kerri Miller interviews Native American poet Joy Harjo, who discusses literature, music and activism. Harjo also talks about working on a play titled “We Were There When Jazz Was Invented.”
July 14, 2016 - People in our community are expressing their feelings about the death of Philando Castile in many ways. 15 local poets gathered at the Penumbra Theater in St. Paul for a community reading. It was part of Black Poets Speak Out, a poetry-driven protest that began after the death of Michael Brown in 2014. Report includes an excerpt of Michael Kleber Diggs reading his poem "St. Paul Morning."
July 19, 2016 - MPR’s Euen Kerr talks with Ojibwe author, poet, playwright Jim Northrup. Northrup is dying, but he's OK with it. The author of the popular Fond du Lac Follies, several books, plays and TV shows, says he's helped by his traditional life style on the Fond du Lac Reservation - and his sense of humor.
July 21, 2016 - MPR’s Marianne Combs reports on the opening of play "Disgraced" at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. The play deals with racial politics and reflects the Guthrie's effort to stage more diverse stories, with more diverse casts. Combs reports that there's another diversity push getting underway - backstage.
August 2, 2016 - MPR’s Tom Crann reports on the death of Ojibwe author, poet, playwright Jim Northrup. Report includes audio clip of Northrup reading from his poem “Grandma’s Hair.”