Vera Starbard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vera Starbard in 2018

Vera Starbard (born 1982) is an Alaska Native editor and playwright. She is a Tlingit/Denaʼina woman born in Craig, Alaska, graduating from East Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska. In 2016, she was named Playwright-in-Residence at Perseverance Theatre in Douglas, Alaska.[1][2] Her residency was renewed for Cohort 3: 2019–2022.[3] She has written several episodes of the Molly of Denali animated children's program airing on PBS KIDS.[4] She is the editor of First Alaskans magazine. Vera is currently a staff writer for Alaska Daily.

Recognition[edit]

  • Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award in 2009 and Alaska Literary Award[5]
  • She received a New York Stage And Film NEXUS grant in 2021[6]

Plays[edit]

  • Native Pride (and Prejudice)
  • Fog Woman[7]
  • Our Voices Will Be Heard performed 2016; published 2017; radio adaptation broadcast 2018[8][9][10]
  • Devilfish (2019)[11]
  • A Tlingit Christmas Carol (2020)[12]

Episodes[edit]

Molly of Denali aired on PBS Kids:

  • "New Nivagi"", aired August, 19 2019
  • "Turn on the Northern Lights", aired October 7, 2019
  • "Canoe Journey", aired May 29, 2020
  • "Eagle Tale", aired December 9, 2020

Alaska Daily aired on ABC:

  • "Most reckless thing I've ever done", aired March 30, 2023

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (5 April 2016). "The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and HowlRound Announce $5.58 Million in Grants through the National Playwright Residency Program". The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Alaska Native playwright Vera Starbard wins three-year writing residency". Juneau Empire. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. ^ "National Playwright Residency Program". HowlRound Theatre Commons. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  4. ^ Hohenstatt, Ben (9 August 2019). "'Molly of Denali' drums up fun, cultural pride". Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Vera Starbard (Tlingit/Dena'ina)". HowlRound Theatre Commons.
  6. ^ BWW News Desk. "New York Stage and Film Announces NEXUS Initiative Artist Grants". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Vera Starbard | New Play Exchange". newplayexchange.org. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ^ Kirsch, Geoff. "Raising Voices". The Anchorage Press. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Our Voices Will Be Heard". KBOO. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  10. ^ Uno, Roberta, ed. (2018). Contemporary plays by women of color: an anthology (Second ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 9781138189461.
  11. ^ Hohenstatt, Ben (26 September 2019). "Theater Review: 'Devilfish' is a hell of a play". Juneau Empire. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  12. ^ Crouse, Tripp J.; Anchorage, KNBA- (8 December 2020). "Alaska Indigenous theater production transforms classic holiday tale in 'Tlingit Christmas Carol'". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 13 March 2021.