Muscogee, Okla. – Mvskoke citizen Tommy Cummings recently completed his seventh run in the Cherokee Nation production of “Nanyehi,” the musical based on Beloved Woman and Cherokee leader Nancy Ward. The Muskogee native has built a 25 year career in local theater and generously shares insights on life on the stage and representation.
A pivot to theater
Cummings began focusing on theater arts f after a sports related injury in college at Northeastern State University led him to shift. He recalled the pivot with near effortless alignment.
“I was mostly involved in sports and then I got injured. I was like trying to find and pivot to something else and I just loved doing this stuff,” he said. “I had speech and loved doing that. I loved getting out in the crowd, I felt comfortable… and so I went to theater and enjoyed it- loved it.”
Cummings majored in lighting design at NSU and became involved in the Muskogee Little Theater after graduation through acting, lighting design and, since 2018, directing. He also works in Tulsa area theater productions.
“Nanyehi” and historical musical theater
Cummings’ engagement in “Nanyehi” began as far back as his days doing theater in Tahlequah when was involved in a Trail of Tears musical directed by Nick Sweet in the early 2000s. A decade later, Sweet returned to Tahlequah to direct “Nanyehi” with the co-playwright’s Cherokee singer/songwriter Becky Hobbs, a direct descendant of Ward.
He was first cast as Oconostata, the Cherokee leader and war chief, and he returned to the role 5 separate times. Last year Cummings made yet another pivot after he was asked to take on the role of Dragging Canoe, Naneyhi’s cousin and the play’s antagonist. Cummings was asked to fill in for the actor who normally portrays Dragging Canoe just weeks before production.This year, he’s portraying Dragging Canoe again and has had more time for character preparation.
“I only had a couple weeks before rehearsal started. So that was kind of challenging. There wasn’t much time to really dissect the wants and needs of that character. This year, it was able to marinate, obviously, and kind of find more of the humanization of him and why he believes what he believes is the best course of action to maintain the land of the Cherokees,” Cummings said. “As an actor, I try to understand what and why he is doing what he is doing and the resolution he has and I think you do have to believe in that, you believe in that, you behave truthfully.”
The conflict between Nanyehi and Dragging Canoe is one of the central conflicts within the play and hinges on differing beliefs according to Cummings.
“Nanyehi’s cousin has a different ideology as far as wanting to ally with the British against the settlers, and Nanyehi would choose to keep peace with the rebels,” Cummings said. “One’s trying to do it peacefully, the other one’s… not so discreet.”
In preparation for the role, Cummings went back to the script and emphasized how true to history it is, recalling the monologues taken from historical documents of meetings Dragging Canoe held. He also became a student of history.
“It’s really a lot of history lessons and after that you’re just trying to behave truthfully as far as what side you’re on and why this side is right and why you oppose the other one.”
Representation and local community theater
Cummings has noticed a change in Indigenous representations in theater, and media in general, whether national or local, and he’s all in.
“What’s really fun about the production, that’s probably changed the most from when I first started, is there wasn’t a lot of Indigenous representation. And this year, especially, I’d say almost 80 to 90% of the representation of Indigenous people are cast in those Indigenous roles,” Cummings said. “It wasn’t like that before.”.
“Getting out there and having that voice. That’s what I hope to keep doing.”
According to Cummings, one of the highlights of working in the “Nanyehi” production this year was working with his son, Thomas Cummings. Thomas plays Five Killer, Nanyehi’s son.
“It’s really fun to play with my own son,” Cummings said.
Another memorable moment for Cummings was working with Academy Award winning Cherokee actor and Nanyehi descendent Wes Studi.
“Working with Wes Studi has been really fun. He’s a great guy. It’s been a really good time having him onboard,” Cummings said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with him.”
Studi played Attakullakulla, Nanyehi’s uncle and Peace Chief of the Cherokee. Attakullakulla is Dragging Canoe’s father.
For citizens interested in the theater arts, Cummings recommends looking local.
“Theater is such a welcoming community. Contact your local theater companies,” he said.
Cummings also recommends reaching out to area or local organizations to get updates on productions.
“There is the Cherokee Film Commission- you can get on there, make a profile, and they’ll reach out to you, send an email about what’s going on,” Cummings said. “But really it’s just your local community theater. They’re mostly pretty welcoming. And so of course, diversity is so welcome in this day and age.”
“Nanyehi” has had 13 productions, including this year’s run at the Cherokee Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Catoosa. For more information on “Nanyehi: the Musical”l and the history of Nancy Ward, visit Nanyehi.com
Very nice write up regarding your accomplishments!