Concord Theatricals has acquired the licensing and publishing rights to the complete catalog of Indigenous playwright William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. The theatrical licensor has already begun the roll-out of Yellow Robe's works, with Rez Politics, Sneaky, The Body Guards, The Council, and The Star Quilter currently available through its Samuel French imprint.
“Concord is honored to finally make the powerful plays of William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. available to theatres around the world,” says Concord Vice President of Acquisitions and Artistic Development Amy Rose Marsh. “Bill’s body of work lives as an example of masterful storytelling. His beautifully complex characters and poetic language deserve to be recognized as an essential part of the canon of American dramatists. These stories need to be staged and seen.”
Adds Deborah Murad, executive director of DG Copyright Management, “Managing the dramatic works of William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. on behalf of the Dramatists Guild and his widow, Jeanne Domeck, is both a huge honor and responsibility. It is wonderful that Concord has teamed up with us to release his over 50 plays into the world. His legacy as an artist, educator, and advocate for Native voices in the theatre endures through these plays, and we’re thrilled for the next generation of artists to read and perform his work.”
This acquisition is the first time Yellow Robe's plays will be available through a major licensing company. Prior to this deal, interested theatres had to contact the playwright directly to arrange new productions. Joining the Concord catalogue will make the plays far more visible to theatres and schools' planning seasons.
A member of the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes, Yellow Robe was a playwright, actor, director, and educator. His work, which includes more than 50 titles, has been produced by The Public Theater, Trinity Repertory Company, the Mark Taper Forum, Arena Stage, and more. Yellow Robe passed away in 2021 following a long illness.
Visit ConcordTheatricals.com for more information.
