Sun. July 25 

 “Comin’Home to Indiana: The Music of the ishmaeLites” comes to us from out of the blue, but sounds really, really interesting. What is it? An "alternative epic' which features 22 songs tracing the forgotten history of the Tribe of Ishmael, a tri-racial nomadic population of mostly Scots-Irish, mixed with some Native Americans and escaped slaves. (We have some Scots-Irish blood in us and knew nothing of this.) Here's the story: In the 19th century, a gypsy-like tribe roamed Indiana and other states of the Midwest. Known for music and dancing – but despised by mainstream society – the so-called “Tribe of Ishmael” was ultimately broken up by authorities, and the clans disappeared. In 2009, a rock band called the ishmaeLites reclaimed that history with a new CD, “Comin’ Home to Indiana.” After a handful of shows in Cambridge, the core members of The ishmaeLites followed through on the title of that album: They moved to Indiana. Before leaving, they inspired Cambridge-based theater artist Ian MacKinnon (in photo) to revive his Artezani troupe and turn that album into a musical, the first version of which will be given three performances in Harvard Square closing Sunday July 25. It takes place at the Democracy Center. at 7. Tickets: $10.

A little more about this beast, “Comin’ Home to Indiana."Their caravans traveled in an annual triangular route that went by the Indiana villages of Mecca and Morocco and the Illinois ville of Mahomet. But society looked down on the Ishmaels, calling them semi-barbarous half-breeds: depraved, polygamous, thieving, murderous, etc. A real Ishmael girl taken from her family was the original Little Orphan Annie, source of the famous poem, comic strip, radio show, musical, and movies. In 1907, the growing eugenics movement pushed through Indiana’s infamous Sterilization Law, which targeted for elimination the Tribe of Ishmael and others who could be typed as inferior, unfit, or mentally weak. (A new book about the tribe is called “Inventing America’s ‘Worst Family.’ ”) For more info: www.myspace.com/theishmaelites.

Who is Artezani? Artezani Theater began in 1993 with a walking performance that started in Artesani Park in Brighton,  Artezani Theater died in 2008 at “The Small Arts Group Die-Off,” a response to The Boston Foundation’s advice that mall arts groups should either merge or “find an exit strategy.” With “theater” gone from its name, Artezani will now be devoted to doing new musicals. Director MacKinnon won a national theater manifesto contest with his entry, “Elect Better Actors.” In 1997, he co-founded The Art & Performance Party.

45 Mt. Auburn St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-492-8855 www.bostonmobilization.org