The Secret Rose Theatre presents Art Shulman’s NOT ONE MORE FOOT OF LAND! Based on a true story, the play chronicles the tumultuous life of Cherokee leader Major Ridge from the late 1700s to the mid-1830s. Ridge risked his life to save his people.But was he a savior or a traitor? February 10 - April 1, 2012. Fridays & Saturdays, 8pm; Sundays, 2pm. Admission: $22; Seniors: $17; Students: $10. Tickets/ reservations www.secretrose.com or 818-782-4254. Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Boulevard, NoHo 91601
THE STORY
The Cherokee leader Major Ridge is primarily known for signing the Treaty of New Echota (1835), which led to the Trail of Tears. Before this tragic period in Cherokee history, however, he was one of the most prominent leaders of the Cherokee nation.
Born in the early 1770s in Tennessee, he was brought up as a hunter and warrior, resisting white encroachment on Cherokee lands. He married a fellow Cherokee, in the early 1790s, and they moved to what is now, Bartow County, having been provided with farming equipment, as a result of President George Washington's "civilization" policy for Native Americans,
With his military experience in the war of 1812, and brilliant command of the Cherokee language, The Ridge soon became a successful politician. After the war, Ridge helped establish a Cherokee Nation, to which he served as counselor.
Cherokees like the Ridges were shocked when the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Bill of 1830 and Georgia began to dispense Cherokee lands shortly thereafter.As Georgians began to move illegally into the Cherokees' houses and take over their land and businesses, Ridge became convinced that either warfare or negotiation with the U.S. government must proceed.
He and a minority of Cherokees signed the Treaty of New Echota in December 1835 without authorization from the Cherokee government. The illegal treaty was then signed by President Jackson and passed by one vote in the U.S. Senate.
The Ridge family and others voluntarily moved west to what is now Oklahoma. Cherokee removal was forced by the military and due harsh weather conditions, more than 4,000 Cherokees died during the 1838-39 winter on the "trail where they cried," commonly known as the Trail of Tears. On June 22, 1839, in retaliation for Ridge's part in this tragedy, Ridge was ambushed and killed. His assailants were never officially identified or prosecuted.
CAST
JOSEPH RUNNINGFOX (Pueblo) (Major Ridge): Director Robert Ellis Miller discovered Runningfox in a nationwide search for the “Last Wild Indian in America” for an NBC Movie of the Week, ISHI: THE LAST OF HIS TRIBE. He went on to the big screen in PORKY’S – THE NEXT DAY; REVOLUTION; ROANOAK, THE LOST COLONIES and BLOOD RED. His portrayal of GERONIMO in TNT’s Native American Initiative docudrama series stayed rigidly close to the warrior’s own words and garnered honors by First Americans in the Arts including Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor. Next was LAKOTA WOMAN – SEIGE AT WOUNDED KNEE (Crowdog); RAVENOUS; THIEF OF TIME; MASCOTS; RITES OF PASSAGE and the upcoming WITHOUT A SHADOW. TV guest appearances are many, the most recent in Season 2 of SONS OF ANARCHY. Stage work includes LOVE MEDICINE; LA REAL; a reading of GHOST SHIRT and as Geronimo’s ghost in AN ITALIAN AMERICAN INDIAN.
BRÍAN WESCOTT (Athabascan) (John Ross): In 2011 Brían starred in THE REALM OF LOVE OR FOLDING LAUNDRY in Scotland and THE WINTER BEAR with Irene Bedard in Alaska. Previous credits: WE ARE STILL HERE at the California Center for the Arts and BLACK ELK SPEAKS at the Columbia Actors Repertory Theatre. Films include the groundbreaking comedy CHRISTMAS IN THE CLOUDS. As co-vice-chair of the SAG President’s National Task Force for American Indians he gives acting workshops around the country.
