
Indy’s first and only theater festival dedicated to the stories of Black playwrights.
Presented by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.), IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, IU School of Education at IUPUI, and IUPUI Office of Community Engagement in partnership with IndyFringe Theatre

OnyxFest 2023 Playwrights Announced

After receiving dozens of scripts, drama jurors have selected six plays for OnyxFest 2023! Sponsored by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.) in conjunction with IndyFringe, OnyxFest Fall 2023 is scheduled for November 2 – 5 and November 9 – 11. Plays will be staged at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre and the IUPUI Campus Center Theater.>>READ MORE
The plays chosen for Fall 2023 are as follows:
- “TIGONIE” by Levi Frazier Jr. A man whose checkered past comes back to haunt him. A tale of regret, repentance, and reconciliation. Religion and hypocrisy surface.
- “ALL THINGS CONSIDERED” by Nattalie Gordon. A thirty-something Black artist who is healing from childhood and unconventional relationship wounds.
- “5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah McCruiston. Spoken word, prose and sermonettes explore the pain and glory of a people with unconquerable spirits.
- “THE HEART OF A MAN” by Ardre Orie. An all-male cast stage production that reveals the sometimes-harsh truths on dating, marriage, sexuality, domestic violence, and love, from the male perspective.
- “RIGHT BEHIND YOU” by Deborah Patrick. Generations of women reflect on contrasting experiences as the elder of the family is dying of COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic.
- “BABE” by Delores Thornton. Based on a true story about how therapy helps reveal the buried truths of an 82-year African American woman who reaches inner depth of self-realization.
Thank you for making the 2nd Annual CENTERSTAGE: A Theater Workshop a success!
The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) sponsored its 2nd Annual “CENTERSTAGE: A Theater Workshop,” on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Herron School of Art & Design.
CENTERSTAGE workshops were led by a panel of experienced theater professionals, educators and practitioners who brought a wealth of diverse knowledge and skills.

OnyxFest
Indy’s first and only theater festival dedicated to the stories of Black playwrights.

OnyxFest | Cavanaugh Hall, 425 University Blvd., Room 327, Indianapolis, IN 46202 | 317-274-8710 | contact@onyxfest.com
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