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
Scripts for OnyxFest 2023 are now being accepted!
For a few aspiring writers, OnyxFest 2023 – the first and only Indiana theater festival exclusively for African American playwrights – will cover all expenses required to bring scripts to life. Scripts will be accepted for consideration up to midnight Friday, March 10th. Entries will then be submitted to a jury of theater professionals who will read each and determine five winners. Winners will be notified in the first week of April. We will also communicate with those not chosen.
Entries must be original one-act plays – between 45 minutes and an hour in length. There may be no more than six characters per cast. The scope of OnyxFest subject matter is broad. Vernon A. Williams, OnyxFest Executive Director recommends that writers avoid stereotypes, degrading or disrespectful portrayals of Black life and culture, and gratuitous violence or sexual content.
Thank you for supporting OnyxFest 2022!
OnyxFest would like to thank all involved in the most successful event in the 12-year history of this powerful and unique festival featuring the works of Black playwrights. OnyxFest is not only the first but remains the only Indiana theater festival exclusively dedicated to authentic stories depicting Black lives and culture.
Sponsored by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.), in conjunction with IndyFringe Indianapolis, we extend heartfelt appreciation to the Indianapolis area and beyond; and for those who came and supported us this year, giving a 63% increase in ticket sales over last year. We proudly acknowledge actors, technicians, volunteers, and all who worked behind the scenes to make the magic; and that starts with those creative and talented individuals whose scripts were selected to be transcended from the page to the stage. >>READ MORE
OnyxFest 2022 playwrights featured on “Bring It On” radio show
The OnyxFest 2022 playwrights were featured on the “Bring It On!” radio show. Watch the recording now!
“Bring It On!” is a multiple-award-winning one-hour weekly public affairs program exploring the people, issues, and events affecting African American communities beginning with South Central Indiana. “Bring It On!” seeks to facilitate open and constructive dialogue among African Americans and the communities they reside in. “Bring It On!” airs on Monday evenings at 6 p.m. on WFHB 91.3 and 98.1 FM volunteer-powered, listener-supported, community radio for South Central Indiana! Listen live or download a podcast of the show at www.wfhb.org.
OnyxFest playwright selections and festival expansion!
After receiving a record number of scripts for consideration, we are announcing there will be both fall and spring festivals for the state’s only theatrical showcase exclusively for Black playwrights.
Sponsored by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.) in conjunction with IndyFringe, OnyxFest Fall 2022 is scheduled for November 3 – 6 and November 10 – 12. The inaugural Spring OnyxFest is set for the first two weekends of April in 2023. Plays will be staged at the Basile Theatre IndyFringe and the IUPUI Campus Center Theater.
Plays chosen are as follows:
FALL 2022
- “A NOISE IN THE ATTIC” by Vernon A. Williams. The life of a suburban housewife – neglected by her ambitious husband and disrespected by her spoiled stepdaughter – becomes even more complicated by sudden, unexplained noises in their new house.
- “BLACK IS MY COLOR” by Celeste Williams. In 1989, poet/philosopher Mari Evans wrote an essay entitled, “Ethos & Creativity” for a publication edited by David Hoppe. This story tries to capture her essence.
- “HOUSELESS, NOT HOMELESS” by Michael Florence. The story of five homeless people, how they came to be homeless and how they survive day-to-day.
- “MAJESTIES” by Charla Booth. Three Black women from three generations meet on a journey to discover themselves and their worth.
- “POLICE STATE” by Rain Wilson. A young Black Man with so much promise has lost his life to police brutality and in the midst of community organizing being led by the younger brother – the father decides that its not enough – and there must be a different road chosen this time.
- “YOUR LOVE WILL BE JUDGED” by Gabrielle Patterson. Six jurors residing in a world where divorce is only an option if a jury of your peers says so, is quite the challenge when everyone has vastly different opinions about love and marriage.
SPRING 2023
- “A BLACK FATHER’S PLEA” by Curtis Drake Shepard. One mother pushes her personal convictions aside in hopes that there is one last thing that can possibly reach a son lost to the streets; A Black Father’s Plea.
- “KUL CHA (CULTURE)” by McKenya Dilworth Smith. A story about saving a theatre which comes to represent what was good in the community; the happiness, the stories, the togetherness.
- “LAMENTS OF A BROWN BIRD SUMMER” by Cris Eli Blak. Tackles a subject matter that is so prevalent, and yet rarely discussed in the Black community: mental health
- “PIECES OF: THE MUSICAL” by Ricky Murasaki. A short musical about a young man’s journey into the afterlife.
- “ONE” by Lanetta Overton. This play focuses on the issue of colorism within the Black community.
“Democracy Hypocrisy” premiered at Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre Park on June 26th
Democracy Hypocrisy: The Red, White, and Blues of Freedom is a soulful, riveting one-act play written by OnyxFest’s Executive Producer, Vernon A. Williams, and featured playwrights Rain Wilson (2020 season) and Latrice P. Young (2021 season). The production came between two iconic national celebrations of “liberation,” Juneteenth, and Independence Day, offering an exhilarating and authentic portrayal of the Africana experience through spoken word, dance, music, song, and drama.
This production, sponsored by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.) in conjunction with the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre Park premiered in The Park–Indy’s coolest new urban outdoor venue at 7th and Illinois. “Democracy Hypocrisy” served its audience an exhilarating and authentic slice of Black American life and culture.
“Democracy Hypocrisy: The Red, White and Blues of Freedom” playwrights are Vernon A. Williams (“Being Black” and “The Price of Progress”), Rain Wilson (“I Feed You Defiance”) and Ms. Latrice (“Fly Blackbirds, Fly/ Voices We Can’t Unhear”). Larry Brewer is choreographer.
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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