Behind the Scenes
Larissa FastHorse
Native American playwright, Larissa FastHorse, Larissa FastHorse grew up in South Dakota. She was adopted as a small child by a white family, but the open adoption meant she continued to be in contact with her community from the Sicangu Lakota Nation.
Larissa began her career as a ballet dancer but, after 10 years, an injury forced her to retire.
She then worked in film and television before writing and directing her own award-winning plays.
In April 2023, Larissa FastHorse became the first Native American woman to have a play produced on Broadway. “The Thanksgiving Play” is a satire about performers trying to stage a historically accurate and respectful play about Native peoples while not offending the audience or leaving them feeling bad.