IndyFringe '18: Lou Ann Homan Brings Mary Shelley--and Her Demons--to Life! To Life!

One dark and stormy night in October in the haunted city of Indianapolis, storyteller Lou Ann Homan and her friend Carolyn Powers attended Frankenfest sponsored by Indiana Humanities. In case you don’t frequent your public library, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was chosen as the One Story/One State book for 2017-18, and this was the kick off event. (See me after class if you are someone who does not visit your local library! I consider my library card to be the most lucrative currency in my wallet!) 

In addition to the all-day read-a-thon featuring celebrity readers, the 12-hour festival will include a pop-up exhibit of rare anatomical texts, curatorial talks, hands-on art activities, Franken Yard Games, guided tours of the Medical History Museum, a theatrical performance, a “Franks-N-Steins” beer garden with Central State Brewing Co. Beer and King David Dogs for sale and more Frankenstein fun.

You know what, Indy? You are pretty darn cool to host such a frighteningly fun event!

On the long drive back home, Lou Ann and Carolyn decided to apply for a grant to have the Frankenfest in their hometown of Angola, which they were awarded. The festival will take place on October 13, 2018. Congratulations, Lou Ann!

Lou Ann then had an inspiration: “I love Mary Shelley, but we are just talking about Frankenstein here! I should become Mary…I already love her! I should bring her spirit to life!”  I guess you could say that Mary Shelley’s “world was a secret that [Lou Ann] desired to divine!" 

And every night since that night in October, Lou Ann has perched at her desk in her atelier of her purple Victorian by candle light, scribing into the wee hours of the morning to bring Mary to life. And thus “Mary and Her Monsters” was divined to life:

In August of 1816, the stage was set for Mary Shelley to write her classic "Frankenstein" novel. Who was Mary Shelley? What were her own monsters and how did this book come to be? Join storyteller Lou Ann Homan as she portrays Mary Shelley. The story is riveting and none can tell it better.

She's Alive! She's Alive!

Mary and Her Monsters is Lou Ann’s fifth show at IndyFringe. Others include Auditioning for Swan Lake, I Was a Virgin Nudist, Hoosier Roots, and A Baptist Girl's Guide to Sex, Love and the Happily Ever. Mary has been proven to be the biggest challenge: “All the other shows were stories from my life. I loved doing them all, but it is one thing to tell your own stories (although much writing and crafting goes into that also!), but to become someone from history? Research, research, research. Where does Mary fit into my brain? How to become her? Very challenging and chilling,” Lou Ann explained.

I admit, I was surprised about the “chilling” part. I’ve always heard it told that one night on a romantic getaway in Switzerland, Mary Wollstonecraft sat around a fire with her lover, the dreamy poet Percy Shelley and his BFF Lord Byron. As a form of entertainment, they each devised a ghost story to see who could tell the scariest one. If this were a record, someone would be scratching the needle off it right now, because after seeing this show, I realize how wrong I was about that account! Go see the show if you want some real drama. Frankenstein was a drop in the bucket compared to Mary Shelley’s life.

In addition to IndyFringe, Lou Ann is also busy on the storytelling circuit, having attended festivals all over Indiana and the country. Her ghost stories were a hit at  Crown Hill Cemetery, and she regularly portrays Indiana’s literary gem Gene Stratton-Porter at state parks and festivals. IndyFringe, however, holds a special place in her heart: “I love the excitement. I love the nausea before the show (seriously). I love the audience. I love meeting the other performers. I love the goal of bringing a new show to the stage, especially this one,” Lou Ann gushes.

Her favorite show at IndyFringe this year is Nancy Drewinsky and the Search for the Missing Letter by Robin Bady of New York.

Besides IndyFringe and Storytelling Arts of Indiana, her favorite things to do in Indy include seeing shows at The Phoenix theater, seeing movies at Keystone Arts (“Can’t get some of those independent movies in a small town,” she says), and getting a good beer at Chatham Tap. (I wonder if Lou Ann knows that Chatham Tap was previously an art gallery, and once during a Halloween party my friends threw there, we experienced some, shall we say eerie things in the basement!)

Although Lou Ann’s second home is Indy, and many people think she lives here, Angola is her true love. “I love living in a small town. I am involved in as much as possible. I live in the middle of town so I can bike everywhere. I love being part of the humanities department at Trine University. I love serving on boards, the Downtown Coalition and the Historic Preservation Commission. I love a place where everyone knows your life…the ups and downs, and people who appreciate the work I do. I love being on the road, but always make a swing around the circle [in the center of town] when I come home, always with a sigh of happiness.”

Hearing Lou Ann make such declarations about Indy, Angola, and creating “Mary and Her Monsters, I’m reminded of a phrase in Frankenstein: “There is love in me the likes of which you've never seen.”

Now, who’s up for a field trip to Angola in October to see their version of Frankenfest? As for us, we’ll stay at Angola’s finest inn: The House at White Picket Gardens. 

To get to know Lou Ann better, visit her blog where she tells the delightful comings and goings of a simple life that is full of stories, friends, family, flowers, books, homemade bread, mouthwatering pies (true story: she once thwarted a greedy IRS agent with a slice of her famous pie), and some good ol' Americana where she believes we should all “Live, and be happy, and make others so.” (Shelley)  It is a breath of fresh air!  

One of Mary Shelley's favorite places to write was beside her husband's grave. That Percy Shelley: what a monster he was! (Go to the show to learn more!)

Lou Ann, stage manager Melia, and narrator Jacob McNeal. Lou Ann was adamant that this was "their" show, not "her" show. She met Jacob after he performed in MacBeth at

Trine University. You have got to hear this guy's reverberant voice and see his unbelievably shiny hair! Lou Ann credits Melia with creating the mood for the play. "All I had was one lights up and one lights down, and Melia, this seventeen year-old girl running a light board that was two generations old said to me, 'This is Mary Shelley. We must do better. Do you trust me to design some light and sound cues for you?' and I said, "I do." 

When we go to Frankenfest, we will stay at White Picket gardens, where the lovely and doting hostess spritzes the sheets with lavender water and regales her guests with stories by candle light!

Continues:

Friday Aug 24th, 10:30PM

Saturday Aug 25th, 7:30PM

Firefighter's Union

IndyFringe '18 Let's Play A Freakin Board Game with Act a Foo!

A seat at the Fun Table!

Mark Cashwell, Shannon Sampson, Larry Haworth, Joshua "Girth" Owens, Daniel Martin, and Andrea Lott-Haney gear up to win some big fake Monopoly money!

One of my favorite aspects of IndyFringe is seeing artists support other artists. Performers can see shows on standby, and although they do not pay for their tickets, having their energy in the audience is something that many fellow performers enjoy. Performers are also great for free PR for other shows. I was happy to see two performers (Ty Stover and Paige Scott) encouraging a patron to see a show with which they had no affiliation: “There Ain’t No More,” by a group from Little Rock, Arkansas, and first-timers to IndyFringe. They wanted to be sure this new-to-IndyFringe artist would get a fair shot. This is what you call Good Vibes, and I have always been proud to be a part of this giving community.

Prior to that I had an idea to write about this camaraderie. I put a plan into action. Act a Foo’s motto always stood out to me: Come Play With Us. It’s all about being inclusive. And then I spotted another show that sounded interesting: Let’s Play A Freakin’ Board Game by local comedian Mark Cashwell:

All my friends are "too busy" to play board games with me, so you should totally play with me instead! Come and play your favorite board games, where the rules are improvised, the game pieces are mixed up, and have a drink or two as well!

I liked how both shows were centered around playing with strangers. I put a call into Daniel at Act A Foo to ask if he could join us for the board game show, then contacted Mark Cashwell and asked him to join us for Act A Foo’s show, right after his. Everybody was on board (haha). I figured I could write about their interaction and learn more about this mysterious energy that performers give other performers.

What could go wrong, right?

Daniel and Joshua “Girth” met us at the theater and brought along our mutual friend Andrea Lott Haney, who did some time at ComedySportz as an improv instructor.

Mark, in full “Monopoly Guy” regalia greeted audience members as they took their seats and set the tone for a fun a game of audience participation Monopoly. (Every show will feature a different board game.) Turns out, Monopoly Guy has a name: Rich Uncle Pennybags. Mark created a back story for Pennybags, and regaled the audience with funny and tragic stories about his life between rolls of the dice.

Remember when I asked what could go wrong?

Well, one of the contestants totally Monopolized (haha!) the game, and things did get a little chaotic for a bit. However, contestant Daniel Martin rallied the troops to take the Spotlight Hog down, and a very deserving woman who went by the stage name of “Well, Shit, I Don’t Know” took the game and a bounty of free, brand new board games! Now that’s pretty cool!

The chaos was fun and lasted right through Act A Foo’s show, and by the time I got to meet up with Mark, the guy looked exhausted, as if he’d been run over by a train. Well, that might have been because he had this funny bit in his show in which every time a railroad was bought or sold, the contestants had to do a train dance around the theater. His wily contestants kept pulling that card just to do the dance.

But the story must go on. I had to resort to emailing Mark to learn more about him, and I’m so glad I did, because he was just the nicest guy. I look forward to seeing more of his shows! Thanks Mark and Thanks Foos for playing with us!

I really don’t like Q&A interviews, but Mark has a show tonight, and it sure would be nice to get this article posted before then.

If you don’t mind, here is some Q&A.

1. How you came up with show idea?

 Every time I come up with a new idea for Indyfringe, my main overarching goal for the show is to answer the question, "What is something that I would go see and would I have fun as an audience member?" With that in mind, I always go back to times where I really have fun with friends, in a not-theatre atmosphere. I suffer from social anxiety, and one of the best way to get past that is through a board game for me. They give you exact instructions on what to do, and it gives you something to distract you from anxiety and allows you at the same time a channel to interact in a safe way. I thought that had great potential to be a medium to incorporate improv, and simply replace the board game rules with tenants from improv that are always good to progress conversation and in general a positive way to interact with others too.

(Psst, hey Mark…that social anxiety you mention…I hear you, brother!)

2. How each show is different?

Every show is a a different board game that I have borrowed from Kingmakers down the road on Mass Ave. There are a total of 3 board games that I rotate between the shows, but even then it is always a new show based on the suggestions given and the different players. The three main board games are: Monopoly, Clue, and Battleship. The general theme throughout is me being the host/dungeon master to an extent who helps guide the players through the game but can also have the minor "plot" in the background. At its simplest form, the show is dungeons and dragons meets truth or dare. All have different challenges for the players to complete in order to get ahead in the games. I also try to incorporate as many performers from others shows in the Indyfringe festival as I can but still always have two or more audience members to balance out that equation. 

3. Where do you get those brand new games you give away at the end?

It turns out board game companies are really freakin' awesome if you reach out to them! When looking for prizes I knew it had to be board games, and I wanted to reward those who went through the show and were awesome enough to brave the stage. I sent emails to all my favorite board game producers asking them if they could help out, and explained the shows concept. They were happy to help with a donation and sent me boxes of board games to give out, and some with awesome drawings for me too! For some of the others I got to meet the creators at Gencon when it was in town, and instead of email asked in person and they too were into the concept and were happy to help out!

4. How long have you lived in Indy? 
I have been in Indy for about nine years now. Wow its been awhile! Before Indianapolis, I was a Kentucky guy.

5. How long have you been performing in IndyFringe? 

As a performer in the festival, this is my second year. Last year I performed an improv talk show called “Tonight, Tonight." Before then, I was actually a tech for two years as well.

6. Have you plans to create new shows? 

Oh, always! Inspiration comes at the most random of points! Originally I had an idea for an interactive improvised video game, that morphed into board games instead. At the heart of a concept, it should always serve the audience a good time and allows for some type of story to take place. Also it needs to be a bit quirky. I enjoy traditional story telling as a medium, but for Fringe I want to see the eccentric, I want to see concepts that are experimental at their base. So who knows what we have planned for next year, but I promise it will fit the bill and make sure my audience is engaged and has fun!

7. What is your favorite thing to do in Indy besides Fringe? 

One of the best things about performing in the Csz arena, as we call it in Comedysportz, is that I get to do improv there as well as one of the ensemble members during Comedysportz matches. Improv is one of the most freeing, fear inducing performance mediums. Anything can happen but in the end you know that your teammates “have your back” and that takes away fear and helps develop a really welcoming family. I enjoy that a lot especially after a stress induced day, its nice to play a silly character or do some groan worthy puns. Also I love cos-playing at the local cons, especially Gencon when it comes to town!

Shows:

Tuesday Aug 21st, 6:00PM

Thursday Aug 23rd, 9:00PM

Saturday Aug 25th, 1:30PM

Sunday Aug 26th, 3:00PM

ComedySportz

IndyFringe '18: Come Play with Us! "Acting A Foo" with Jim from Speedway

“Acting a Foo” with Jim from Speedway

Local comedy troupe Act a Foo has a welcoming tag line: Come Play with Us! They've been bringing their brand of belly-busting laughs to Indy Fringe for I-forget-how-many-years and inviting audiences to join in on the fun. If you brave the stage, they will treat you like one of their own, and you will laugh for hours to come. Acting a Foo should be a prescription recognized by AMA and the FDA. 

We ran into Jim at two shows on Saturday: Let’s Play a Freakin' Board Game! and Act a Foo. One of the more memorable “volunteers from the audience,” we were thrilled to talk to this player who gave the Foos a run for their money.

Jim grew up in South Detroit and became an accountant with GM, which took him to eight states across the country. He landed in the Speedway area about twenty years ago and is now happily retired, a fact that Act A Foo used as a running joke. Jim has been attending IndyFringe for years. He was drawn to Act A Foo because he has taken improv classes at Comedy Sportz. “I only lasted eight weeks. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!” he said, laughing. “I did some stand-up comedy years ago around town, and I thought improv was much harder, so I really appreciate what these guys do!” he said indicating to Daniel Martin, Joshua Short, Joshua “Girth” Owens, and Aaron Grinter.

He also offered up a story that he said “has absolutely nothing to do with IndyFringe but it’s one of my favorite stories about my life, so maybe you want to share it.” Of course we do, Jim! Here goes: “A few years back, I went to visit my daughter who was stationed Montgomery Air Force Base in Alabama. A server in a restaurant took a liking to us and asked where we from. When I said we were originally from Detroit, she became excited and explained that she also grew up in Detroit. It turns out that we lived in the same neighborhood, on the same block, in the exact same house, only twenty years apart. I was 900 miles from home and found a person who lived in the same house I did!"

Jim says he lost count of how many shows he’s seen but says that his favorite so far has been Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind.  In addition to IndyFringe, he enjoys volunteering at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway--“the track”--as he calls it and taking his grandkids to ComedySportz "because I know they'll put on a clean show." Thanks for playing Jim! Thanks Act A Foo for reminding us the importance of play, and thanks ComedySportz for the playground!

To learn more about Act A Foo, read this post.

Joshua, Aaron, and Girth take audience suggestions for--I wasn't sure what this was. Might have been a dance move or a video game. 

The Foos have a habit of putting smiles on people's faces

Daniel teaches these audience volunteers the rules of the game. 

Aaron and Joshua sing a hilarious song to Jim about wanting to be his favorite son.

Jim and the Foos hanging out on the Avenue

Left to Right: Aaron Grinter, Jim, Daniel Martin

Front: Joshua Short

"Girth" stepped out of the frame when his phone rang. (His phone is always ringing.)

Act a Foo

Showing:

Friday Aug 24th, 6:00PM

Saturday Aug 25th, 6:00PM

ComedySportz

IndyFringe 16: Acting a Foo Is Only Half the Story: Local Comedians Share Some of Their Dreams and Struggles

We remember the first time we saw Act A Foo Improv Crew (AAF) at IndyFringe. The year was 2012, and we had just seen a couple of affecting but heart-wrenching dramas. We figured it was the perfect time to let off some steam and remind ourselves what a good belly laugh feels like. Turns out we saved the best for last.

Since then, we have seen AAF perform in every IndyFringe festival plus a few of their Sunday night shows and their Halloween and Christmas parties. We invite friends along to every AAF outing because the band of lovable misfits of AAF have a way of making everyone--especially women (hey, it's their gift!)--feel like the guest of honor. 

"Les enfants terribles"of AAF are always the life of the party at IndyFringe. (From bottom left: Daniel Martin, Ennis Adams, Joshua "The Girth" Owens, Jocque Carey, and Joshua Short.)

I was curious about this animated group whom I'd heard had all grown up together in Indianapolis, but I'd never met any of them in person. And here's the beauty of Fringe. It literally breaks down the walls of a guarded society.  Even the most timid can approach a stranger and walk away a friend. Thus was the case in 2013, when I was stepping out of IndyFringe theater, feeling a post-stage rush, when I spotted the enfants terribles crossing the street. Not knowing any of their names, I began to call to them, "Hello, Foo! Mr. Foo! Mr. Act A Foo!" A gentleman turned around and smiled as I ran up to greet him. It turned out to be the MC of the group Daniel Martin, and with one spirited greeting from a stranger on St. Clair Street, I now have a friend for life. 

Since then, we have had the joy of seeing these gentlemen perform in various plays and venues around town, and Larry and Daniel even wound up together on the set of an industrial film last year. Truly one of the greatest gifts of being involved in various capacities at IndyFringe for the past twelve years is the sheer number of people from all over the globe with whom I've crossed hands.

It's our last post of the festival, so I will impose on readers to enjoy a post that I hope will be more meaningful than sentimental. It seems a fine way to end our coverage of IndyFringe '16. 

I caught up with Martin this week to discuss their troupe, their sense of place in Indy, and their hopes as performers. My one regret is that I couldn't interview the whole group. (Future post idea: A night on the town with Act a Foo.) Make no mistake: although Martin takes the reigns of the group on-stage, this is a 100% team effort by all members, and each of them contributes equal effort and talent to their great success.

Maybe you're like us and have watched them slay the audience and wondered, "What were they like growing up? What did their poor mothers do?!" Incidentally, I mentioned this to member Joshua Short once, and he responded in all seriousness, "Please pray for them!" (Future post idea: Let's talk to the Foos' mothers!) 

In Carey's case, his mother sent him to Asante Children's Theater. As explained by Martin, Carey was "hyperactive" (his mother's words) as a child, and rather than squelch his enthusiasm and interest in making people laugh, she helped him find a way to channel his energy. It was here that Carey met Martin, Adams, and Short.

Martin and Owens met by way of church, and telling me so made Martin crack up. "Why is that funny?" I asked. "Because the two of us...in church. Talk about not fitting in!" The plot thickens: It turns out that Martin was not just a member of Harding Street Church of Christ--his father, Peter N. Martin, Sr. is the minister. Martin and Owens are still members of this church.  (Future post idea: What is it with Preachers' Kids growing up to be Fringe Artists?! One half of this duo--the handsome, debonair one--also falls into the category of PK-turned-Fringe Artist.)

Sidebar: We would be remiss not to include this tidbit. Martin's grandfather was journalist Fletcher Martin of the Chicago Sun Times, a WWII correspondent who also had the honor of introducing the city of Chicago to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. during a civil rights conference. Fletcher Martin was also the recipient of The Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University--the most prestigious journalism fellowship in the U.S.  

AAF started performing professionally as a group about seven years ago. Before that, they constantly "performed" for friends and family in various living rooms around Indy. When asked how they came with their name, Martin replied, "We figured we'd give ourselves a name that would give people an idea of what to expect at our shows. And that's just it. We invite people to 'act-a-foo' with us."

"I figured it was an admonishment administered by your mothers growing up," I offered. Martin laughed, "Well she was rather fond of saying to me as a boy, 'You act a foo' now, I'm gonna act a foo' later!'" Since launching professionally, members have come and gone from the group, but the current five foos remain thick as thieves.  

Each member of AAF continues to perform in various capacities around Indy. Adams recently appeared in Blues for an Alabama Sky at Spotlight Players; Carey is a frequent director of Asante Children's Theater; and Martin recently turned in a stunning performance as Tom Robinson in the sold out run of To Kill A Mockingbird at the Indiana Repertory Theater. 

Recently, however, Martin and Carey have set their sights on bigger markets. After years of dreaming about taking things to the next level, they took a leap of faith and moved to Atlanta, a burgeoning film and theater city. "One day, Jocque said, 'That's it. We gotta stop talking about it and start doing it. Come June, we're out of here,'" Martin explained. "Jocque is a schoolteacher and wanted to finish out the year before moving. By March, I realized he was serious, and I was like, 'I have got to get on the ball and make this happen!'" 

One might question the timing of such a move. Things have been going well for AAF these past few years. Martin shared the reason for their move. "We want to be professional actors. Not just comedians. We love bringing comedy, but we are also serious actors. We're always surprised that people are surprised that we also do drama.'" (It's this writer's opinion that comedians often make the best dramatic actors.) Although they have climbed the ladder of success in Indy, it does, unfortunately remain a small market for professionals. "In Atlanta, there are greater opportunities," and he adds somewhat ruefully, "More opportunities for actors who happen to be African American." 

Carey and Martin have settled in Atlanta but point out that Indy is just a "quick" (their words, not mine) eight-hour drive away, so they can still stay involved with AAF. For the past couple of months, they have been focused on the bare bone necessity of survival, which has thus far taken precedence over networking and auditioning. After IndyFringe closes, however, they will meet with directors and theaters, including Alliance Theater, which is Atlanta's equivalent of the IRT.

When asked what he misses about Indy, Martin quickly responded, "I miss being comfortable! We could always find work here, and now no one knows us. We are starting all over. It is going to be incredibly difficult and expensive to get established. I miss my family and friends and performing in Indy, but honestly that comfort  kept me here longer than it should have." Martin, although not starry eyed about his future as a performer remains hopeful. "I need to get my feet wet in the film industry. I still prefer the stage. It's more thrilling. You don't get to do several takes on the stage. You have to sustain your range and depth of emotions night after night. You have to reach so much deeper. But working in film will give me more experience and credibility. And right now my main goal in life is to be as uncomfortable as possible." 

Martin still feels inextricably connected to Indy and plans on returning often for the foreseeable future. "We're (AAF) grateful to Indy for supporting us and for all the publicity we've been getting." He takes a deep breath, and gets lost in a thought. "What it is it?" I asked. "I just--. Can I be honest about something, just speaking something from my heart?" 

He continues. "We are so excited to be featured on local TV stations and various local media outlets. We couldn't be more grateful for that coverage--really we are very thankful. But the truth is, we are constantly referred to as an 'African American' Comedy Group.' Every time it happens, we shake our heads and wonder why people continue to see things in terms of race. The problem with that kind of descriptor is that it suggests that our comedy is only for African Americans, and that is just not the case. At various times, we've had white people in our troupe, so it's also not accurate." 

I encouraged Martin to continue. "We want to be known for our art and craft, not our skin color. We just want to make people laugh, and the truth is, we're pretty darn good at it. If people who have never seen one of our shows see us described as 'African American Comedy Group,' they might not feel welcome, thinking that we have a preferred audience. You know, we're just grown men who grew up together around Indy. We represent Indy, not just certain demographic groups. I say this not to complain or create friction. We just want everyone to know that all are welcome to come play with us and make art with us and act a foo with us!" 

Although there a couple of other improv groups in town, AAF takes pride in the fact that they built their group one by one over the years. They didn't have a theater to support them. They had to find their own venues and figure out how to reach the most people without an established audience. IndyFringe has gone a long way in helping them grow their audience. 

Martin concludes, "In a Fringe setting, it's okay for anyone to talk to anyone. When it's just me--just Daniel--outside of Fringe, I'm always open to meeting people on the street. But at Fringe, people feel more open to greet me. It provides a safe place to get out of your comfort zone." (As Larry puts it, "Fringe audiences just don't have the 'ol broomstick up the ass.") 

Now if you really want to get over your comfort zone, head down to IndyFringe for AAF's closing weekend to get a belly ache from laughing for your foo' head off.

Saturday 8/27 3pm
Sunday 8/28 1:30 pm

Don't be a stranger now. If you see one of the foos out and about, say, "Hello, Foo!"

Daniel capturing a selfie--or an "ussie" for plural, we decided, at last year's AAF Halloween party.

IndyFringe16: Loren Niemi: Bad Brother...Good Human

Loren Niemi, a storyteller based out of Minneapolis, is perhaps best known in these parts as one-half of the duo that has brought Indy 55 Minutes of Sex, Drugs, and Audience Participation for several years. Niemi is back this year with his brand new solo autobiographical piece Bad Brother. A performer around North America for decades, IndyFringe marks the debut of this show, which Niemi has been writing--or trying to write--for over twenty years:

I was in a religious order - you know, poverty, celibacy, obedience - I was good at one of them. It was the 60s and revolution was in the air. This is the story of how I entered a Catholic and left a Buddhist anti-war peacenik with a FBI file. (from the IndyFringe program guide)

Niemi has been receiving a lot of well deserved attention for this particular show, so I thought I would add to that conversation some of Niemi's thoughts on developing and refining the show: 

"My show has been in development for 20 years, which is how long it's taken to burn away any residue of guilt, shame, anger, or grief about who I was when it takes place. What I want the audience to see is that the challenges to peace and justice in the era of 'Nam and Flower Power are still with us though perhaps not as starkly generational. 

"I've spent most of life balancing art and politics as work and as necessity. I've alternated between being highly nomadic and being rooted in specific communities and arts organizations. It is all good. It is (almost) all a story worth the telling." 

IndyFringe has proven itself an incubator once again, and Niemi has been grateful for the opportunity not only to present a show so close to his heart, but also to get feedback from audiences after the performances. Niemi says he is getting a wide range of responses to the show, including people of his generation eager to share with him some of the experiences of the era that still haunt them. 

The Larry half of this duo offered that the play conjured a painful memory about losing a good friend from high school to the war. "I hadn't even known he had been sent to Vietnam when I read his obituary in the Detroit Free Press while I was away at college. The draft dictated that any kid who couldn't afford college was sent to the war. It was discrimination, plain and simple. The government decided that certain members of our society were valued more than others." Talking with Niemi after the show about his lost friend offered him the chance to relieve some of the guilt and agony, as Niemi understood all too well how deeply that pain is rooted. 

On the flip side, Niemi also notes that he is surprised by a younger generation's response to his show. Evidently, perhaps due to pop culture and bad film, there is a misnomer that this generation produced nothing but peaceful, love-making flower children, and that everything was harmonious. He shared that he is at least happy that younger people are showing an interest in the show--or as he humorously puts it, "politely suffering through my spiel about why they should attend."  

Explaining the show to say, millennials, who seem to have a rather shallow understanding of what was actually happening at the time, has proved to be flummoxing for Niemi. "They're looking at you kind of wide-eyed and speechless when you offer a more realistic picture of how things were, and you get the feeling that maybe they prefer the myth over the truth, " Niemi offered. 

The other half of this duo, who was not yet born during the riots of 67, felt especially connected to his story about being refused service in a barbecue joint on account of being white. As someone who was born and raised in a place where the stronghold of segregation is only now begining to deteriorate, I was eager to hear of first-hand experiences.  As he walked the audience through his emotions of what discrimination feels like on the receiving end, I could feel his reticence to explain to the proprietor that he wasn't "one of those kinds of white people." Incidentally, his avid descriptions of the joint also made me really hungry for barbecue, so a prospective attendee might do well to eat before the show. 

As a professional storyteller Niemi is no stranger to sending his stories out into the world and letting the chips fall as they may. An artist is never at liberty to instruct an audience how to receive a message. Clearly, his stories from Bad Brother have a been an important touchstone for many at IndyFringe. As he says in his book, The New Book of Plots, "Storytelling always has been the primary means of articulating our fundamental core values, of describing who we are as individuals and peoples, and of confirming our peceptions of what it means to be human. It shapes the chaos of the ever-changing world and speaks to what is 'right' and 'true.'"

Niemi's Bad Brother concludes its run this weekend at the Phoenix Underground:

Fri 8/29 9 pm
Sat 8/27 4:30 pm
Sun 8/28 1:30 pm

On the off chance that this your first exposure to Niemi's work, you might be of the misconception that he is a very serious man.

Well, here he is photobombing like a boss with our friends in Act a Foo Improv Crew! I believe his words were, "I'll show you how it's done."

Loren Niemi proving that "Gentlemen of a Certain Age" are not afraid to steal anyone's thunder.

IndyFringe16: "Short Fringe Theater" Gives Local Artist Courage to Press On

IndyFringe, while it features many professional artists, is still at its heart an incubator for new artists and new performance pieces. IndyFringe is constantly evolving to ensure that these new voices and new stories have a place to grow. 

This year marks the inauguration of "Short Fringe," an intimate performance space inside the beer tent:

"Every night we present a new, unjuried bill of 15-minute performances. Brilliant monologues? Plays in progress? Comedy improv? Cabaret singers? Avant-garde dance? Drag? Bring an open mind because we have it all!

"On weekends, we just double the performances and the fun! Kids shows--including magic, puppets, and storytelling--fall on Saturdays on Sundays.

Every Sunday night is a juried 'Best of the Week' of Short Fringe performances, and the last weekend is the juried 'Best of the Fest,' with a few wildcards thrown in."--IndyFringe program

We were pleased to check out a couple of these performances opening weekend. One was a polished piece by Les Kurkendaal of West Hollywood, who brought his story from his tour with The Moth. With just a microphone in hand and no props or lighting, Kurkendaal gave the delighted audience a chance to feel what it would be like to attend a Moth story event in New York City. 

On the flip side, we saw a local artist who used her time slot to pitch and refine a show she's been dreaming of doing for the past couple of years. In When You Marry, A Look at 1940s Propaganda Aimed at Women," (a working title) Janice Hibbard read from an actual text book that belonged to the Indiana School for Girls, and offered a comical yet thought-provoking commentary on the messages women have been sent through the decades, and how the echoes of those messages can still be heard.



Hibbard shares some very "helpful" advice that was administered to prospective brides of the 1940s at the Short Fringe stage.


I got to sit down with Hibbard and discuss how she came up with the show idea and how the Short Fringe stage has helped her refine her vision.

"For a long time, I had this vision of a show about housewives from the 1950s, riffing on the old instructional videos aimed at women of the time. I wanted to write about how women felt about constantly being reminded how to be a 'respectable woman,'" Hibbard began.

"But something wasn't gelling in my idea. Then I found this book back stage at a local theater, and we all started reading it and laughing hysterically, except it wasn't funny when you actually thought about it. I got to thinking of how I would have felt as a young woman or girl who wanted to please my teachers and parents, and how I would have received these messages. That's when I got the idea to do a one-woman show about this book and similar propaganda and intersperse the narrative of the book with my own ideas of what it's like to be married," she continued. 

The idea of doing a one-person show began to take root in Hibbard about a year ago. "I watched my friends and contemporaries leaving established theater groups to branch out and go solo, and I started to feel ready for such a challenge. When I heard what Fringe was doing this year with the Short Fringe stage, I took a deep breath, and signed up for a slot.

"Before I took the stage, I started grappling with doubts and fears. 'What if this flops? What if people get mad that I'm reading out of a book? What if they hate what I'm doing or think that I'm confirming the messages of these instructional books--or think that I'm making fun of marriage? That's not what I'm doing. I'm just wondering how these women felt; I'm exploring that." 

After her performance, she shared some thoughts on how performing the piece-in-progress helped her.

"I got immediate response on what parts got a reaction from people. I'm getting a better feel for how to structure the show. I feel encouraged to press on."

When asked what her next step will be for this piece, she replied, "Write. Edit. Finish. Perform." As an actor, director, and stage manager, Hibbard is well connected in the local theater scene and has a few theaters she'd like to approach. "I've also been checking out other Fringe festivals that are reasonably close to Indy," she added.

Born and raised in Munster, Indiana, Hibbard moved to Indy to attend college. In 2006 she bought a house on the east side, where she lives with her husband, Eddie. 

Hibbard has been involved in theater all her life, from performing in community theaters around Munster as a child, to teaching piano lessons as an adult here in Indy. After graduating college, however, she began to feel that her options as a performance artist in Indy were limited to just a handful of theaters, which frankly did not always perform works that compelled her. For about five years, she feared she would never get to do the type of meaningful theater she'd dreamed about her whole life.

"But around 2010, things started shifting in Indy. New, independent theater groups started popping up all over town. I got involved with Q-Artistry, and through their New Plays Festival, I was able to write and stage my first play. (Imaginary That, IndyFringe 2012). Since then I've volunteered for every role there is in theater--not just acting, but directing and stage managing. I find the Indy theater scene to be very accepting, and there's a lot of collaboration between groups--we don't seem to have rivalries or bad blood among different groups at our level. I've grown so much the last few years."

When she's not busy with theater, Hibbard can be found at CitYoga, Half Price Books, or Books-a-Million. She loves Indiana and says she can make a vacation out of simply going to Bloomington for the day to take in the charm and visit the bookstores. Her favorite place to hang out is the Sinking Ship in SoBro because of its incredible vegan options. Next to theater, she loves nothing more than relaxing at home with her husband and her dog, going on Netflix binges. 

Congratulations on facing your fears and taking the Short Fringe stage at a moment's notice, Janice!

 
The future looks very bright for emerging local performance artist/writer Janice Hibbard.

IndyFringe16: Spotlight on Volunteer Andrew Ball

What's one of the greatest assets of IndyFringe? 

IndyFringe has the best staff of volunteers of any Fringe festival, to which I can attest as I've participated in four Fringe festivals besides Indy. Some festivals simply don't have the community support that IndyFringe has, and performers are left to secure their own staff to run the house and box office.

At IndyFringe, all performers have to do is show up and put on a good show--that is once they have completed the labor of love of creating, perfecting, and marketing--and the rest of the work is completed by volunteers. Whereas performers can earn monetary profits from their efforts, a volunteer's only reward is a sense of satisfaction for helping the arts scene in Indy. 

Perhaps you've seen the volunteers in their purple t-shirts. Did you know that some of them work ten-hour days? Next time you're in line for a performance, and a volunteer is assisting you, say, "Hello! Pleased to meet you! Thank you for what you do!" (If you want quicker lines, remember, cash is king, people!) Without the volunteers, your ticket might be twice the price! While you're out this weekend, why not buy a volunteer a beer and a slice of one of Jazzy Doris's delicious homemade pies in the beer tent? (Jazzy D. is also the pie chef at Mimi Blue's Meatballs!) 

Because the level of success that IndyFringe enjoys would not be possible without the tireless support of volunteers, we wanted to turn the spotlight on someone you've probably encountered at one of the many comedy shows at ComedySportz this year.

Andrew Ball has been volunteering for IndyFringe for five years. Ball has lived in Indy for 24 years and called Dallas home previous to that.

"I believe strongly in what's happening at IndyFringe, and the incredible way it affects our community. I love helping artists and seeing people enjoy themselves," says Ball.

Volunteers work long, hard hours, and one of the perks of doing so is that they can earn tickets to shows through their service. "I have never used a comp ticket," explained Ball. "I always pay for the shows I see because I believe the artists deserve my financial support, and the shows are simply worth the investment."

Now that is what we call generosity!

(I hope it's safe to say that performers are thrilled when volunteers attend their shows and are more than happy that IndyFringe offers them comp tickets to their shows. The more, the merrier!)

An accomplished artist himself, Andrew is a sculptor and sits on the board of Primary Colours. 

Primary Colours is an organization of volunteers dedicated to serving visual art and culture and connecting artists with their communities. We’re based in Indianapolis and we do everything we can to support art and the people who create it in our own backyard.

Our Mission
To facilitate interaction between visual artists and the community.

Our Purpose
To create and sustain a thriving environment for the visual arts through unique exhibitions, cultural events, and awesome resources for up-and-coming artists.

--Primary Colours Website

Ball participates in and facilitates many of Primary Colour's fascinating programming, including creating art for Installation Nation and Art vs. Art, and he helps organize Paint Day for Kids, which can be described as an Art vs. Art event for kids! As far as creating art himself, Ball's favorite "medium" has been creating temporary art galleries out of shipping containers. 

Thank you for your service to performing artists and for ensuring that Indy will have a long and prosperous life as a community of local artists, Andrew! By the way, we think your smile lights up a room!

Andrew was fun to interview, but because he is known and loved by so many passersby, we had a few pleasant interruptions. Here he is greeting a friend on friendly Mass Ave. When you see Andrew--or any volunteers in a purple shirt--say hello and give them a high-five! (And that aforementioned beer and/or pie!)

Thank you to all IndyFringe volunteers on behalf of the artists and patrons! We wouldn't be here without you.

IndyFringe16: Tortillo 2. Catalyst Repertory Wants to Take Away Your Crap

The multiplicity of shows offered every year at IndyFringe is simply astounding. From storytelling to drama to musicals to dance to acoustic concerts...and then there's this: the junk food offering. 

IndyFringe poster woman, Casey Ross, has unleashed the long awaited sequel of her 2009 offering Tortillo, to IndyFringe16 in Tortillo 2. If you saw the first installment, you recall that someone had coked the chips at a snack food company. In Tortillo 2, you won't believe it, but someone has done it...again!

Tortillo! is getting a sequel! Hailed by critics as "a series of disjointed dialogues held together by profanity," the sequel to the celebrated fringe comedy, promises to ask the important questions - like, "How is there cocaine in these f@*king chips - again?" Join the returning cast for the sequel of a play that proudly "relies on a lot of crass slapstick and dick jokes." Recommended 16+; it's a bit crass. --(IndyFringe Program guide)

On the particular night we saw it, one half of this duo had completed a triathlon that morning and was exhausted by 10:30 p.m. (The handsome, debonair one, if you're wondering.) We pressed on through the driving rain and flooded sidewalks of Mass Ave and found our seats. As the lights dimmed (and Pete Townsend sang), I hoped we would stay awake.

Staying awake was not a problem. Nuclear reactors don't have the energy of these actors. Equally impressive was the impeccable timing. This was a well rehearsed show that ran like a finely tuned, well, nuclear reactor. 

Watching these foul-mouthed sleuths meddle again in the chip-coking business was a shot of caffeine every 30 seconds from start to finish. I burned as many calories as Larry did completing a triathlon just by watching it. Now that's what I call exercise!

The cast of Tortillo 2, written by Casey Ross and directed by Fedora Dave Matthews, includes Robert Webster Jr., Davey Pelsue, LisaMarie Smith, Ryan Powell, Tristan Ross (not pictured), and Matt Anderson.

We caught up with Ross before the opening, and she shared some thoughts about her show and what it’s like running a small theater group in Indy. (Catalyst Repertory Production, formerly Casey Ross Productions).

“Indy is large enough to live life like a city but small enough where I can't really be out too long without running into a friend. There's something very lovely and unpretentious about that. 

“We run shows year-round, now. We started as a Fringe troupe, and this season we did lots of heavy shows, and we didn't want to lose sight of where we started, how we as a troupe met, and our roots. I want to audience to have fun. I want them to forget something that's eating away at them, or getting them down so they can just laugh at our stupid little show that we're trying to put the best energy into. Long story short, we want to take away a little bit of the crap and leave you with a smile by making fools of ourselves. We did lots of heavy this year, we want to make you laugh and laugh with you this Fringe.

  

"We're pretty new as an official company. This is our eighth Fringe, but only our second year as a company other than just myself, Casey Ross, writing. It's very important to me that we're listed as a repertory group: We're a rep company because we're a family. We know each other deeply, work together often, take care of each other, push each other and that leads us to be able to give you the most honest entertainment we can muster. We're a Repertory company because we believe in the family and team. Also...no one else would put up with us...” 

So remember that, Indy! Her name is Casey Ross, and she wants to take away your crap! Mighty generous of you, Casey!

Indy playwright Casey Ross. Your crap doesn't stand a chance with her.


Tortillo 2 continues its run at TOTS 2:

Fri. Aug 26th @ 9:00 PM
Sat. Aug 27th @ 4:30 PM