IPC News and Notes: May 27, 2024

Happy summer! Welcome to issue #3 of our occasional communication to keep you updated on IPC happenings. It ain’t fancy, but we promise to make it informative. This one’s jam-packed, folx.

In this issue:

•  Register now for IPC large group meeting: July 14 at UIndy featuring Paige Scott

• News from Naptown African American Theatre Collective: auditions, classes, volunteering

• Indianapolis Black Theatre Company seeks founding members

• Free playwriting workshop with Andrew Kramer

• Deadline: June 1 to submit to Phoenix Theatre

• New Scene Night policy: three writer minimum

• …Scene Night? What’s that? Join us to have your work-in-progress read!

• Upcoming shows involving IPC members & friends

Register now: IPC’s next large group meeting. Sunday, July 14 at the University of Indianapolis Studio Theatre. Featuring:

• Dr. Grant Williams, Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Indianapolis, who'll discuss UIndy's theatre programs and how local playwrights can take advantage of university offerings.

• Indy's own Paige Scott. Paige is an actor, singer, playwright, composer/lyricist, director, and performance artist. Her recent collaboration with KT Peterson, Razor Creek, was featured in the Iowa New Plays Workshop. Most notably, her Bronte-based musical J. Eyre was voted "Best Original Work" by Broadway World Indianapolis in 2018 and has been produced nationally. Paige will share her origin story and offer pearls of wisdom for the aspiring playwright.

• Participate in a writing exercise.

Plus, as always, there'll be time for networking and fun with our stellar community of local theatre artists. (Also: snacks. Because we love snacks.) Everyone is welcome! Please RSVP via Eventbrite.

Lots of news from our fabulous colleagues at Naptown African American Theatre Collective (NAATC), Indy’s first Black Equity company:

• 2024-25 season auditions June 3 & 4. Sign up here.

• Volunteers needed for events in June & beyond. Learn more and volunteer here.

• Free classes in acting, tech skills, and the business of theatre! Register for the Education for All program here.

We’re so excited to welcome the brand-new Indianapolis Black Theater Company (IBTC), coming soon to The District Theatre. They’re looking for founding writers, actors, and directors! Learn more and sign up here.

FREE Playwriting Workshop: You should totally sign up for this FREE workshop with dramaturg Andrew Kramer. Andrew is literary manager for American Lives Theatre and a wonderful playwriting instructor. June 5-8 in Carmel, Indiana.

Submission Opportunity Reminder, Deadline June 1: The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis invites submissions of sketches, short scenes and songs for its 2024 holiday production of A Very Phoenix Xmas 16: (Insert Witty Title Here)! We are asking for your funniest bits, hottest takes and skewed satirical viewpoints related to the holiday season! This year's theme will be Holiday Movies! We're asking all sketches to draw inspiration from the characters, plots, titles, and tropes from the endless array of films related to the holidays. Submissions are due June 1! Submit to Christel DeHaan Artistic Director Constance Macy at [email protected]. Requirements:

• Scripts between 1-8 pages

• Maximum of five characters

• Keep specific character traits to a minimum (i.e, "MUST be bilingual for this bit to work")

• If submitting a song, please send lyrics and a short voice memo

All submissions will be reviewed and curated by Constance Macy and Claire Wilcher, who will be directing the production and creating additional material. Should your piece be chosen, you may be asked to edit or incorporate feedback based on the needs of the production, and you will receive a stipend of $400.

New Scene Night Policy: We need a minimum of three writers signed up for Scene Night by Tuesday afternoon. (You still have until Wednesday to send pages.) If we don’t have three writers, we’ll postpone until the following week. Please continue to RSVP to Scene Night by contacting Writer Coordinator Extraordinaire Rick Plummer, either at his personal email address or at [email protected].

…what’s Scene Night, anyway? This is the main way that IPC supports you and your writing! Bring 10 pages of whatever scene you're working on. Our excellent actors will read it aloud and our community of writers will give you constructive feedback--or just cheer you on! Bringing pages is free for IPC members; $10 nonmembers. Or come be an audience member or actor for free. Most Wednesdays via Zoom, 6:30-9:00 PM ET.  Email us at [email protected] if you need details re: signing up.

UPCOMING SHOWS involving IPC members & friends:

IndyFringe’s Div(x)Fest: A Celebration of Women and Nonbinary Theatre Makers presents a series of new plays by local writers. Featuring IPC actors and writers Wendy Brown, Lori Hermann, Kendall Noelle Maxwell, and Emily Worrell. And ticket prices are pay what you can! June 6, 7, 9.

Hyperion Players presents I Love My Zombie. Written and directed by IPC writer Brad Staggs and featuring Staggs and IPC member Becky Schlomann. June 6-9. Talkback after June 7 show. Arts for Lawrence.

Got an upcoming show? Reply to this email with details (including a ticket link & the IPC folks involved). We’d love to feature you in an upcoming newsletter.

Join the IPC Facebook Group. Lots of news and opportunities get shared here first!