University Theatre Incorporates Puppetry in Indigenous Adaptation of ‘The Birds’

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NORMAN, OKLA. – University Theatre at the University of Oklahoma will present The Birds, a production that incorporates life-sized puppetry and mask work as part of an adaptation of a Greek comedy that examines tribal sovereignty and environmental responsibility. The production opens on April 3.

Central to the production is the visual design, which uses extensive puppetry. Puppets -- similar to those in The Lion King -- will share the stage with smaller puppets and mask work, creating a layered theatrical world in which performers become part of the landscape itself, said director Daniel Leeman Smith (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma).

“These aren’t just costumes. The actors manipulate the puppets as part of their bodies, so the performers truly become the characters,” Smith said.

Written more than 2,400 years ago by Aristophanes, The Birds is a comedy that uses satire to comment on human ambition and power. In this adaptation, playwright Yvette Nolan (Algonquin First Nation) focuses the play on questions of land and authority from a First Nations perspective.

Smith is a nationally recognized director and scholar of contemporary Native American theater. Now based in New York City, he grew up in Noble, Oklahoma.

“This play is serious, but it wears that seriousness lightly,” Smith said. “Comedy has always been a vehicle for political dialogue. In ancient Greece, satire was part of civic life. This adaptation continues that tradition and invites audiences to laugh while also thinking critically about land, ownership and our responsibility to the environment.”

The production draws on artistic traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples of the Pacific Northwest, with scenic and costume designs inspired by totem poles, carved masks, Chilkat weaving and formlines – flowing lines used to shape animals and figures. It also features the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s creation story, presented alongside other oral histories.

While the themes are timely, the tone remains contemporary, Smith said. The script includes pop-culture references ranging from Alfred Hitchcock to Nirvana and Canadian sketch comedy, often poking fun at audiences’ expectations, including their tendency to associate the title with Hitchcock’s film.

Music will play a big role. Four original songs are being composed specifically for the production by Dawn Avery (Mohawk), a Grammy-nominated composer. In addition, the University Theatre ensemble will explore Greek choral work inspired by and infused with powwow traditions.

“This is exactly the kind of project university theater is uniquely positioned to do,” Smith said. “Students are engaging with classical theater, Indigenous perspectives and experimental performance techniques all at once.”

The production will feature 23 students, including a principal cast and a large chorus.

Smith, who teaches at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, was invited to direct the production after OU faculty identified The Birds for the season and sought a Native director with experience in Indigenous theater. His work has been seen on stages across the U.S., including at Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska. He received the Democracy Cycle Commission at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City.

Smith believes the play will connect with Oklahoma audiences.