by Matthew Jones

It’s 10:00 p.m. on a Monday night, and Shari Lynn Himes is sewing curtains. Her latest show, The Hoosier Renaissance, opened November 12, 2003 at The Legacy Theater – the theatrical arm of the Indiana State Museum.  The theater specializes in the rich heritage of African-Americans in Indiana. There have been rehearsals all day, and there will certainly be more tomorrow.  In the meantime, however, someone has to sew the curtains.

As manager of the Legacy Museum, Himes is no stranger to working the long hours required to pull off a great show. This is the theater’s second production in less than a year – an impressive feat for a playhouse of its size and means.

The theater has come a long way in a short time. The first production, Say it Loud, brought in more than 10,000 theatergoers and museum visitors. Himes is hoping The Hoosier Renaissance will realize even greater success. The Indiana community has responded well to the Legacy Theater and it’s mission. That may come as a surprise to those who view the state in terms of its segregated past – but not to Himes. In fact, she takes great offense to those who paint the state in a negative or homogeneous light. To Himes, that dismisses the extensive and positive history of African Americans in the state.

"Indiana has a robust, active Black community," said Himes. "If you’re not from here, you probably don’t know that. Two of the countries largest African-American events are held here – the Circle City Classic and the Indiana Black Expo. Blacks come here from all over the country. A project like the Legacy Theater – something that acknowledges our history here – is long overdue."

Himes went on to describe how Indiana was a major stopping point for the country’s leading civil rights leaders as they traveled the country throughout the 1900’s.

"W.E.B. Dubois came to Indianapolis to speak in between his engagements in New York and Chicago," she said. "Marcus Garvey came to Indiana as part of his movement. All of the major entertainers would come here as they toured the country. Indiana participated in anti-lynching movements. This New Negro Renaissance was, in many respects, the early civil rights movement."

Himes hopes the Legacy Theater and its exhibits will help people from all over the nation to consider not only Indiana’s Black Renaissance, but also the Black Renaissance in their own cities.

"Every city that had a major black population during this time experienced a renaissance of some sort," she added. "People always talk about the Harlem Renaissance, or they talk about the things that were going on in Chicago. Nevertheless, Indianapolis played a major role in this era, too. As did other northern cities with black populations."

While the community has responded favorably to the theater and its offerings, there are still obstacles to overcome. Given the economy, state funding isn’t what it used to be, and corporate dollars are hard to come by.

"We’re still pretty new, so we don’t have a long list of private donors," said Himes. "Support from Bank One has helped us extend our performance run. WFYI (PBS) has also been a big supporter. Plus, we’re targeting foundations, but it’s not easy. At this point, we’re not even a year old."

Himes is keeping her eyes peeled for other opportunities, as well. For instance, the International Museum Association holds a special program for museums with theaters. In 2004, the association will hold its annual conference in New Orleans, where three museum theaters will be invited to showcase their work.

"We’re hoping to be one of them," Himes said confidently. She has a lot of faith in the merits of the Legacy Theater.

Himes also has faith in the young, fresh talent that comes through her doors when she’s casting for the latest productions. Given its focus, the theater creates a lot of opportunities for newer actors who otherwise would still be searching for a creative outlet.

"We get a lot of theater students and local actors who are thrilled to have a chance to actually practice their craft," said Himes. "Obviously, we get regular working actors as well. We get actors from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois – even inquiries from New York and California – all of whom are wanting to be a part of what we’re doing here. Oftentimes, these are actors that otherwise wouldn’t be given the opportunity to train or perform. Talented actors."

The works shown at the Legacy Theater are typically character-driven due to the theater’s small, intimate space. But the theater is rich territory for actors who want to explore powerful works and like connecting with audiences. "Plus, this is paid work," declared Himes. "They’re not working for free. Just imagine, one day you’re an acting student, and the next, you’re a working actor. There’s a lot of potential, and a lot of talent here."

Himes is equally proud of the fact that The Legacy Theater allows her to practice her craft and tell great stories. Along with curator, Kisha Tandy, and assistant, Matthew Officer, Himes has created a venue where actors can perform important historic works. That’s a rare position for a creative artist in Indiana. But for Himes, its part of seizing present opportunities.

"You have to find opportunities where they are," said Himes. "People see New York and LA as the only options. Sometimes you have to find the opportunities in between."

On her personal path, that’s exactly what Himes has done. With all that Himes has accomplished with the Indiana State Museum’s Legacy Theater, it’s doubtful that she would have been able to amass such a body of work elsewhere.

"Give me the choice between doing the LA hustle, or doing what I’m able to do here, I’ll take here," she said. "It’s funny, you start one way, with one thing in mind, and then a different potential is revealed and you end up going in a completely different direction."

Given the range of surprises Himes has experienced to date, she isn’t one to predict what lies ahead.

"If you were to ask me three years ago what I’d be doing now, I would never have predicted this," said Himes. "Eventually, I want to write, produce and direct more film. In the meantime, you just take it one step at a time."

Himes has just completed work on a film called A Song for Jade – a short film of lost love and opportunity. The film was named a finalist in the highly prestigious 2004 FOX SEARCHLAB competition – a national search and competition designed to highlight the next generation of great filmmakers. Winners and finalists often find themselves on the short list for FOX SEARCHLIGHT projects.

"If you’re a director, you have to direct," said Himes. "If you’re a writer, you write. The bottom line is, you can’t get it if you’re not doing it. No one’s going to hand you anything, or say, ‘Now its time for you to direct’, you just have to do it and pray that it all works out in the end."

Himes’ pragmatic and resourceful approach is something she encourages other creative souls to adopt.

"Take a close look at what you have around you before you move across the country," said Himes. "Nowadays, you may have everything you need right where you are. You can’t close your eyes to options that could get you to your end result, even if it takes you off the path you thought you had to take."

Himes’ path has led her to a place where she can realize some of her dreams. She credits the Indiana State Museum, a dedicated team and precious corporate and public funding for helping to make her dreams realities, including her latest project about the Black Renaissance in Indiana.

The Hoosier Renaissance

The early 20^th century was an exciting time for the people of Indiana. Large migrations of African-Americans from the South brought significant cultural, financial and political change to the state. The Hoosier Renaissance recalls the growth and enlightenment of that era through four dramatic monologues.

"The first act features a 100-year-old former slave woman, played by Nicole McKeel, who talks about her move from the plantation to Indiana," explained Himes. "The second act has a young teenage girl, played by Elise Le Brun, who shares her experiences moving out of the South. The third and fourth acts focus on sports and entertainment, which were also extremely important elements of the Renaissance." These acts feature James Brandon Dillon and Veronda Carey

In conjunction with the show, the Indiana State Museum will also feature two special exhibits. The first is entitled Litigation vs. Education: Champions of Success, and it tells the story of three African-American Indiana high schools (Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis; Lincoln High School in Evansville, and Roosevelt High School in Gary). The schools were expected to give segregated black students an inferior education, but the three schools quickly emerged as some of the finer schools in Indiana - thanks to highly educated black teachers who weren’t able to excel at white schools.

The second exhibit, On the Avenue, tells the history of African-American entertainment along Indiana Avenue, which was Indianapolis’ main party strip during the Renaissance era. The entire production, from the live performances to the cultural exhibits, are sponsored and supported by Bank One.

"It’s a great history, and one that we can all feel a part of," said Himes. "We walked a fine line in producing it. We kept it local to focus on our specific history, but we also made it broad enough so people from all over the country will be able to relate."

The End