The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) announced that scripts are being accepted for consideration of full production grants for playwrights to participate in OnyxFest 2024.
This marks the fifth anniversary of the collaboration between IndyFringe and ARTI and the 14th staging of OnyxFest – the first and only theater festival in Indiana spotlighting exclusively works of Black writers. Grants will cover all expenses required to bring scripts from the page to the stage, says OnyxFest Director Vernon A. Williams. “This is an event designed to empower Black artists to create their own narrative and to tell their own unique stories.”
Organizers say judges this season will look for variety. In addition to drama and serious topics, creative comedy, romance, mystery, spoken word, musical and even dance productions are welcomed! Playwrights will receive royalties along with stipends to pay actors, directors, lighting assistants and sound technicians. The grant will include funds for set design, props, costume and makeup as well as the complete cost of theater rental for both rehearsal and performances.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for serious new playwrights with talent but inadequate financial resources,” Williams said, adding that OnyxFest 2024 will also provide playwrights script development assistance, marketing and advertising, along with video recordings and internet streaming of plays.
Scripts should be submitted to https://go.iu.edu/4RJu. All scripts must be downloaded no later than 11:59 pm Fri., March 1, 2024. Entries will then be submitted to a jury of theater professionals who will read each and determine winners. Recipients will be notified no later than the end of April. Entries must be original one-act plays between 45 minutes and an hour in length. There may be no more than five characters per cast. Williams recommends that writers avoid stereotypes, degrading or disrespectful portrayals of Black life and culture, and gratuitous violence or sexual content.
OnyxFest is designed to creatively document and artistically depict through theater the ethos, lifestyle, culture, issues, perspectives, social dynamic and politics of people of the Africana Diaspora. OnyxFest will be staged in October. Learn more about OnyxFest at onyxfest.com. For questions, email onyxfestindy@gmail.com.
About A.R.T.I. (Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI):
The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) is a program of study offered by the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the School of Education and the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement using a multidisciplinary approach to “edutainment.” ARTI was developed
to document and artistically reflect the history, cultural life, and politics of peoples of the African Diaspora. As a public arts initiative, ARTI has a deep commitment to and focuses on artistic and community engagement. Learning in the arts is invaluable at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life may advance civic engagement while also creating a college and career pathway.
About IndyFringe:
The Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival (IndyFringe) founded in 2005 is a place, an
event, a movement, an incubator for new talent and a magnet for imaginative and thoughtful people. IndyFringe established OnyxFest in 2011 to counter the lack of diversity both on stage and in audiences of Indianapolis theatre. The annual festival is a vehicle to expose theatergoers to new and emerging Black playwrights. IndyFringe is best known for the annual IndyFringe Festival that transforms Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis into a vibrant, eclectic and exciting festival avenue.