“Stufferage: Tales of the Overwhelmed,” a new play about hoarding and grief, is about to hit the District Theatre stage.
Written by Indy-based playwright Jan White, “Stufferage: Tales of the Overwhelmed” follows a colorful cast of characters in a support group as they learn to confront the physical and emotional costs of hoarding. Drawing inspiration from real life experiences and struggles with mental illness, “Stufferage” takes the stage at The District Theatre May 23-June 1.
“I didn’t set out to write a play about hoarding. I set out to make sense of a life — my own, and the ones that shaped it,” White said in a statement. “‘Stufferage’ was born from the boxes we leave behind and the emotional clutter we carry forward. It’s about the things we can’t throw away — not just objects, but wounds, secrets, and the roles we play for too long. Writing it helped me breathe again. My hope is that watching it helps others do the same.”
The play opens with a bang and a locked door, as audiences meet 62-year-old retired psychologist Georgia outside her late sister’s hoarded home. The following play delves into the “chaos of clutter” alongside the emotional weight of memory and longing for connection in a “whip-smart, cathartic and often laugh-out-loud journey through grief, guilt and baggage,” according to a press release.
“This isn’t just about stuff,” White said. “It’s about the emotional weight we carry, the mess we inherit and the healing power of connection when we finally say, ‘enough.’”
Sandra Gay, Actors Ink Theatre Company founder, said directing “Stufferage” has been a journey into the emotional layers people often attempt to hide. White’s script balances humor and heartbreak, inviting audiences to “laugh at the absurdity of life while feeling the very real weight behind it,” Gay said.
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“This isn’t a story about ‘fixing’ people — it’s a story about understanding them,” Gay said in a statement. “And maybe, in the process, understanding ourselves a little better, too.”
Coming up in June, The District Theatre is presenting the sixth play in the Indiana Avenue Series, presented by Black Light Training and Development. “Luck Finds Love,” written by Curtis Smith and directed by Dena Toler, presents a story of resilience, romance and music, according to a press release.
Set against the rich cultural backdrop of Indiana Avenue’s thriving Black arts community, “Luck Finds Love” takes the stage June 7-9. The play follows a young Cecil Walker, who bags groceries by day and serenades passersby on the Avenue by night. Dreaming of using his talents to buy his mother a house, Walker enters a talent competition at the Madam Walker Theatre for a chance at his big break.
However, according to a press release, a “twist of misfortune” on the way to the venue changes his life forever and introduces him to a love he never expected.
Coming up at the end of June, Indianapolis Black Theatre Company (IndyBlack Theatre) launches a new era with its production of Jordan E. Cooper’s “Ain’t No Mo’” on the District Theatre’s mainstage. Running June 26-July 6, the original satire blends absurdist comedy, searing truth and a “deeply personal reckoning” — promising theater-goers more than just a show, according to a press release.
Directed by Jamaal McCray, “Ain’t No Mo’” presents audiences with a provocative question: “If America offered Black people one-way tickets to Africa, would you go?”
“After its acclaimed premiere at The Public Theater and a historic Broadway debut, ‘Ain’t No Mo’’ comes to Indianapolis for a rare and resonant staging — one that will challenge, entertain and inspire,” a press release states. “This is a play that doesn’t just reflect the world we live in — it demands we imagine something better.”
The production marks the beginning of “a new chapter” for the resident theatre company, which aims to be a creative home for Black stories, artists and futures to “take center stage.” Under the leadership of Artistic Director T.J. Rowley, IndyBlack Theatre Company “returns with renewed purpose, presenting work that is urgent, imaginative and unapologetically alive,” according to a press release.
“Stufferage: Tales of the Overwhelmed” is onstage at The District Theatre May 23-June 1. Tickets are $23-$28. “Luck Finds Love” is onstage June 7-9 and tickets are $18. IndyBlack Theatre’s “Ain’t No Mo’” is onstage June 26-July 6 and tickets are $23-$28.
For more information or to view a full production schedule, visit indydistricttheatre.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 graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
