THANKS FOR NOTHIN - Nov Staged Reading

This Thanksgiving, the past is coming to dinner.

You’re invited to a developmental staged reading of THANKS FOR NOTHIN’, a new Afrofuturistic November play written and directed by Dr. Austin Dean Ashford, continuing the USA 250 American Calendar Cycle — a series exploring American holidays, history, and identity through a Black lens.

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for family, food, and gratitude. But what happens when the past refuses to stay buried?

Inside a community center that doubles as a Black history museum and soup kitchen, a Black veteran prepares a Thanksgiving meal for his community. But as dinner preparations unfold, a mysterious AI Smart Wall begins awakening forgotten histories, buried memories, and voices that refuse to be silenced.

Suddenly, the holiday becomes more than a celebration. Between kitchen chaos, unexpected visitors, and supernatural encounters, the community must confront the sacrifices of Black veterans, the contradictions of American history, and the complicated meaning of gratitude.

Blending sharp comedy, historical memory, family drama, and Afrofuturistic imagination, THANKS FOR NOTHIN’asks:

What does it mean to give thanks to a country that has not always given back?

And when the past finally gets a seat at the table, will anyone be ready to listen?

This is a full ensemble developmental staged reading, where actors bring a new script to life before a live audience.

The play is still being developed, and that's part of the experience!

Following the performance, audiences are invited to participate in a community conversation with the cast and creative team. Your questions, laughter, reactions, and feedback help shape the next draft.

You aren't just watching new theatre. You're helping build it.

• A full ensemble staged reading of a new Afrofuturistic play
• Thanksgiving comedy, mysterious technology, ancestral memory, and unexpected hauntings
• A post-show community conversation and audience feedback session
• An opportunity to participate in the development of original Black theatre
• Light refreshments and community gathering

THANKS FOR NOTHIN’

Friday, November 13, 2026

Doors Open: 7:00 PM

Performance Begins: 7:30 PM

Community conversation following the reading

Ujamaa Community Bookstore

2424 Dr. MLK Jr. St.

Indianapolis, IN 46208

Whether you love theatre, Black history, Afrofuturism, Thanksgiving traditions, or stories that make you laugh while challenging what you believe, this evening is for you.

Come for the food, family, and holiday chaos. Stay for the ghosts, the history, and the conversation.

Written and Directed by Dr. Austin Dean Ashford

Presented by Stage Academy | Flanner House

Part of the USA 250 American Calendar Cycle