M. Cochise Anderson (Chickasaw/Choctaw) musician, actor, poet, spoken word performance artist, playwright, storyteller, and educator - studied at Portland (OR) State University and at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Cochise received the Jerome Fellowship for playwriting The Education of Benjamin Franklin and the Bush Artist Fellowship for Storytelling/ Performance Art The Only Good Poet is a Read Poet. He has performed at The National Museum of the American Indian twice and The Open House Arts Festival at the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He has also been a repeat performer at the Lincoln Center Outdoors Series in New York City. As an award-winning playwright he has extended his craft by initiating a creative writing/spoken word theater for young Native students in the Twin Cities area. Cochise has been the instructor for The Penumbra Theatre's Summer Youth Institute and he has worked as a Native American cultural arts educator for the past seventeen years throughout the country. From elementary schools to colleges and national cultural institutions he has developed a variety of curriculums and programs to entertain and educate all people about the beauty and struggle of Native America.

Cochise, an accomplished professional actor, has appeared in off-off Broadway and regional productions as well as Film and Television. He founded and was the artistic director of Chuka Lokoli (Community), Native American Theatre Ensemble in NY with The Ensemble Studio Theatre. His acting credits include, (TV) The Cosby Show, Homicide: Life On The Streets, (Film) Daughters of The Dust, Bill's Gun Shop, and (Theatre) To Kill A Mockingbird, Great American History Theatre and he originated the title role of The Independence of Eddie Rose, Seattle Group Theatre. He recently completed a national tour playing Stevie Jackson in William S. Yellowrobe's play Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers, Penumbra Theatre and Trinity Repertory Company. This summer Cochise was Kanati in the new retelling of "Unto These Hills" at Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee, NC.

Cochise Anderson's album, The Kemosabe Therapy an eclectic ensemble of word songs, was nominated for the 2005 Indian Summer Music Awards in the category of Spoken Word.

Work Reviews

Praise for Braided Lives

Cochise Andersons play, Braided Lives is a celebration of life, forgiveness understanding endurance and love. It is about our hopes dreams aspirations triumphs. The depth and continuity of Braided Lives is very comforting and reassuring, because it respects and honors all that we have lived though and survived in past generations and all of those generations yet to come. It is important for our self-esteem individually and collectively as Native American men and women to have a positive outlook and perspective from which we draw the experiences that we weave in our lives, in the lives of our families, and in our community. Braided Lives was written by the characters who simply came to life to speak for those of us who could not. It is eloquent, elegant, and in your face.

Act I is set in 1856 Bloomington, MN. Beautiful, defiant and resilient is Checkered Cloud, a Dakota medicine woman, who meets a preachers wife, Agnes. An unusual friendship ensues as both women begin to share their experiences of love and loss. Checkered Clouds daughter, Wenona attends the Maiden feast because she is now of age for marriage. Jealous and cruel Red Cloud/Double Face clearly show us that we cannot always trust appearances, because all that glitters is not gold. Harpstenahs meddling and treachery causes Wenona and White Buffalo and their families to suffer a great loss. In spite of everything Checkered Cloud remains the spiritual strength for her family. She radiates truth and hope.

Act II returns us to current day with all its contrasts and similarities. We join Clarissa, a Dakota woman, and Gracie, a white American woman in Minneapolis, MN. Clarissa and Gracie have been "friends for life" since they met at South High. Through Gracies friendship of twenty years, the antics of Cora and Chaske with Stanley, and the uncertain future with Floyd, Clarissa and Gracie show us how we persevere against the odds because these are our kids. The family struggles against poverty, gangs, divorce politics, and tragedy. We peer into the pressure through the eyes of our youth as we witness the wrath of Chaskes rap. Continuously, Clarissas strength and determination and Gracies compassion and devotion remind us of our power to overcome all the many fears and obstacles that come our way.

Last fall, Braided Lives received a reading at the Great American History Theatre in Minneapolis, MN. It is essential that Braided Lives be brought to more communities. In it children will begin to see just how much we sacrifice to care for them and will develop a stronger sense of just how much we value them and protect them from harms way. Men of all ages will see themselves as three dimensional human beings who make choices as complicated as life itself. And women will rejoice that finally, their story has been told. The play, Braided Lives does not preach or chastise, instead it holds up a mirror as we take something away that is rightfully sacred and ours.

Praise for The Education of Benjamin Franklin

Romeo and Juliet meet at boarding school, a love story? Not quite that simple. Cochise Andersons play, The Education of Benjamin Franklin is the story of a young mans adolescent journey through acceptance, love, betrayal and pain as he is welcomed into the home of an American family and befriends their son and daughter, Edward and Victoria. It is the summer of 1920. The location is Lawrence, Kansas. Benjamin has been away from his father and grandfather for four years while attending school for education. This summer is different because Benjamin gets to spend the summer with a new family. Although, homesick for life with his father and grandfather, young Benjamin is pleased with his new private bedroom, abundant food supply, and other luxuries that this American family takes for granted.

Benjamin is full of life and wonderful expectations as he develops a tempestuous relationship with Edward and falls in love with Victoria. Through his talent and charisma, Benjamin becomes a hit for the local baseball team and seems to be adjusting nicely to his new family and surrounding. However, as conflict and jealousy quickly arise, Benjamin wrestles with some tough decisions and brutal lessons as he navigates the social hypocrisy, racism, and limitation of his new environment. Having endured the "civilizing of the Indian" schools as did his father and grandfather, Benjamin is determined to keep his traditional ways like his grandfather while making a better way of life for himself like his father. It is a very powerful story imparting the value of balance dignity and splendor.

The Education of Benjamin Franklin, was selected for the Jerome Fellowship in 1999 for Playwriting in conjunction with the Playwrights' Center of Minneapolis, MN.

Praise for The Only Good Poet is a Read Poet

Cochise Andersons one-man play, The Only Good Poet Is A Read Poet piece features poetry over Native American flute, rattles and drums along with elements of rock, folk, country, and blues. Voyage through Native America, past and present, where you will meet a multitude of memorable characters. Meet medicine men, Ancient One and Elder, and warriors Weatherford who has lost all his men in battle; and Chula Homa (The Red Fox) who is forced to leave his Chickasaw homeland on the long journey west. See modern-day warriors, Rupert Sweetwater, a 55 year old homeless Vietnam veteran still fighting the war; and Manny Thom, a 52 year old civil rights activist reflects on how our struggles have changed and remained the same. Enthusiastic young warriors Billy Skye, a 20 yr old grass dancer/ temp janitor/ maintenance engineer, and Glen Looks Twice, an 18 yr old college student in sunny California, await new opportunities and experiences. As diverse and distinct as each is in his own right, all share and common bond of loyalty to themselves, their families, and their communities. They define who they are and they know who they are. They are valued for their integrity and protection.

The Only Good Poet is a Read Poet was selected for the Bush Artist Fellowship in 2002 for Performance Art-Storytelling; chosen by a national panel, Saint Paul, MN. The BAF, supports artists whose work reflects diverse geographic, racial and aesthetic communities.