Native Guard

Summary

Based on Natasha Trethewey’s collection of poems, The Alliance Theatre’s production of Native Guard is both an elegy to her mother and a journey into Mississippi’s Civil War history. In poetry and song, she reflects on her mother’s passing while contemplating the former slaves who became soldiers in a regiment known as the Native Guard. Trethewey’s work was the winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

This recording was produced with the generous support of The Poetry Foundation.

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording, starring:

January LaVoy as The Poet;
Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant as the Native Guard
And featuring Nicole Banks Long on vocals and Tyrone Jackson on piano.

The Alliance Theatre production was originally directed by Susan V. Booth. Offsite Producer for The Alliance Theatre, Donya Washington. Composer and Music Director, Tyrone Jackson. Original Sound Design, Clay Benning. Production Assistant, Amanda Allen. Senior Radio Producer, Ronn Lipkin. Recording Engineer, Erick Cifuentes. Associate Producer and Studio Production Coordinator, Mark Holden. Directed by Rosalind Ayres. Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.

Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. As conceived and originally produced by the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia. Susan V. Booth, Artistic Director. Mike Schleifer, Managing Director.