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-“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.

-“5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah McCruiston. Inspired by the works of Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and August Wilson. 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 eye-opening and sometimes harsh truths on dating, marriage, sexuality, domestic violence, and love, from the male’s 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. Therapy helps reveal the buried truths of an 82-year African American woman who reaches inner depth of self-realization.

Join us for an intimate evening of ebony elegance as we celebrate Black theater featuring live presentations from OnyxFest 2023 playwrights highlighting a “Reception and Reading” 6 to 8 pm Friday, October 6, 2023 at the Galleries at Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, 1410, Indiana Ave. Playwrights, actors, sponsors, and the general public are invited to attend.

Meet and greet writers Delores Thornton of Indianapolis, “Babe”; Deborah Patrick of Detroit, “Right Behind You”; Ardre Orie of Atlanta, “The Heart of a Man”; Levi Frazier of Memphis, “Tigonie” and Josiah McCruiston of Indianapolis, “5 Moods of Black Anguish.”

The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) sponsored its 2^nd 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.