Te Ata Cast Biographies
 

Donna Couteau Brooks (Elder Te Ata) - Donna Brooks spent most of her adult life as a Native storyteller, just as Te Ata did. A nationally recognized Sac and Fox storyteller, she and her husband, Joe Cross, have used story, dance and song to keep Native culture before the American public in a presentation known as Leaf Arrow. They were selected as two of 14 storytellers in the western hemisphere for the historic Smithsonian NMAI museum opening on the mall at Washington, D.C. They toured Europe in 1992 and were a part of Lincoln Center’s master artists program in the Penthouse for four seasons. They appeared at McMahon Theatre in Lawton two years ago. Donna also starred as Brighteyes in Footprints in Blood at Old Lady of Brady Theatre in Tulsa (1986). Donna has appeared in numerous off-Broadway shows, two Shakespearean productions, as well as film, television shows, commercials and voice-overs. Special thanks to Ray Harnell (Cherokee), her vocal coach and founder of Magic Circle Opera Repertory Ensemble and to Stephanie Weems. Brooks is very happy to spend the summer in Oklahoma with family and friends and is honored to be part of the Te Ata world premiere.

DeLanna Studi (Young Te Ata) - DeLanna Studi is a member of the Western Band of Cherokee and grew up in a small community in Oklahoma. She starred in the Hallmark/ABC mini-series “Dreamkeeper” where her role as “Talks A Lot” won her the Best Supporting Actress awards at the First Americans in the Arts, the American Indian Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Native Film and Television Review. Her most recent movie, Chris Eyre’s “Edge of America,” opened the 2004 Sundance Film festival. The cast were special guests of Robert DeNiro at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. “Edge of America” won DeLanna the Best Actress award at the Los Angeles Native Film and Television awards and Best Supporting Actress at the First Americans in the Arts this year. The film was seen at the Hatchfest in Bozeman, Mont., and is still airing on Showtime. “Edge of America” has recently won a Directors Guild Award, a Writers Guild Award, an Emmy, the prestigious Peabody Award and was honored with a Humanitas Award. Studi currently is touring in an Encompass “Compassion Play” KICK, a one-woman show, written by Peter Howard. KICK explores Native American issues and the power of images, stereotypes and Native American mascots. With the use of KICK, DeLanna has lobbied at the California Capital for Assembly Bill 858 (a bill that would eliminate the “Redskins” term and logo in Los Angeles public schools) passed through both the California Assembly and Senate before being vetoed by the governor. The bill will be renamed, and the fight will continue. She recently received rave reviews in Cornerstone’s faith-based play A Long Bridge Over Deep Waters which received an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Best Ensemble. She is honored to be able to portray young Te Ata. DeLanna would like to thank her parents Thomas and Carolyn, grandmother Ruby Weaver, sister Karen, her nephews Blayn and Kason, the entire cast and crew of Te Ata, the wonderful people at USAO, Chickasha and the Chickasaw Nation. DeLanna is represented by AKA Talent, Los Angeles.  (video)

Scott Stoney (Dr. Clyde Fisher) - Scott Stoney brings more than 30 years’ experience to the Te Ata cast. Ironically, he hails from the same state where Dr. Fisher was born, Ohio. Scott is currently a resident artist of The Human Race Theatre Company, a professional company that he helped form in the city he calls home, Dayton. At the close of this world premiere he will return to celebrate their 20th anniversary season. While enjoying both acting and directing, he confesses to preferring being onstage. “Actors are responsible for considerably less than directors.” From his acting credits, a few of his favorite roles are Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd;  Horton the Elephant in Seussical; Shylock in The Merchant of Venice;  Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show;  Roy Cohn in Angels in America and a memorable overseas tour of Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy as Carriere in Maury Yeston’s Phantom with an international cast. The Dayton Daily News recently cited Scott for “Best Performance by an Actor” for his portrayal of Werner Heisenberg in Copenhagen last fall. Another important aspect of his career has been teaching. Scott has taught theatre arts to college and high school students for more than 20 years and continues to teach part-time at several Dayton area colleges. He also has received two major awards:  a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District and in 2004 he was inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame.  (video)

Meredith "DeeDee" Beard (Miss Davis/Lady Chamberlain) - DeeDee Beard is a senior drama major at the University of Science and Arts. She has appeared in several productions including All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Pippin, The Vagina Monologues and Noises Off. Originally from Houston, DeeDee lived the early years of her life overseas. Later residing in Tulsa, she participated in several community theatre productions with Youth OnStage, The Midwestern Theatre Troup, T.A.P.E.S. Studios and others. Some of these productions include Cinderella, Curtain Going Up, the Playroom and Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale. She is the current co-host of Studio 18, an award-winning bi-weekly comedy sketch and B-movie series broadcast on the USAO Channel and web-cast worldwide. In addition to acting, DeeDee enjoys stage makeup, dance, art and design, as well as teaching theatre to community children in Chickasha’s ArtScope Summer Arts Program. DeeDee is blessed to be part of the telling of a great story about an even greater woman.  (video1) (video2)

Sarah D’Angelo (Ataloa) - Mohawk actress and singer Sarah D’Angelo earned a Master’s of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Montana, and she currently teaches theater in the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State Technical Community College in Tennessee. Her stage credits include The Strength of Indian Women, Songs from the Rez and The Merchant of Venice, with more than a dozen other stage performances. She co-hosted and produced World Bridgz for Montana Public Radio for nearly two years and has provided voice-over for multiple national clients such as Hewlett-Packard, Boeing and AT&T Wireless. Sarah competes in powwows as a traditional dancer and sings in an all-female native drum group, the Sunset Singers.

Kathleen "Katie" Barton (Margaret) - Katie Barton is no stranger to the stage, but playing the role of Te Ata’s best friend Margaret is her professional acting debut. Previously, Katie has shared the spotlight many times with orchestral ensembles as a violinist. A junior majoring in music at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, she said she auditioned for Te Ata to broaden her experience. Katie is the member of several honor orchestras and symphonic ensembles, including the Fort Smith Symphony.

Will Hill (Kuruks/Snake) - Tulsa-based Native storyteller Will Hill brings multiple talents to the stage as Kuruks, a Pawnee musician who befriends Te Ata. Will is a full blood Muscogee and Cherokee actor, singer and musician. Much like his character Kuruks, who provided musical accompaniment to Te Ata’s performances, Will travels the state with Native flute and drum in hand. Throughout Te Ata, Will lends his Native flute abilities to the music ensemble. He was voted Favorite Indian Performer in the State of Oklahoma by Native American Times and speaks ancient Muscogee, Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Yuchi, Creek and other Native American languages. Will is co-founder of a native storytelling theatre and is a recognized artist on 27 Arts Councils. Will was the first native storyteller to perform at the NMAI Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Terrance Wright (Male Chorus) - Terrance Wright is a second year student in the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State in Tennessee where he has appeared as Bobby Van Heusen in The Boy Friend and Prince Charming in Cinderella. Terrance is a graduate of the Center for Creative Arts High School where he appeared as both Potiphar and Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and toured regionally as a singer/dancer in A 60’s House Party/You Can’t Stop the Beat and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Storybook. Terrance also enjoys behind-the-scenes tech jobs, such as costumes, wardrobe, hair and makeup.

Robert M. Cheadle (Male Chorus) - An Award-winning Chickasaw actor, Robert M. Cheadle earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman, a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Central University in Ada and an Associate of Arts degree from Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill. He has been an acting member of the Chickasaw Living History Players for the past eight years and has given presentations at national and local conferences and seminars over the past 12 years. Robert has performed in The King and I, The Mikado, Marat/Sade, Volpone and The Marriage of Figaro. Robert was awarded the Actor of the Year Award from the National Thespian Society in 1963 for his role as the king in The King And I. Currently, Robert works for the Chickasaw Tribal Legislature in Ada.

Brandon Blankenship (Male Chorus) - A member of the Chickasaw nation and the youngest member of the Te Ata cast, Brandon Blankenship has won multiple vocal competitions statewide. For the past 12 years he’s sung in the Byng public school system. He’s taken eight superior ratings for vocal solos in high school competitions and four superior ratings for a cappella solos. He’s sung in state honor groups such as the ECOCDA Regional Honor Choir and the Elite choirs. Brandon also has starred in stage productions of The Outsiders, Anne of Green Gables, Rebecca, The Case of the Decoyed Scholars, and Hina Fila. Brandon has three years of children’s choir experience with the Chickasaw Nation and eight years experience in both school and church teen talent competitions. “I would like to thank God, for the talents He has given me. Without Him I am nothing. And my family - you guys are awesome!”

Tana Takes Horse (Female Chorus/Young Te Ata Understudy) - Tana Takes Horse is a native of Colbert with an extensive professional and community theatre resume. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. While at Southeastern, Tana was in multiple school productions including Anything Goes, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the world premiere of The Ugly Duckling. As a member of the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, Tana has performed in Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Pirates of Penzance, Romeo and Juliet, and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Last summer, Tana was privileged to perform in The Trail of Tears drama in Tahlequah. She has eight years of dance and vocal training and was crowned Miss Indian Oklahoma 2005. Tana is a member of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Crow, Chippewa, and Hidatsa tribes.

Nancy Goate (Female Chorus) - Nancy Goate’s musical background lends itself well to her role as a member of the female chorus. She has spent the last 25 years singing and ministering with Lively Stones, a gospel music group that travels extensively throughout the United States and Canada. She has performed for live audiences on stage and on radio stations both nationwide and locally, and she and her family have hosted an annual gospel music festival in Seminole for the last 30 years. The Oklahoma City alto-soprano is a member of the Chickasaw and Seminole tribes.

Julie Ray Burwell (Female Chorus) - Julie Ray Burwell, a Chickasaw actress and singer, has earned Bachelor of Science, Master of Education and Master of Science in Human Resources degrees from East Central University in Ada. Julie performed in several ECU shows including After Magritte, The Agreement, Hotel Paradiso, Lysistrata and others. In the Ada community, she has performed with Act II Theatre in The Crucible, Broadway Spectacular, Godspell and she played Dulcinea in The Man of La Mancha to name a few. She also is a member of the Chickasaw performance troupe The Living History Players. Julie works for the Chickasaw Nation as director of special projects for the division of arts and humanities. She is newly married and the proud mother of three.