The 2025 IndyFringe Festival presented by Everwise Credit Union is finally here.
IndyFringe is my penultimate theatrical experience as the summer starts to wind down and Indianapolis gets ready for Start With Art and a fall full of festivities. I look forward to all the new, weird, exploratory and sensational works of art that take over our beloved performance venues along Massachusetts Avenue. I went to a handful of shows opening weekend — and I have a few more to go this week — but let’s talk about what I loved so far and what I think you need to see while they’re still onstage.
An Evening with Dr. Ashford
Transplant Hoosier and theatre visionary Dr. Austin Dean Ashford not only has two shows, “(I)sland T(rap)” and “Black Book,” in IndyFringe Fest this year, but several of his students over at Flanner House also have shows in the festival. (We’ll talk about those later).
However, if you want to see how solo shows are done, you need to go spend “An Evening with Dr. Ashford” at the IF Basile Theatre.
I saw “Black Book” — a one-person show about the struggles and inequities faced by “at-risk” Black boys in public schools — during its Indiana premiere on the Naptown African American Theatre Collective Stage back in 2023. It was phenomenal — both heartbreaking and healing. You can read my full review of it here.
However, I(sland) T(rap) is the show I saw on Friday night. It’s another one-person show combining elements of hip hop, music, poetry and commentary on fears, expectations and the Black experience in America. The show follows Black Ulysses through a wild fever dream journey up mountains, through nightclubs and around talking trees who read the DSM V and lobsters handing out ukuleles.
It’s interactive and silly, but deadly serious at the heart of its message. Plus, Ashford is filming both shows for an Amazon Prime special, so even if you don’t catch it during the IndyFringe Festival, you still have a chance to enjoy both shows.
“An Evening with Dr. Ashford” is showing next at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Basile IF Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair. St.
Holy Sh*t!
Directed by Greg Sanders with choreography by Jared Norman, The Indianapolis Men’s Chorus’s production of “Holy Sh*t!” is a cabaret-style exploration of religion and myth.
I must apologize to the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus because I was dreadfully unfamiliar with your game. I did not know y’all could sing, dance, produce and get down like that. This was probably the most fun show I’ve seen at the IndyFringe Festival.
The program features a lineup of songs most people will know and probably love, all relating to religion or myth in some shape or form. The Chorus donned all white outfits — with a few colorful exceptions depending on the number and danced with a full live band backing them.
The number about the Goddess of Love features songs like “Venus” by Shocking Blue, and the number about the God of Death featured “Friends on the Other Side” from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog.” Other numbers explored themes surrounding the altar, doubt, faith, miracles, divine relationships and those who have felt exiled from organized religion.
In between numbers, Sanders came out to greet the audience, discussing the inspiration for the production, reciting poetry and verses of scripture from the Bible, Torah and Quran.
The entire experience was as lively as it was lovely. “Holy Sh*t!” is showing Aug. 22-24 at the Athenaeum Basile Theatre, 401. E. Michigan St.
Universe City: The Experience
All you have to say is “Afrofuturism” and I’m there. Written and produced by Kay Hawthorne, known professionally as Napademics, “Universe City: The Experience” takes audiences aboard a spaceship to journey through space and Blackness. The show seamlessly blends essay, poetry, rap, prose and original music production alongside a brief education of the history of Afrofuturism and its modern-day inspirations.
Napademics is one of seven artists who debuted at IndyFringe Festival as part of the Flanner Fringe Lab, which was instructed by Ashford.
“Universe City” was an intimate solo performance at IndyFringe Festival’s newest venue, Vision Loft, featuring two futuristic characters and no concept of a fourth wall. It’s educational, inspirational and interactive. Napademic’s “Universe City” was a brilliant take, and she dropped some truly amazing beats and knowledge, dissecting the cost of space exploration — both literally and metaphorically.
Unfortunately, “Universe City” has ended its IndyFringe Festival run, but other ways exist to continue supporting the artist behind the work. Napademics is a resident artist at Flanner House and part of the Flanner Fringe Lab and is working on an album set to drop in mid-October. For more information, visit instagram.com/napademics317.
Dis Bitter Poetry
Three words: Ms. Latrice. Young.
Cause she did that.
Presented by Ms. Latrice Young and Ebony Singleton, “Dis Bitter Poetry” is an interactive awakening in the form of a poetry slam. Young is one of seven artists debuting at IndyFringe as part of the Flanner Fringe Lab, and her show has a few necessary ground rules.
Firstly, “Dis Bitter Poetry” requires audience participation for authenticity. Attendees were invited to connect and reflect through Young’s dynamic storytelling, aided by the MC, including call and response, answering questions, taking a few deep breaths and sweet choreo poetry.
Young transformed into different characters throughout the show — lamenting, criticizing and rejoicing aspects of Blackness in America, womanhood, politics and peace. It was a brilliant but raw performance, blending song, poetry, prose and questions. I’ve never seen a work quite so inviting and profound, and I probably won’t again unless it returns next year.
Unfortunately, “Dis Bitter Poetry” had its last show on Monday night, and I so wish there were more opportunities to see it. However, you still support Young through the Flanner Fringe Lab program and the NAATC.
IndyFringe Festival takes place Aug. 14-24. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit indyfringe.org/festival.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
