The Asante Art Institute is bringing a reimagined version of “Touch of Glory” to the stage just in time for the NCAA Championship weekend.
Originally written by Laura Towns, “A Touch of Glory” is a multi-generational theatrical production that revisits a defining moment in Hoosier Basketball history through the eyes of Willie Burnley, according to a press release. The newly staged production runs March 26-28 and April 2-4 at the Athenaeum Theatre.
“Basketball history often celebrates the record breakers, but I became increasingly interested in the people whose stories were left just outside the spotlight,” Towns said in a statement. “By focusing more intentionally on Willie Burnley, the play opens up a deeper conversation about friendship, legacy, and the broader cultural moment surrounding the game.”
“A Touch of Glory” underwent significant rewrites for this production. Instead of highlighting a single record-setting performance, the story now focuses on the story of Angie Willie, a teammate “whose pivotal moment in basketball history has largely been overshadowed,” according to a press release.
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Willie chose to pass the ball rather than break a scoring record, a decision that briefly brought him into the spotlight before his life was later cut short by leukemia.
“This version of the play shifts the focus from individual achievement to the humanity behind the game,” Deborah Asante, director of the production, said in a statement. “Basketball history often celebrates records and championships, but this story reminds us that the most meaningful moments in sports are often about community, character, and resilience.”
Bringing “A Touch of Glory” back to the stage during the NCAA Championship weekend offers residents and visitors alike a unique opportunity to experience Hoosier culture — blending a little sports history with the vibrancy of the city’s arts scene.
However, for the Asante Art Institute, the production represents a chance for the organization to reintroduce itself to the Indianapolis arts sector. Founded in 1990 as a youth theater program, Asante is one of Indiana’s longest-standing Black- and woman-led arts organizations, having built a reputation for “cultivating emerging talent and preserving underrepresented stories,” according to a press release.
“This production reflects exactly who we are,” Terrance Asante-Doyle, operations director of the Asante Art Institute said in a statement. “We’re telling an important Hoosier story while giving young artists the opportunity to learn directly from professional performers. That combination of legacy and mentorship is central to our mission.”
“A Touch of Glory” features a cast of 22 performers, including eight young artists learning alongside seasoned professionals.
The production takes place March 26-28 and April 2-4 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 401 E. Michigan St. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. For more information, showtimes or tickets, visit asanteartinstitute.org.
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.
