The
Carlisle
Project
musical Boston

The Carlisle Project

ArtsEmerson, Octopus Theatricals

Apr 30 - May 2, 2027

The Carlisle Project blends song, satire, and ceremony into a powerful musical song cycle reckoning with the legacy of Carlisle Indian Industrial School. In the 19th century, Carlisle was founded to “Kill the Indian, and Save the Man,” becoming the blueprint for government-sponsored assimilation that would continue for over a century. Now, Ronee Penoi (Laguna Pueblo, Cherokee, and a Carlisle descendant) as composer/lyricist and Annalisa Dias as lyricist/book-writer have woven an evocative theatrical feast intertwining stories of the past, present, and future, building pathways for hope and healing for Native peoples. Directed by Madeline Sayet (Mohegan) and performed by an all-Native cast of music theater artists, this highly-anticipated new work also serves as a critically needed re-storying for non-Native Americans today.