Crystal Rhodes' Play "Lillian and Beulah" Performances at Conner Prairie Feb 9, 16 & 23

Speed City Sisters in Crime member Crystal Rhodes’ latest play, Lillian and Beulah, will be presented each Saturday during February at the Lilly Theatre at Conner Prairie.

The play is part of Conner Prairie’s Black Hoosiers: Untold Tales, honoring Black History Month. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door.

Crystal is an experienced playwright, with her plays being produced across the country, including New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. She wrote Lillian and Beulah when she was playwright-in-residence at Conner Prairie. She recently won a national playwriting competition.

The play centers on real-life character Lillian Thomas Fox, a civic activist and newspaper writer who rose to prominence in the late 1800s. She founded the Indianapolis Women’s Improvement Club and was an organizing member of the Indianapolis Anti-Lynching League. In 1900, she became the first African-American woman in the nation to write regularly for a white newspaper, The Indianapolis News.

Well-known local actress Gabrielle  Patterson plays the part of Lillian Fox. Patterson received rave reviews for her performance at Fringe Festival in the Sisters in Crime play “Deadbeat.”

Remaining Performances at February 9, 16 and 23 from 7 – 9 p.m.  Lilly Theatre is located in the Conner Prairie Welcome Center, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Indiana.

Crystal Rhodes Play Selected for American Stage Theatre 21st Century New Play Festival

Writing and Winning!

By 

Crystal V. Rhodes

In January 2017,

Crystal Rhodes

I presented a play that I wrote to the Speed City Chapter of Sisters in Crime critique group for review.  The title of the play is The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin.  Sisters in Crime is an international organization that offers networking, advice and support to mystery writers. 

Although I do write cozy mystery novels,  The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin is a play, but it’s not a mystery.  It is a heart wrenching story about an African American family that harbors a fourteen year old Japanese American boy who has escaped from one of the U.S. sanctioned internment camps during World War II.  

I’ve been writing novels for years.  I’ve been writing plays even longer, and presenting my work to this critique group was the first time I ever sought the opinion of those outside the theatrical community about one of my plays.  In my opinion, good writing is good storytelling, no matter the form.   

The members of the SIC critique group are excellent writers.  I respect the talent in this group, and trust their judgment.  Their suggestions are usually right on point, and the suggestions they made about the characters and the dialogue in my play proved more than helpful. 

Writers look for different things when joining a critique group.  Since I’m a versatile writer, one of the things I was seeking in such a group was fellow writers who were open to the challenge of appraising different types of work.  That’s what I consider a winning critique group.  I found what I was looking for in the Speed City Sisters in Crime organization.

Speaking of winning, I entered The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin in  two theatre festivals.  Last year, the play was chosen as one of a select few to be read at the National Black Theatre Festival.  Less than a month ago The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin was selected out of 500 entries as one of the winners of the American Stage Theatre 21st Century New Play Festival!  

From my point of view, being a writer who is a part of a good critique group is a real winner.
_________________________________________
C.V. Rhodes is a member of the Speed City Sisters in Crime chapter and co-author, with L. Barnett Evans, of the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series.  Visit their website at www.grandmothersinc.com also visit Rhodes’ romantic suspense website at www.crystalrhodes.com.

Crowds Lining Up for Fringe Hit DEADBEAT! DON'T BE LEFT OUT; GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

Crowds line up early for Monday nights performance of DEADBEAT at the IndyFringe Theater. 

Don't miss out. Only three performances left:  
Thursday, August 23 at 7:30  Friday, August 24 at 6:00  Sunday, August 26 at 7:30

Don't miss on THE HIT show of 2018 Indy Fringe

TO ORDER TICKETS, CLICK HERE, or go to www.indyfring.org or call 317-292-4429 or 317-292-6910

Praise Pouring in for DEADBEAT.

Deadbeat, the one-act murder mystery play written and produced by Speed City Sisters in Crime, is getting a high praise from the media and audiences alike.  

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR did a feature article on Deadbeat. It was singled out among the 62 performances at this year's Fringe Fest.  To see the article, CLICK HERE

The play premiered on August 16 as part of 2018 Indy Fringe Fest, and will run through August 26.  

ORDER TICKETS, CLICK HERE,  go to www.indyfringe.org or call 317-292-4429 or 317-292-6910

Here are two reviews from those in the audience for the premiere.  

DEADBEAT!  WHAT AN OPENING!

By Crystal V. Rhodes

After more than a year of preparation, the play Deadbeat, written and produced by Speed City Sisters in Crime, opened Thursday, August 16th.  Directed by Deborah Asante, the premiere was filled with drama, and it wasn’t all on stage.

Deadbeat was scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m.  At 4:30 p.m. stage manager, Barbara Michelle Dabney received a message from Alicia Simms, the very talented actress who plays the character of Celeste in the three person play.  Alicia's words were the last ones that anyone associated with a live theatrical production wants to hear.   The actress was stuck out of state and couldn’t get a flight back to Indy in time for the show.  Deadbeat. has no understudies and it was to made its debut in four in a half hours.  What in the world were they going to do?

Michelle Dabney had the answer.  As the stage manager for Deadbeat she attended every rehearsal for the past six weeks.  She knew every line, every stage cue.  When the lights went up on the Opening Night of Deadbeat, Michelle stepped on stage and transformed into Celeste.  The Theatre Arts Major from Indiana State University nailed it.  She didn’t miss a beat.  Together with veteran actress, Gabrielle Patterson, whose command of her part as Abby was flawless, the sheer force of their combined talents brought Deadbeat to life.  The ladies ruled the stage! 

Alicia has returned to Indy and will resume her role as Celeste for the rest of Deadbeat’s run.  Michelle will return to running the show as stage manager, but Speed City Sisters in Crime owes the young lady a very big thank you for stepping up to save a very special day.

DEADBEAT A SKILLED, NUANCED MYSTERY

by Cheryl Shore

If you like your murder mystery infused with convincing psychological elements, you need to see Deadbeat, directed by Deborah Asante, at the Basile Theater as part of Indy Fringe. I was fortunate to see the premier on August 16. 

Everyone is in the dark at the beginning of the one act play, literally and figuratively. When the first light shines on the stage, we see the body of a man (Matt, the “deadbeat”), and two frantic women (Abigail and Celeste). Each of the two women is convinced the other committed the murder. The dialogue between Abigail and Celeste helps the audience understand the characteristics of the deceased and each woman’s conflicted relationship with him. The voice of the dead man helps develop the possible motive and gives more of the backstory concerning the trio.  

The true character of each woman, and the complex relationship between them, is revealed through their conversation. By the play’s conclusion the audience knows the Who and the Why behind the murder.  

Deadbeat’s actors were skilled in revealing the nuances of characters. Barielle Patterson played Abigail and Zach Hyatt played Matt.  On opening night, Barbara Michell Dabney stepped in and played Celeste without missing a beat. 


This is an intriguing whodunit. Be sure to see it before the final performance on August 26! 

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT -- DEADBEAT READY FOR PREMIERE ! ! !

Tonight, we had our very last rehearsal for DEADBEAT. The next time the actors will go through the play, it will be at its opening -- LIVE -- on Thursday night, August 16.

It has been an amazing journey so far. The play really is quite wonderful and you should really enjoy it. And all of you -- the entire chapter, all of its members -- should be proud of what we have been able to do. Some 15 months ago, this play wasn't on any of our radars. And now, look what we have done. We are about to premiere a fully developed one-act play.

TO ORDER TICKETS, CLICK HERE,  go to www.indyfringe.org or call 317-292-4429 or 317-292-6910

Although not everyone took part in the writing, this truly has been a chapter project because the writing and storytelling were only the first steps. Many of you have helped with logistics, legal, marketing and promotions, graphics and designs, and in providing props. And without help in all those areas (and more), this production could never have seen the light of day.

So I applaud us all.

But we are not at the end yet. We have to continue pushing to get people in the seats. We have appeared in Senior Living, and will appear in an article in the Greenfield paper and in the Indy Star. Plus, we had an interview on No Limits on WFYI public radio.

Send out another eblast to your friends and family, and hand out any postcards you have. 

The Indy Friinge Previews will be Wednesday night, August 15, in the large, white beer tent across the street from the Fringe, which is at 917 E. St. Clair St. You really can't miss it.

The previews (1 minute presentations on each play in this year's Indy Fringe Fest) starts at 6 p.m. DEADBEAT is in Group B, which means we will be on some time between 6:35 and 6:50.  Come see the show and talk it up to everyone you meet.

Thank you all again.

Michael   

Get Your Tickets NOW! DEADBEAT Is a Winner!

DEADBEAT is a WINNER for SISTERS IN CRIME

By Crystal V. Rhodes

Deadbeat is a winner!  

The One Act play written and produced by Speed City Sisters in Crime mystery writers will make its debut at the 2018 Indy Fringe Play Festival on August 16th, and my predication is that Deadbeat is going to be THE play for Fringe audiences to see!

The Speed City Chapter is making history! The Indiana Chapter is the first chapter of the international Sisters in Crime organization to write and produce a theatrical production. 

TO ORDER TICKETS, CLICK HERE,  go to www.indyfringe.org or call 317-292-4429 or 317-292-6910

Am I biased?  Yes.  I am a member of Speed City Sisters in Crime. It’s hard not to crow over such an achievement, especially after having the pleasure of attending a recent DEADBEAT rehearsal.

Under the skilled direction of Deborah Asante, founder and Artistic Director of the Asante Children’s Theatre, DEADBEAT has made quite a transition from the page to the stage. 

Described as a “one act play of murder, malice and mystery” with a touch of humor, audiences can expect to experience a myriad of emotions as the talented cast infuse layers of nuance into their characters in ways I didn’t expect. The experienced cast of local actors includes Gabrielle Patterson (Abigail), Alicia Simms (Celeste) and Zach Hyatt (Matt)   

Although familiar with the script, I was surprised by the depth of my response to some of the lines delivered by the actors.  The acting is on point.  Added to that is how well music is used to set the play’s mood.  

Yes!  I’m sure that DEADBEAT is a winner. I'm certain that audiences will think so too’

The 2018 Indy Fringe Festival starts next week, running from August 16th through August 27th.  DEADBEAT will be presented for SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY at the Indy Fringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair St. in Indianapolis:

THURSDAY            AUGUST 16     9:00 P.M.

SATURDAY            AUGUST 18      9:00 P.M.

MONDAY               AUGUST 20      9:00 P.M.

THURSDAY           AUGUST 23     7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY                  AUGUST 24      6:00 P.M.

SUNDAY                 AUGUST 26     7:30 P.M.


Tickets can be purchased online at www.indyfringe.org.  By phone at 317-292-4429 or 317-292-6910 or at the Indy Fringe Box Office located at 719 E. St. Clair Street, Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Free Parking for the Fringe Festival will be available at Bottleworks, which can be entered off Massachusetts Avenue between College Ave and Edison.

______________________

C.V. Rhodes is the co-author of the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series, written with fellow author, L. Barnett Evans.  Visit their website at www.grandmothersinc.com.  Rhodes is also the author of the romantic suspense Sin Series and the recently launched Stillwaters Series.  Visit her website at www.crystalrhodes.com.

WFYI's "No Limits" Focuses on DEADBEAT, Speed City SinC; Tune In July 31 at 1 p.m.

WHAT:     No Limits Interview about DEADBEAT & Sisters in Crime
WHEN:    Tuesday, July 31 at 1 p.m.
WHERE:  WFYI (90.1 FM), Indianapolis

WFYI'S July 31 No Limits program will feature an hour-long discussion about Speed City Sisters in Crime and its latest project, the one-act play Deadbeat, which is scheduled for six performances during Indy FringeFest.

No Limits is a daily program  hosted by John Krull on WFYI radio (90.1 FM), the Indianapolis Public Radio Station operated by Butler University.  Speed City members Diana Catt, Crystal Rhodes and Michael Dabney talked with Krull about mystery writing and the Chapter's first-of-its-kind play. Deadbeat is the first time any chapter of the national Sisters in Crime organization has attempted writing and producing a play.

Directed by noted local director Deborah Asante, DEADBEAT will have six performances between August 16 and 26 at the 100-seat Basile Fringe Theater, 719 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46202. The play features an outstanding cast of experienced local actors: Gabrielle Patterson, Alicia Sims & Zach Hyatt

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and adults, with a $1 per ticket service fee for online orders.  Tickets are available now. To Order, click this link:  TICKETS TO DEADBEAT


Remember: Tuesday,  July 31, 1 p.m. on WFYI (90.1 FM).

DEADBEAT Tickets ON SALE NOW !

ONLY 100 SEATS PER PERFORMANCE
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BEFORE THEY'RE GONE

Tickets for are now available online for  DEADBEAT, the innovative one-act psychological murder mystery written and produced by Speed City Chapter of the National Sisters In Crime.  

Director Deborah Assante

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and adults, with a $1 per ticket service fee for online orders.  To Order your tickets NOW, click this link:  TICKETS TO DEADBEAT

Deadbeat will have six performances between August 16 and 26 at the 100-seat Basille Fringe Theater, 719 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46202.  Deadbeat is part of the nationally-recognized Indy FringeFest.  

“It’s going to be the adult show to see, said Deborah Asante, the award-winning director of the play. The play features an experienced professional cast: Gabrielle Patterson (Abigail), Alicia Simms (Celeste) and Zach Hyatt (Matt).

Deadbeat is the first project of its kind for any chapter of the national Sisters in Crime organization. The Play was a group project written by Speed City Chapter members with guidance from noted playwright and chapter member C.V. Rhodes. 

Cast Gabrielle Patterson, Alicia Sims & Zach Hyatt

DEADBEAT six performance schedule is:  

THURSDAY             AUGUST 16      9:00 P.M.
SATURDAY             AUGUST 18      9:00 P.M.
MONDAY                AUGUST 20      9:00 P.M.
THURSDAY            AUGUST 23      7:30 P.M.
FRIDAY                   AUGUST 24      6:00 P.M.
SUNDAY                 AUGUST 26      7:30 P.M.

Experienced Cast Selected for DEADBEAT

Outstanding Cast Will Bring DEADBEAT To Life

By

Crystal V. Rhodes

The cast of Deadbeat is complete!  

Gabrielle Patterson (Abigail), Alicia Simms (Celeste) and Zach Hyatt (Matt) have been cast. When the curtain rises and these actors bring their characters to life it should be quite a treat.

The actors for Deadbeat, from left, Gabrielle Patterson (Abigail), Zach Hyatt (Matt) and Alicia Simms (Celeste)

Deadbeat was written by members of the Speed City Sisters in Crime, and is under the skilled direction of multi-talented, Deborah Asante, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Asante Children’s Theater of Indianapolis (A.C.T.).  Deadbeat is a one act play of murder, malice and mystery, with a touch of humor.  

It’s going to take quite a bit to live up to that expectation.  There’s little doubt that these actors will be the ones to do it. 

I’ve been a playwright and author for quite a while and there aren’t that many performers who   impress me, but I’ve witnessed the artistic talents of the actors cast in this play.  Each of them has performed in a theatrical work in which I’ve been involved, and each brought something to their roles that left an impression.  I strongly suspect the same will be true when Deadbeat makes its debut.  Why not attend a performance and see for yourself? 

Tickets for the 2018 Indy Fringe will go on sale in July.  DEADBEAT will be presented at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, IN

THUR. AUG. 16, 9:00 P.M.
SAT. AUG 18, 9:00P.M.
MON. AUG 20, 9:00 P.M.
THUR. AUG 23, 7:30 P.M.
FRI. AUGUST 24, 6:00 P.M.
SUN. AUG 26, 7:30 P.M.
___________

C.V. Rhodes is co-author of the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series with fellow author, L. Barnett Evans.  Visit their website at www.grandmothersinc.com.  Rhodes is also the author of the romantic suspense Sin Series and the Stillwaters Series. Visit her website at www.crystalrhodes.com.

2 Performances Set for Operation Farley, Authored by SinC Member Ramona Henderson

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out OPERATION FARLEY, a comedy play by Speed City Sisters in Crime member Ramona Henderson.  

The play puts a different twist on recent news stories about removal of Civil War related monuments. Retired Jack discovers his great, great grandfather's Civil War memorial is going to be destroyed.  He enlists his best friend Dale to help him save it.  Their adventure leads to excitement, trouble, and making a new friend. 

The play will run for two performances this weekend at the Basile Theater, 719 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46202.  Performances are Friday, April 20 at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.  

Performances: Saturday, April 14, 4:30 p.m.; Friday, April 20, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 22, 3:30 p.m. at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre.

Playwright Ramona G. Henderson was born and raised in southwestern Indiana. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. She retired from her teaching position at the Marian University School of Nursing in 2017 to pursue her passion for writing. Ramona is an unpublished mystery writer and playwright, and a member of the Speed City Chapter of Sisters in Crime. “Operation Farley” is her first play to be presented on stage. She currently resides in Noblesville, Ind.