INATDA ~ Calgary Fringe 2025
“I’m Not Afraid to Die Anymore” (The Pop-Rock Musical)
CREATED BY ADO NKEMKA*, DIRECTED BY KESHIA CHEESMAN
SHOW TIMES
Sunday, August 3rd, 2:00-3:00 pm
Thursday, August 7th 7:30-8:30 pm
Friday, August 8th, 7:30-8:30 pm
LOCATION
Arts Commons, Motel Theatre
225 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
ADO is the 2025 Artist in Residence at Downstage. We are thrilled to host her brilliant creations!
A.N. is the artist name of Ado Nkemka, the producer, playwright, and solo actress of “I’m Not Afraid to Die Anymore, the pop-rock musical” (INATDA). INATDA is her semi-autobiographical play based on her identically titled album released November 8th 2024. Set in her bedroom, “I’m Not Afraid to Die Anymore” showcases A.N.’s journey towards stepping into her power, offering a multidisciplinary experience that includes music, video, poetry, and movement. The play is an examination of self, and an examination of formative past experiences, in order to communicate the transformative power of music. This is an emotional and sincere, fun and intimate look into the inner world of a person alchemizing a challenging past into pop-rock stardom. A.N.
ADO NKEMKA BIOGRAPHY
After a gruelling rise out of an emotional gutter – Calgary-based pop-rocker (and multi-disciplinary writer) A.N. now challenges the status quo as rock’s black sheep.She made her first magazine cover in February 2025. Gracing the front of The Scene, Calgary’s leading arts and culture magazine, is just a sign of what’s to come. She released her album “I’m Not Afraid to Die Anymore (INATDA),” co-produced by James Bunton (Prince Edward County/Toronto), November 8th 2024. Her search for freedom and belonging is beautifully wrapped in distorted guitars and emotionally complex vocal layering. To rewind, A.N. made her festival debut at Sled Island 2022. She participated in the 2023-2024 TD Incubator program by Arts Commons. Off the heels of an electrifying cabaret performance, through the program, A.N. opened for Vivek Shraya at FoundFest 2024 in Cochrane, AB. In 2024, various singles off her album INATDA received radio support from CBC, CKUA, x92.9, CJSW among other stations across Canada. A.N.'s recent performances include SoundOff Summit, High Performance Rodeo – performing as a part of the Beautiful Young Artist cabaret, and the Ship and Anchor with Spencer Jo. A.N. was a part of Chromatic Theatre’s 2022-2023 Playwrights unit where she wrote “I’m Not Afraid to Die Anymore” as an 11 person show. After joining Black Theatre Workshop’s 2023-2024 Artist Mentorship program, she re-wrote the play into a solo show. Now, she’s completing her first regional tour in May/June 2025 (9 dates, including 3 festivals) and a three show run at Calgary Fringe 2025 where she will perform her self-produced autobiographical play based on her album INATDA.