 
If you might be interested in producing or directing this play,
you may contact me at norbertkrapf@att.net.
A DVD recording of the last performance in the workshop production of the play
made by Zach Rosing could be made available for viewing.
Thank you, Norbert Krapf
Catholic
Boy Blues Play
June
14-23, 2019 was the extended workshop production of Norbert Krapf’s
first play, his adaptation of his poetry collection of the same
title, Catholic
Boy Blues,
in the Indy Eleven Theatre of IndyFringe. Here is a summary of the
play in the program: “James' recurring migraines lead him into
therapy. Beginning a journaling practice, he soon realizes his
journey of discovery might force him to deal with a childhood trauma
he didn’t know he had repressed.”
This
was the CAST,
in the order of appearance: JAMES: Tony Johnson; ANGIE: Ashley
Elliott; JIMMIE: Bradley Bundrant; CATFISH BLUES: Chris Burton;
FATHER WEBB: David Molloy, last two performances: Spencer Elliott.
This was the CREW:
DIRECTOR: Spencer Elliott; PRODUCTION MGR.: Ashley Elliott; PRODUCER:
Andrew Black; TECH DIRECTOR: Robbie Schloemer; STAGE MGR.: Cate
Searcy.
[Playwright and his younger self, Jimmie. Photo from early rehearsal.]
About
the Playwright
Norbert
Krapf, former Indiana Poet Laureate, is the author of thirteen poetry
collections, including Catholic
Boy Blues: A Poet’s Journal of
Healing
(2014) the recent The
Return of Sunshine (2018),
about his Colombian-German-American grandson, age four, as well as
the prose memoir Shrinking
the Monster: Healing the Wounds of Our Abuse (2016),
and Indiana
Hill County Poems
(2019).
[Photo
of James, the playwright’s alter ego, and Jimmie, his younger
self, by Zach Rosing, https://www.zachrosing.com/.]
A
native of Jasper, Indiana, a German-Catholic town, Krapf taught
English for 34 years at Long Island University and directed the C.W.
Post Poetry Center for 18 years. He released a poetry and jazz cd
with pianist-composer Monika Herzig, Imagine,
and collaborates with bluesman Gordon Bonham. He won the Lucille
Medwick Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America, a Glick
Indiana Author Award, and received a Creative Renewal Fellowship from
the Arts Council of Indianapolis to combine poetry and the blues.
Garrison Keillor read his poems on the Writers Almanac and they were
included on IndyGo buses. Norbert’s poem "Back
in Indiana”
was part of the play Finding
Home: Indiana at
200 at the Indiana Repertory
Theatre and is included in a stained-glass window at the Indianapolis
International Airport.
Photo of Fr. Webb (Jack Elliott) by Jack Rosing.
Norbert
began work on his play adaptation of Catholic
Boy Blues in October, 2016.
“As
soon as I wrote the poems, I knew CBB should also become a play
because it was composed of voices speaking. I felt like I was being
fulfilled and what I had to say would reach a different and wider
audience in the play.
To complete my first play at 75 was a great breakthrough! A
liberation!” He is currently working
on
a second play, Andrew
and the Bells of Lohr that
is ready for a table reading.
His
Homecomings: A Writer’s
Memoir, which
tells the fifty-year story of his writing life, will appear in 2021.
[Photo
of James with Angie, his therapist, by Zach Rosing, https://www.zachrosing.com/.]
Indy
Star Previews with Dress Rehearsal Video and Photos
Emily
Sabens’ preview of the play in the Indianapolis
Star,
“Indiana Poet Turns Poems about His Abuse by a Priest into a
Play” includes comments about the play by actors Anthony
Johnson, Chris Burton ,and Bradley Bundrant and a video by
Michelle Pemberton that includes interviews with playwright Norbert
Krapf, director Spencer Elliott and actor Ashely Elliott, with blues
played by Chris Burton and segments of several scenes in a dress
rehearsal. To read the preview and watch the video, use
this link.
[Angie and Catfish at dress rehearsal. Photo by N Krapf.]
Michelle
Pemberton’s “”Behind the Scenes of a ‘Catholic
Boy Blues’ Play Rehearsal” in the Indy Star includes nine
of her photos from a dress rehearsal, with information:
https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/arts/2019/06/14/indiana-poet-norbert-krapf-catholic-boy-blues-play-poems-priest-abuse/1418836001/.
[Jimmie opens his trunk and finds his childhood journal. Photo by Zach Rosing, https://www.zachrosing.com/.]
Audience
Responses to the Play
Moving,
engaging, challenging, and very well done. Kudos to all for helping
Norbert continue his mission of revelation and redemption.
Chuck
Stevenson
It
was indeed a wonderful show. Norbert should be proud of the
accomplishment; every age of his “you" should be proud.
Celeste
Williams, Head, Board of Indiana Writers Center
It
was a very powerful and moving performance! I am so glad I was there.
Norbert is an amazing man, poet, and playwright!
Mary
Beth Meyer Servie
We
both thought the play was great - very moving and thought provoking.
We had quite the discussion with morning coffee. Well done! I'm glad
we were able to see it.
Gordon
Bonham
This
is a powerful and important play. Come see it if you can.
Cindy
Lasher.
It
was a superb show. I would recommend the presentation; it is very
well done: a provocative story and superb acting.
Tom
Thomas
So
glad we saw this excellent stage production. Theatre at its finest.
Thank you to Norbert and the entire cast and crew for telling it
straight. May it help many heal.
Rock
Emmert
It
was powerful and moving. Thanks.
Kris
Lasher
I
was very glad I came. The story was told powerfully and well. It was
good to sit next to the author on the front row...and be aware that
this story is his story. The words and the music and the actors and
all of it was a real gift in a multitude of ways.
Mike
Mather
I
enjoyed the play thoroughly. It was quite moving.
Kristina
Denton
Thank
you so much for giving us this play and story.
Kurt
Schnell
krapfpoetry.net
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