Based on Natasha Trethewey's collection of poems, The Alliance Theatre's production of Native Guard is both an elegy to her mother and a journey into Mississippi's Civil War history. In poetry and song, she reflects on her mother's passing while contemplating the former slaves who became soldiers in a regiment known as the Native Guard. Trethewey's work was the winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

This recording was produced with the generous support of The Poetry Foundation.

Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood, in July of 2018.

Directed by Rosalind Ayres

Producing Director Susan Albert Loewenberg

January LaVoy as The Poet

Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant as the Native Guard

And featuring Nicole Banks Long on vocals and Tyrone Jackson on piano.

Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Associate Producer, Studio Production Coordinator, and Mixing Engineer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. Senior Radio Producer, Ronn Lipkin. Production Assistant, Amanda Allen. Recording Engineer, Erick Cifuentes.  

The Alliance Theatre production was originally directed by Susan V. Booth. Offsite Producer for The Alliance Theatre, Donya Washington. Composer and Music Director, Tyrone Jackson. Original Sound Design, Clay Benning. 

Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. As conceived and originally produced by the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia. Susan V. Booth, Artistic Director. Mike Schleifer, Managing Director.