C.V. Rhodes to Keynote 1st Indy Book Fest June 16 at Indianapolis Central Library

Speed City Sisters in Crime member C.V. (“Crystal”) Rhodes will be the keynote speaker at  the First Annual Indy Book Fest, July 16 at the Indianapolis Public Library.

Ms. Rhodes will kick off a full day of programming on the theme “Words of Strength.  Sponsored by the Library’s African American History Committee, the program begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. 

Author and publisher Valerie J. Lewis Coleman will be a featured speaker during breakout sessions.

Ms. Rhodes is an award-winning playwright and author. Written Word Magazine selected Rhodes as one of the Ten Up and Coming Authors in the Midwest. Her play “Stoops” won the BTA Award for Best Original Writing. She is the author of numerous romance novels. She and fellow Sister in Crime L. Barnette Evans co-write the humorous mystery Grandmothers Inc. series. They will be available to meet with readers and sign copies of their books.

Lillie Evans' Play "Take My Hand" Set for 6 Performances at IndyFringe Onyx Festival

TAKE MY HAND (A Blues Man's Path to Gospel), written by Speed City Sisters in Crime author and playwright, Lillie Evans will be presented at the 7^th annual Indyfringe Onyx Festival.  There will be six performances beginning March 23, 2018.

The drama centers on the life of Thomas A. Dorsey, a self-taught piano man, singer, and composer, who struggles with the fact that he is not recognized, appreciated or compensated by white music publishers during the 1920's and 30's. 

Dorsey struggled for years, straddling the fence between blues and gospel, in an effort to combine the two styles in a way acceptable to churches.  He remained uncertain which path to take until an unfortunate tragedy threatened to end his career and possibly his life.  Through the ordeal, emerged one of the best known gospel songs of all time, 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord.'

Lillie is an author and playwright, and a long-time member of Speed City Sisters in Crime. Her writing includes the comic mystery Grandmothers, Inc. series, co-written with fellow Speed City Sisters In Crime member Crystal Rhodes.  The series includes two novels (Grandmothers, Incorporated and Saving Sin City) and two plays (Grandmothers, Incorporated and Stakeout). The play Grandmothers, Incorporated was produced Off Broadway at the Billie Holiday Theater in New York City, where it enjoyed a twelve week run.  Lilly also wrote the play Is God Calling My Name? Her play Take My Hand was selected for a reading at the prestigious National Black Theater Festival.  

You can find out more about Lillie at www.lilliebarnettevans.com or www.grandmothersincorporated.com 

Take My Hand in part of the IndyFringe Onyx Festival celebrating  African American playwrights.  

The 7th Annual OnyxFest Onyx Fest is Indianapolis' first and only theater festival dedicated to the stories of African American playwrights. The inaugural Onyx Fest in 2012, was developed in response to the lack of diversity on stage and in audiences of Indianapolis' theaters; except the IndyFringe Theater. IndyFringe has actively worked towards embracing diversity in the Indianapolis theater scene and these efforts have yielded fruit by working with African American playwrights to change the Indianapolis theatrical landscape of storytellers, actors and audiences at the IndyFringe Theater. Onyx Fest is another step in the IndyFringe Theater's commitment to provide support and a performance venue that is inclusive of all playwrights who make up the Indianapolis community.  

Dates:  March 23/24/25 - March 30/31/April 1

Location:  Indyfringe Basile Theater, 719 E. St. Clair, Indianapolis, Indiana

Tickets information:  www.indyfringe.org or /317-308-9800