The world premiere of Ty Defoe and Larissa FastHorse's For the People begins at Minnesota's Guthrie Theater October 7 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. The run will continue through November 12.

Defoe and FastHorse, both Native American, looked to Minneapolis' Dakota and Ojibwe heritage for the new work, which follows a 20-something fighting for grant money to create a wellness center for Minneapolis' Indigenous community.

The cast features Ernest Briggs as Levi Mitchell, Sheri Foster Blake as Daisy Childs, Kendall Kent as Esme Williams, Kalani Queypo as Robert Dakota, Katie Anvil RIch as April Dakota, and Wes Studi as Herb O'Geezhik. Casting is by Jennifer Liestman.

Michael John Garcés is directing, leading a creative team that includes Indigenous music consultant Talon B. Ducheneaux, Dakota language consultant Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha, scenic designer Tanya Orellana, costume designer Lux Haac, lighting designer Emma Deane, and sound designer Victor Zupanc. Lori Lundquist is stage manager, and Anna Baranski is assistant stage manager.

The work is the latest in the Guthrie's collaborations with Defoe and FastHorse, which saw the production of Water is Sacred in 2017 and Stories From the Drum in 2019. Defoe, whose heritage includes the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations, wrote the book and lyrics for Clouds Are Pillows for the Moon, In the Cards, and Tick, Tick, along with co-writing Ajijaak on Turtle Island. FastHorse, who is Sicangu Lakota, has penned The Thanksgiving Play, Native Nation, What Would Crazy Horse Do?, and Urban Rez.

Visit GuthrieTheater.org.