On The Far End written and performed by Mary Kathryn Nagle

Scenic Design by Paige Hathaway

Costume Design by Raphael Regan

Lighting Design by Emma Deane

Sound Design by Emily Duncan Wilson

Production Stage Manager: Che Wernsman

Cultural Consultant: Paskova Deere

Dramaturg: Naysan Mojgani

All photos taken by Margot Schulman for the 2022 Roundhouse Theatre production

Muscogee leader Jean Hill traces her family’s history from the Trail of Tears to her grandfather’s allotment in central Oklahoma. In an astonishing one-woman play, she shares her story—the Native boarding school she fled on foot, her marriage to a young Bengali scholar, and the advocacy that became her life’s work. With On the Far End, a reference to the landmark 2020 Supreme Court opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma that upheld the sovereignty of the Muscogee territories, one of America’s leading playwrights (Sovereignty; Manahatta) weaves a deeply personal account of one family—her own mother-in-law’s—and a legacy of broken promises between nations.

PRESS:

“Directed by Margot Bordelon, and part of Round House’s second National Capital New Play Festival, the 90-minute solo piece unfurls in methodical but graceful fashion on Paige Hathaway’s set, whose sturdy desk and natural elements — a tree, grasses — echo both the protagonist’s indefatigable work ethic and the theme of connection to land and place.”

- Celia Wren, The Washington Post

“As directed by Margot Bordelon, Nagle also exhibits a particular knack for cadence, which keeps the play engaging, and evocative delivery, which makes Jean’s story come to life in the audience’s head. I could visualize Jean as she ran away from school, and that image was even more powerful than a recreation would have been.”

- Jakob Cansler, DC Theater Arts

“‘On the Far End’ is a beautiful and noteworthy one-woman play directed by Margot Bordelon. Nagle’s writing and Bordelon’s directing acknowledge the generational effects of the Indian Removal Act on Native American communities. Nagle depicts the emotional and physical turmoil that community members face through the character Jean. Her performance is enlightening and powerful as she plays a character passionate about making her voice heard to initiate change and preservation of her community. Bordelon’s compelling direction allows the audience to engage and sympathize with the story on stage while being able to reflect on the history of America. This play calls attention to the importance of fighting for what is right.”

- Camron Wright, MD Theatre Guide

“With On the Far End, Nagle not only got to know the mother-in-law she never met but, thanks to a last-minute casting change, embody her as well. Largely at ease in the role and guided by Margot Bordelon’s careful direction, Nagle takes us through Jean’s upbringing at the feet of her elders, her frequent escapes from the kind of boarding schools that forcibly assimilated Native children, and the ups and downs of her life and advocacy.”

- Jared Strange, 3Views