Marty Strenczewilk

Marty Strenczewilk

Marty Strenczewilk is an Ojibwe storyteller, playwright, librettist and lyricist, registered with the Sault Ste. Marie tribe. His first full-length play Pink Man or The Only Indian in the Room was the winner of the 2023 Crossroads Project Diverse Voices playwriting competition. The competition culminated in a workshop and residency at Illinois State University. His second full-length play Accountability, A...
Marty Strenczewilk is an Ojibwe storyteller, playwright, librettist and lyricist, registered with the Sault Ste. Marie tribe. His first full-length play Pink Man or The Only Indian in the Room was the winner of the 2023 Crossroads Project Diverse Voices playwriting competition. The competition culminated in a workshop and residency at Illinois State University. His second full-length play Accountability, A Tragedy has been selected for development by InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia and is under consideration for full production in their 2024 season. Marty is also the story editor for season 6 of the NPR podcast The Modern West, which explores the true history behind the Plains Indian Wars. He has a Theatre BA from SUNY Buffalo and has studied at The Barrow Group, Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey, HB Studio, and Joffrey Ballet. He is part of the Leadership Council for Creative Nations, an all Indigenous led artists collective, founded at The Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, CO.

Plays

  • Accountability, A Tragedy by Marty Strenczewilk
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama, tragedy
    ·
    Keyword: Native American, Indigenous + 6 more
    Genre: drama, tragedy
    Keyword: Native American, Indigenous, BIPOC characters, BIPOC leads, BIPOC voices, BIPOC stories, bipoc, all female cast
    A young Native woman is grappling with a recent loss in her family. A white empty-nester is desperate to atone for a mistake in her past. The two meet by chance and agree to build a Native focused charity together. As the company grows in power and influence, decisions are forced that conflict with the underlying purpose of their work. As everything comes to a head, the women are forced to confront the...
    A young Native woman is grappling with a recent loss in her family. A white empty-nester is desperate to atone for a mistake in her past. The two meet by chance and agree to build a Native focused charity together. As the company grows in power and influence, decisions are forced that conflict with the underlying purpose of their work. As everything comes to a head, the women are forced to confront the decisions they’ve made and the unintended consequences to the people they intended to help.
  • Pink Man by Marty Strenczewilk
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    6–10
    ·
    Genre: biography, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: Indigenous, Indian + 7 more
    Genre: biography, drama, immersive
    Keyword: Indigenous, Indian, Native American, bi-racial, BIPOC characters, BIPOC stories, BIPOC leads, BIPOC voices, bipoc
    Pink Man is a semi-autobiographical journey of self-discovery that follows one American Indian as he battles tradition, stereotypes and himself. With mixed blood and white features, he faces constant internal and external struggles. As he revisits the formative stages of his life, we watch him grapple with expectations, self doubt, and finding acceptance.

    The play utilizes Ojibwe traditions for...
    Pink Man is a semi-autobiographical journey of self-discovery that follows one American Indian as he battles tradition, stereotypes and himself. With mixed blood and white features, he faces constant internal and external struggles. As he revisits the formative stages of his life, we watch him grapple with expectations, self doubt, and finding acceptance.

    The play utilizes Ojibwe traditions for storytelling while putting a clear focus on the various ways that our native American culture has been weathered away over time.

    Being red is terrifying. Being white feels fraudulent. So, the Indian finds himself forced to live in the pink.

Recommended by Marty Strenczewilk

  • [working title: STRAW POLL] by Nick Malakhow
    26 Sep. 2023
    “ Nick's writing overall is incredibly strong, with fascinating characters tackling interesting challenges across well built story structure. I was lucky enough to hear this play in particular throughout the development process, as a part of the same writers group. Nick has crafted a deeply resonate story that will connect with audiences through the common shared experience of being othered at some point in many people's life. I can't wait to see this play on stage in full production. ”
  • The Exorcism of Everett Jones by Nathan Johnson
    26 Sep. 2023
    “ I was lucky enough to be part of a playwrights workshop with Nathan when he was working on this play. I find this play to be a fascinating piece that tackles subjects that are rarely covered, in a unique way. Nathan has crafted an exciting night of theatre that will have audiences talking for weeks after they see it. ”