INDIANAPOLIS — After producing the Midwest premiere of Pearl Cleage’s Flyin’ West in 1994, the Indiana Repertory Theatre will bring back this story of sisterhood, history, and perseverance this month as part of its 50th Anniversary Season. Directed by Raelle Myrick-Hodges, the show will run on the OneAmerica Mainstage January 11 – February 4, 2023. This is the second of two productions this season that is part of the INclusion Series, which celebrates diverse storytelling and hidden stories of our shared history.
Set in the now-historic town of Nicodemus, Kansas, 35 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Flyin’ West reveals a little-known chapter in American history — the creation of all-Black towns after the Homestead Act was passed. In fact, Indiana once was home to at least 30 of these settlements established in the decades between 1820 and 1850.
The play follows four brave African American women homesteaders and pioneers as they fight a harsh and unforgiving wilderness and work hard to build better lives for themselves. Their courage is tested when an unexpected and deadly threat invades their home in this surprising story set in the Old West.
The IRT will host multiple Community Conversations and Talk Backs during the production. Led by the Director of Inclusion and Community Partnerships Devon Ginn, the IRT is also planning to launch a new podcast during Flyin’ West, which will share in-depth discussions, reflections, and insights into the play, its themes, and related experiences.
Tickets are $25 and up, and are available online at irtlive.com or by calling 317-317-635-5252. The Indiana Repertory Theatre is located at 140 W. Washington St.
