Jehnean Washington and Will Hill perform a scene from “A Song of Winter.”  PHOTO COURTESY MAHENWADOSEAmerican Indian Theatre Company presents the Mahenwahdose production of Will Hill’s Native American Christmas comedy, “A Song of Winter” Dec. 2-3.


TULSA, Okla. – This Christmas season, the American Indian Theater Company is again bringing to the stage the Native American Christmas comedy  by Will Hill called “Song of Winter.” The play first premiered in Dec. 2006 and is a funny, heart-warming story of Christmas in Indian Country.

“The play provides an entertainment opportunity for Oklahomans and their out-of-town relatives and friends that visit during the Christmas season to experience comedy the Indian way, in addition to Christmas carols and original compositions in Native languages performed by a talented ensemble cast of Oklahoma Native Americans,” said Hill, the artistic director for the play.

“Song of Winter” takes place during the season of “Thluhfoh Yuh Hay Gee Dah,” the season of the popping trees, and is filled with the comedic humor and antics of Hill. His professional training mixes with the history, language, music, folklore and dance of his Muscogee-Creek traditional upbringing. A highlight in this performance is an “Ode to Commodity Cheese,” as well as the memorable song of the same name written by Hill’s performance partner, Jehnean Washington.

Hill and Washington, an accomplished singer and music composer, have been stage partners for the past 10 years. The two actors, once dubbed “The Dynamic Duo” by Native American Times, brought national recognition to the state of Oklahoma by being the first American Indians to perform at the Smithsonian’s then new National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.. Later, in Nov. 2007, they were chosen to represent Oklahoma’s Centennial Celebration at Disney’s EPCOT Center in Orlando, Fla. where they put on 31 performances.

The acting ensemble of Mahenwahdose will fill the cast of this enjoyable holiday play. Cast members include talented actor Michael Buckendorf, Jr., who is in his sixth year with Mahenwahdose; Winona Henderson, Cherokee, who has appeared in every production and is co-founder of Mahenwahdose; Butch McIntosh, traditional Elder and dancer; and Sal Bertolino.

The play is being funded by the American Indian Theatre Company, The Oklahoma Arts Council, National Indian Monument Institute, Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Tulsa Performing Arts Trust and Prescor, Inc. Opening night will be Friday, Dec. 2, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Charles Norman Theater at 8:00 p.m.. There will be two performances on Dec. 3 - a 2:00 p.m. matinee and an 8:00 p.m. evening performance. Tickets are now on sale at the PAC ticket office in the Tulsa area at 918-596-7111 or toll free, 1-800-364-7111.