IRT Program: Little Shop of Horrors

PRESENTED BY | APRIL 17 – MAY 19

A round of applause for local art

When you support the arts, you support entire communities

For 29 years, the companies of OneAmerica FinancialSM have proudly supported the Indiana Repertory Theatre. The arts contribute to overall well-being, and so does sound financial preparation.

Our legacy began in the heart of Indy over 145 years ago — and it lives on in the hearts of our associates and the people we’re committed to serving.

Let us 'perform' for you with our expert printing, mailings, signage, publishing, copying, promos, puzzles, and packaging services.

CELEBRATING LOCAL ART

ONEAMERICA FINANCIAL | 2023-2024 SEASON SPONSOR

A vibrant community is a healthy community. OneAmerica is proud our sponsorship ranks among the longest-running in community theater nationwide. As a legacy supporter of Indiana Repertory Theatre, OneAmerica Financial celebrates IRT as a champion of imagination and inspiration. We hope you enjoy the 2023-2024 season.

—Scott Davison Chairman, President and CEO OneAmericaFinancial,2023-2024seasonsponsor

Through its community outreach efforts, the Navient Community Fund supports organizations and programs that address the root causes which limit financial success for all Americans. The Navient Community Fund is proud to support the Indiana Repertory Theatre as the Education Partner for the 2023-2024 Season.

Navient is a leading provider of asset management and business processing solutions to education, healthcare, and government clients at the federal, state, and local levels. Millions of Americans rely on financial support to further their education and improve their lives. We work hard each day to help our customers navigate financial challenges and achieve their goals.

We at Navient have a deep appreciation for the arts and for the hard work, passion, and emotion that go into them, as well as the positive influences the arts have on individuals and their communities. Our employees in central Indiana are proud to support our community through amazing programs like those offered by IRT.

Enjoy the show.

OUR MISSION & VISION

MISSION

Rooted in the heart of Indiana, Indiana Repertory Theatre is committed to building a vital, vibrant, and informed community through the transformational power of live theatre. The Indiana Repertory Theatre produces inclusive, top-quality, professional theatre and community programming to engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain members of the whole community.

VISION

The Indiana Repertory Theatre will welcome the whole community, becoming a place of belonging for an ever-expanding audience of all ages and backgrounds seeking meaningful and enjoyable experiences. Using theatre as a springboard for both personal reflection and community discussion, our productions and programs will inspire our neighbors to learn about themselves and others. As the largest nonprofit theatre in the state of Indiana, IRT’s goal is to help make Indiana a dynamic home of cultural expression, economic vitality, and a diverse and engaged citizenry.

AS AN INSTITUTION, WE VALUE...

SUSTAINING A PROFESSIONAL, RESPECTFUL, INCLUSIVE, & CREATIVE ATMOSPHERE

• Producing diverse plays, we strive to provide insight and celebrate human relationships through the unique vision of the playwright.

• Employing professional artists of the highest quality, we nurture an environment that allows them to grow and thrive on our stages and in our communities.

• We foster a creative environment where arts, education, corporate, civic, and cultural organizations collaborate to benefit our community

BUILDING INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESS (IDEA)

• Our community thrives when diverse voices and peoples gather to make, watch, and support theatre.

• It is our responsibility as a community resource to open our doors wide, welcoming all to our high-quality, relevant art.

• We acknowledge our history of privilege as a predominantly White institution as an initial and necessary step toward effectively supporting the dismantling of systems of oppression.

• To be an anti-racist organization we must seek knowledge and understanding to identify discriminatory practices and increase cultural awareness in collaboration with, and learning directly from, BIPOC, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI+), functionally diverse, and other historically excluded communities.

PRUDENT STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RESOURCES

• As a public-benefit organization, we focus on community service, artistic integrity, and creating a range of ticket prices that allow all segments of our community to attend.

• Fiscal responsibility and financial security fuel our institutional sustainability.

• To ensure institutional longevity, we continue to grow our endowment fund as a resource for future development.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE LAND

Every community owes its existence and vitality to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy to making the history that led to this moment. Some were brought here or removed from here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life, and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Acknowledgment of the land which the IRT now occupies is critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage.

We want to acknowledge that what we now call Indiana is on the ancestral lands of many indigenous peoples including the Miami, Piankashaw, Wea, Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Delaware, and Shawnee. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of displacement, migration, violence, and settlement that bring us together here today.

This land acknowledgment was created in collaboration with Scott Shoemaker, PhD (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma). Portions of this acknowledgment come from the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture (usdac.us).

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR BUILDING’S HISTORY

The Indiana Repertory Theatre moved to its current site on Washington Street in 1980, renovating and reopening a building that had been shuttered for nearly a decade.

The historic Indiana Theatre was built in 1927, a time when the shameful practice of racial segregation was the standard in movie theatres and public buildings across the United States. The Indiana Theatre building was originally segregated and at some point in its history this practice ceased. Many Indiana residents and their families’ heritage stories recall being treated as less than equal citizens in this building, with some even being barred from entering. We cannot erase this history.

We honor and respect all those who have faced discrimination and harm in this building. We strive every day to make the IRT a place that welcomes all people.

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE PROFILE

HISTORY

The Indiana Repertory Theatre was founded in 1972 by Ben Mordecai, Greg Poggi, and Ed Stern. Since then, it has grown into one of the leading regional theatres in the country, as well as one of the top-flight cultural institutions in the city and state. In 1991 Indiana’s General Assembly designated the IRT as “Theatre Laureate” of the state of Indiana. The IRT’s national reputation has been confirmed by prestigious grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lila Wallace–Reader’s Digest Fund, the Theatre Communications Group–Pew Charitable Trusts, the Shubert Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation, and by a Joyce Award from the Joyce Foundation.

The IRT remains the largest fully professional resident not-for-profit theatre in the state, providing 100,000 live professional theatre experiences for its audience in a typical season. The Theatre regularly serves thousands of students from more than half of Indiana’s 92 counties, making the IRT one of the most youth-oriented professional theatres in the country. A staff of year-round employees creates seven productions exclusively for Indiana audiences. Actors, directors, and designers are members of professional stage unions.

The IRT’s history has been enacted in two historic downtown theatres. The Athenaeum Turners Building housed the company’s first eight seasons. Since 1980 the IRT has occupied the 1927 Indiana Theatre, which was renovated to contain three performance spaces (OneAmerica Stage, Upperstage, and Cabaret) and work spaces, reviving this historic downtown entertainment site.

To keep ticket prices and services affordable for the entire community, the IRT operates as a not-for-profit organization, deriving more than 50% of its operating income from contributions. The theatre is generously supported by foundations, corporations, and individuals, an investment which recognizes the IRT’s mission-based commitment to serving central Indiana with top-quality theatrical fare

PROGRAMS

The OneAmerica Season includes five productions from classical to contemporary.

Young Playwrights in Process

The IRT offers Young Playwrights in Process (YPiP), a playwriting contest and workshop for Indiana middle and high school students.

Community Gathering Place Located in a beautiful historic landmark, the IRT offers a wide variety of unique and adaptable spaces for family, business, and community gatherings of all types. Please email Jacob Lang, House Manager, at jlang@irtlive.comor call 317.916.4872 for more information.

Opportunities

The IRT depends on the generous donation of time and energy by volunteer ushers; please email Jacob Lang, House Manager, at jlang@irtlive.comor call 317.916.4872 to learn how you can become involved.

Meet the Artists Regularly scheduled pre-show chats and post-show discussions offer audiences unique insights into each production.

Student Matinees

The IRT continues a long-time commitment to student audiences with live school-day student matinee performances of all IRT productions. These performances are augmented with educational activities and curriculum support materials.

Educational Programs

Auxiliary services offered include workshops on demand, study guides, pre- and post-show discussions, and detailed discussions with artistic staff and community leaders.

Classes The IRT offers classes inspired by the works we see to continue learning for a wide variety of ages, including our IRT Theatre Camp. Email education@irtlive.com or call 317.635.4841 for further information.

Imagine a future where all members of our community are empowered to reach their full potential

Glick Philanthropies is an Indianapolis-based

family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential. We carry out our mission by leading and supporting efforts to:

BUILD COMMUNITY

Provide affordable housing

Support a healthy democracy

Strengthen Jewish cultural life

CREATE OPPORTUNITY

Expand equitable opportunities in the arts

Close education achievement gaps

Improve access to basic needs

Increase economic mobility

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE: WELCOMING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

We strive to celebrate and serve the diverse people and cultures that make up our whole community. The IRT is committed to creating and maintaining an antiracist theatre that is inclusive, safe, respectful, and accessible.

Whether you have been coming for years or are here for the first time—welcome to your Theatre!

VALUES

• Our community thrives when diverse voices and peoples gather to make, watch, and support theatre.

• It is our responsibility as a community resource to open our doors wide, welcoming all to our high-quality, relevant art.

• We must acknowledge our history of privilege as a Predominantly White Institution in order to effectively support dismantling systems of oppression.

• In order to be an antiracist and inclusive organization we must seek knowledge and understanding to identify discriminatory practices and increase cultural awareness in collaboration with, and learning directly from, BIPOC, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI+), functionally diverse, and other historically excluded communities.

COMMITMENTS

• We will represent and engage the diverse people, cultures, and communities of central Indiana.

• We will employ more people of color, with a goal of 40% of all new hires being BIPOC, and foster an inclusive culture of artists, staff, board, and vendors.

• We will continue and deepen our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) training for all board and staff.

• We will be accessible to all audiences inviting those who have been unheard or unseen in the past, including functionally diverse people, BIPOC, LGBTQI+, and under-resourced communities.

If you would like to read more about our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) work, go to irtlive.com/about/idea.

Flanner House is an organization that has been empowering and supporting African Americans in Indianapolis for over a century. We’re proud to have them as our Spotlight Partner for our production of Little Shop of Horrors Flanner House has been championing the cause of guiding individuals, children, and families toward self-reliance and self-sufficiency for 125 years. They use a comprehensive approach encompassing education, employment, wellness, peace, safety, economic development, and food justice to enhance the quality of life for residents on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. Flanner House was established in 1898 by Frank Flanner and has expanded its impact through initiatives like Flanner Homes, Inc., setting a national precedent for community-led housing projects. We invite you to support Flanner House’s journey towards creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

Spotlight Partnerships

LEADERSHIP: BENJAMIN HANNA

Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director

Ben is thrilled to embark on his first season as IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director, following six years as the company’s Associate Artistic Director. At IRT he has directed Clue, Fahrenheit 451, The Book Club Play, A Christmas Carol, and Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!,” among others. This season he looks forward to directing our first musical in a decade: Little Shop of Horrors.

As a director, educator, and community engagement specialist, Ben is guided by the belief that access to high-quality theatre helps build creative, empathetic people and healthy communities. Across his career, he has focused on building the next generation of artists and audiences by creating and advocating for multigenerational, multicultural, and family-oriented programming. Prior to his role at IRT, he spent five years at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and directed shows at the Bay Area Children’s Theatre. In his native Minnesota, he served on the education staff of Penumbra Theatre Company and was an artistic associate at Children’s Theatre Company. He is the recipient of the prestigious Theatre Communications Group Leadership University Award funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is a recent graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Program—Class XLVI.

Ben holds a degree in theatre arts from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He fell in love with telling stories at the age of eleven at the Prairie Wind Players community theatre in rural Minnesota, and he continues to create for his favorite audience: his five nieces and nephews.

LEADERSHIP: SUZANNE SWEENEY Managing Director

Suzanne is a 25-year veteran of the IRT and is excited to work with Benjamin Hanna as co-CEO of the company, where she oversees its administrative functions. During her tenure, the IRT has secured a long-term lease for the building with the City of Indianapolis, renovated the Upperstage Lobby and restrooms, and raised $20 million for its Front and Center campaign.

Suzanne was elected Treasurer of the national League of Resident Theatres, where she serves as a board member. She has been a panelist for Shakespeare in American Communities in cooperation with Arts Midwest. She was the treasurer of Irish Fest for nine years, a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the Day Nursery Association (now Early Learning Indiana) for three years, and treasurer of Indy Fringe.

Suzanne is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and Indiana University. She has worked in finance in Washington DC, Texas, Germany, Hawaii, and New Zealand. She is an alum of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Program (Class XXXI). She lives in Lockerbie with her son, Jackson, and spends some of her downtime in Palatine, Illinois, with her partner, Todd Wiencek.

Cereyna Jade Bougouneau, Claire Kashman and Devan Mathias in the IRT’s 2022 production of Sense and Sensibility. Photo by Zach Rosing.

Playwright-in-Residence

This is James’s final season as the IRT’s Playwright in Residence: an unprecedented relationship between an artist, a theatre, and audience that has seen 17 of James’s plays in 23 productions, as well as the more than 20 additional productions he has directed on both of the IRT stages. His work has been produced throughout the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

James is a member of the National Theatre Conference in New York, and a Kennedy Center inductee of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. Other honors include the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award for drama, the Todd McNerney New Play Prize from the Spoleto Festival, and the William Inge Festival’s Otis Guernsey New Voices Award. Three of his plays have received the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, and his plays have been nominated four times for the Pulitzer Prize.

James also works in television and film and has been nominated for five Emmys and a Television Critics Association Award; he has twice been a finalist for the Humanitas Prize. James grew up in Kansas and lives in Los Angeles.

Below: Jennifer Johansen, Aaron Kirby, Constance Macy, and David Shih in the IRT’s 2021 production of The House That Jack Built written by James Still. Photos by Zach Rosing.

Celebrating how the arts connect and enrich our community.

Citizens Energy Group is a proud partner of the Indiana Repertory Theatre.

This ad was not paid for by customer rates.

ClaireWilcher andBeethovan Oden in the IRT’s 2023 production of Clue.

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE STAFF & ASSOCIATES

Benjamin Hanna

Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director

Suzanne Sweeney Managing Director

Ariana Fisher Office Administrator

Malia Argüello Production Manager

Hillary Martin Company Manager

Richard J Roberts

Resident Dramaturg

Jane Robison General Manager

James Still Playwright-in-Residence

Tara Parchman

Robin Reid

Toni Bader

Edith McDonnel

Dameon Cooper Building Manager Housekeeping

Roger Cunningham

Carlton Foster

Steven Robinson

Kendall Thompson

Erica Bascom Costume Shop Manager

Lane Fiorini Wardrobe Supervisor

Heather Hirvela Draper

Niamh Langfitt First Hand

Brady Clark Development Systems

Tracy Heaton de Martinez

Development Associate for Strategic Initiatives

Eric J. Olson

Institutional Giving Manager

Steven MacPherson Stolen Director of Development

Anna E. Barnett Education Manager

Claire Wilcher Education Assistant

Paully Crumpacker Electrician

Beth A. Nuzum Lighting Supervisor

Megan Stockreef Electrician

Crowe Horwath External Auditors

Faegre Drinker Legal Counsel

Jeffrey Bledsoe Director of Finance

Jen Carpenter

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Amanda Keen Business Manager

Devon Ginn Director of Inclusion & Community Partnerships

Kerry Barmann

Associate Director of Marketing

Geneva Denney-Moore

Design & Communications Manager

Danielle M. Dove

Director of Marketing & Sales

Megan Ebbeskotte

Audience Development Manager

Noelani Langille

Multimedia & Design Manager

Claire Dana Charge Scenic Artist

Jim Schumacher Scenic Artist

Assistant House Managers

Grace Branam

Stacy Brown

Preston Dildine

Dieter Finn

Christine Gordon

Marilyn Hatcher

Lexi Hudson

Sarah James

Jacob Lang

Claire Martin

Alicia McClendon

Phoebe Rodgers

Kathy Sax

Karen Sipes

Sam Stucky

Katy Thompson

House & Events Manager

Bartender

Tina Weaver

Customer Service Representatives

Ashlee Lancaster

Melody Lindner

Owen Louden

Chelsea Senibaldi

Cara Wilson

Courtney Plummer

Ticket Office Manager

Molly Wible Sweets

Tessitura Administrator

Eric Wilburn

Assistant Ticket Office Manager

Jen Blue Hands

Kristin Boyd

Oz Casile

LB Clark

Ryan Dafforn

Ben Dobler

Lee Edmundson

Andrea Haskett

Katharine Ivey

Louie Kaufman

Amanda Keen Bailey Lewis

Madelaine Foster

Emma Littau

Jackie Mahon

Christopher Nelson

Axel Osborne

Rebekah Radloff

Rebecca Reyes

Jacob Spencer

Anthony Stultz

Abbie Wagner

Jackie Walburn

Assistant Properties Shop Manager

Rachelle Martin Properties Shop Manager

Nick Chamberlain

Stage Operations Supervisor

Chris Fretts Technical Director

Nick Kilgore

Automation Supervisor/Carpenter

Samantha-Rae Oliver

Carpenter

David Sherrill

Master Carpenter

Brittany Hayth

Lead Audio Engineer

Todd Mack

Head of Audio and Video

Sarah Podzielinski

Audio Intern

Stage Managers

Nathan Garrison

Erin Robson-Smith

Janine Vanderhoff

Assistant Stage Manager

Becky Roeber

Production Assistants

Isabella Garza

Emma Littau

Natalie Stigall

Doug Sims

Group Sales & Teleservices Manager

Left: The cast of the IRT’s 2023 production of Oedipus.

Above: Mi Kang in the IRT’s 2022 production of The Chinese Lady

Below: Belle Taylor-Moore and Rob Johansen in the IRT’s 2022 production of A Christmas Carol. Photos by Zach Rosing.

Welcome to the Indiana Repertory Theatre. As we move into our 51st season, we are delighted to welcome Ben Hanna in his new position as Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director.

In this busy world, with so many demands on our time and our dollars, we appreciate not only your presence and your participation, but also your continuing financial support, which makes our work possible. On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for choosing the IRT.

Your contribution is a vital part of our success. If you enjoy this production, please encourage your friends to come see it. If you do not already have a season ticket or a smaller ticket package, why not join the family? Consider a membership in the Repertory Society, too.

Great art doesn’t just happen. It takes committed patrons such as yourself in tandem with talented artisans. Enjoy the show!

–AndrewMichie,IRTBoardChair

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR

Andrew Michie

OneAmerica Financial

VICE CHAIR & CHAIR ELECT

Jill Lacy

The Lacy Foundation

TREASURER

Joy Kleinmaier

American Specialty Health

SECRETARY

Julian Harrell Faegre Drinker

Kathryn Beiser

Eli Lilly & Company

Kathy G. Cabello

Cabello Associates

Michael P. Dinius

Noble Consulting Services, Inc.

Laurie Dippold

KAR Auction Services, Inc.

Brooke Dunn

Faegre Drinker

Dan Emerson*

Indianapolis Colts

Troy D. Farmer FORVIS

Tom Froehle*

Faegre Drinker

Patricia Gamble-Moore PNC

Ashley Garry

Viatris Inc.

Ron Gifford RDG Strategies LLC

BOARD EMERITUS

Robert Anker* (in memoriam)

Rollin Dick

Berkley Duck*

Dale Duncan*

James W. Freeman

Nadine Givens*

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Mark Shaffer* KPMG LLP

Ricardo L. Guimarães

Indiana University

Kelley School of Business

Michael N. Heaton

Katz Sapper & Miller, Retired

Brenda Horn

Ice Miller LLP, Retired

Lauren James

Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation

Elisha Modisett Kemp

Corteva Agriscience

Alan Mills

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Nicholas C. Pappas

Frost Brown Todd

Rita Patel

Jane Pauley Health Center

Brian Payne

Central Indiana Community Foundation | The Indianapolis Foundation, Retired

Michael Lee Gradison* (in memoriam)

Mike Harrington*

Margie Herald (in memoriam)

David Klapper

David Kleiman*

Sarah Lechleiter

Tammara D. Porter

American Electric Power

Peter Racher

Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP

Peter N. Reist

Oxford Financial Group, Ltd.

Susan O. Ringo Community Volunteer

Myra C. Selby

Ice Miller LLP

Darshan Shah BioCrossroads

Shelly Smith

Ernst & Young LLP

Sue Smith Community Volunteer

E. Kirk McKinney Jr. (in memoriam)

Michael Moriarty

Richard O. Morris* (in memoriam)

Jane Schlegel*

Wayne Schmidt

Jerry Semler* (in memoriam)

Jack Shaw*

Mike Simmons

William E. Smith III*

Eugene R. Tempel*

David Whitman*

From scripts to stage: Dive into the Magic of IRT Theatre Camp!

Inclusive environment | Taught by theatre professionals

Introduction & Intermediate camps | Mini Camps for ages 5-7 | Financial aid | And much more!

Dear Audiences,

We are excited to welcome you to the first musical at IRT in over a decade!

Musical theatre is a huge part of the American theatrical canon—it is how many of us first get bitten by the theatre bug. In my opinion, music is one of the surest ways to penetrate the armor we build in our everyday lives, and to open our hearts. Little Shop of Horrors seems the perfect way to reintroduce this genre to our stage. This little horticultural horror musical pries our hearts open wide, delivers exceptional songs and exceptional singers, and gives us just the right amount of giggle gas.

A send-up of monster movies—which are often metaphors for societal woes—Little Shop has always been one of my favorite musicals. Stuck on Skid Row by terrible circumstances, two oddball lovers strive for a dream just beyond their reach. We all must wonder: when given the opportunity to get out, how far will we go to manifest our dreams? What are our limits? What—or who—would we sacrifice to succeed?

While the IRT will always focus on great plays old and new, musicals allow us to flex our theatrical muscles in different ways. Musicals bring singers, dancers, choreographers, and musicians into our theatre-making family. Musicals expand our repertoire with the great work of playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have not yet been performed on the IRT stages. And musicals reach out to a broader audience, inviting more of your friends and neighbors to join you in our seats.

So we are closing this season with a musical, but you won’t have to wait long to see another! Next season we begin with a sweet and quirky musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. We then joyfully revisit our beloved annual holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol. Rajiv Joseph’s powerful new play King James celebrates friendship and the love of basketball. A revolutionary play with music, Nina Simone: Four Women is a deep dive into an extraordinary singer and citizen. With the gorgeous poetical words of Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie continues our commitment to literary classics and serving student audiences. And you won’t want to miss our epic season closer, the uproarious farce The Play That Goes Wrong.

I hope you will join us as a Season Ticket Member—it is the best way to invest in IRT and get your date nights set so you don’t miss the adventure! As I wrap up my first season as the Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director, I want to thank you for your support. It takes all of us to make the IRT grow and thrive.

With gratitude,

BENJAMIN HANNA, MARGOT LACY ECCLES ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

BECOME A SEASON TICKET MEMBER TODAY!

Join us next season with a Season Ticket Membership, and receive the best pricing, priority seating, exclusive discounts, and other special benefits. Save your seat and experience all of the world-class theatre only the IRT can provide!

MEMBER BENEFITS

Best deal on pricing like seeing 5 shows for the price of 4!

Trade tickets for a different production within your Season Ticket Membership (once per season) LEARN

25% discount off additional tickets

Discounted valet parking access—$100 for 5 shows

Exclusive discounts at partner restaurants

NEW

HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AT THE IRT:

• Price is $50 per half-day workshop. $75 per full day.

• Financial aid available.

• Welcoming to all genders, races, and abilities.

Scan for more information!

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

SEPT 18 – OCT 12, 2024

OneAmerica Stage

the word is: musical

A motley crew of wonderfully unique and impassioned young spellers each yearn to be the next county champion. With clever songs, quirky characters, and uproarious humor, this captivating musical comedy is a silly celebration of the thrill of victory, the irony of defeat, and the gift of being true to yourself.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

NOV 16 – DEC 24, 2024

OneAmerica Stage

KING JAMES

by Rajiv Joseph

JAN 14 – FEB 9, 2025

Janet

Allen

Stage

Indy’s holiday tradition

Banish your bah humbugs and celebrate the season at the IRT! A Christmas Carol shines a light on the power of kindness and love in this uplifting tale of one man’s journey to redemption.

brotherhood and basketball

During LeBron James’s rookie season in Cleveland, two young men—one Black, one white—bond over their love for the Cavaliers. Over the next twelve years, their passion for basketball never wavers, even as their lives change. A warm comedy about friendship, loyalty, loss—and the game.

music and lyrics by William Finn book by Rachel Sheinkin conceived by Rebecca Feldman

Charles Dickens’

adapted by Tom Haas

NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN

by Christina Ham

FEB 4 – MAR 2, 2025

OneAmerica Stage

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

by Tennessee Williams

MAR 11 – APR 6, 2025

Janet Allen Stage

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, & Henry Shields

APR 9 – MAY 11, 2025

OneAmerica Stage

a revolution in song

In the depths of the Civil Rights struggle, Nina Simone used song as a means of expressing the nation’s anguish and resilience. This play with music imagines a conversation among Simone and three other Black women, showing how the High Priestess of Soul forged her true calling and gave voice to a movement. poignant classic

Faded southern belle Amanda shares a cramped apartment with her two adult children, the shy Laura and the restless poet Tom. This colorful cast of outcasts invents beautiful language to survive their drab lives. Looking back at his own family with bittersweet tenderness, Tennessee Williams probes the depths of inescapable memory. unstoppable farce

There’s an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that won’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines)—and that’s only the first act. It’s nothing you want in a show—and everything you want in a show!

EXPLORE INDY ARTS.

DISCOVER THE BEST OF CENTRAL INDIANA ARTS AND CULTURE.

BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.

COMMUNITY

IS IMPORTANT

TO

WILHELM. We continuously seek opportunities to build and support the communities in which we live and work.

ONEAMERICA MAINSTAGE

APRIL 17 – MAY 19

Director_____________________ BENJAMIN HANNA

Music Director_______________________ ANDREW BOURGOIN

Choreographer__________________________ BREON ARZELL

Scenic Designer__________________________ CZERTON LIM

Costume Designer_________________________ IZUMI INABA

Lighting Designer________________________ DAWN CHIANG

Sound Designer___________________________ TODD MACK

Vocal Arrangements______________________ ROBERT BILLIG

Orchestrations__________________________ ROBBY MERKIN

Dramaturg_________________________ RICHARD J ROBERTS

Stage Manager______________________ NATHAN GARRISON

Assistant Stage Manager___________________ BECKY ROEBER

Casting____________________________ CLAIRE SIMON CSA

Share your review on social media by tagging us at @IRTLIVE, using #IRTLIVE or by emailing REVIEWS@IRTLIVE.COM

SCENIC DESIGNER: Czerton Lim

LIGHTING DESIGNER: Dawn Chiang

Chiffon__________________________________________________ TIFFANY THEANA TAYLOR

Ronnette_______________________________________________________ JESSY JACKSON

Crystal_______________________________________________________ RAQUELLE VITERI

Mushnik_____________________________________________________ RYAN ARTZBERGER

Audrey____________________________________________________ LUCY MARIA GODINEZ

Seymour___________________________________________________ DOMINIQUE LAWSON

Derelicts______________________________________________ KYLE PATRICK | ALLEN SLEDGE

Orin, Bernstein, Snip, Luce, & Everyone Else_________________________________ KYLE PATRICK

Audrey II (Manipulation)_____________________________________________ ROB JOHANSEN

Audrey II (Voice)__________________________________________________ ALLEN SLEDGE

Skid Row. The 1960s.

APPROXIMATERUNTIME: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

Little Shop of Horrors was originally directed by Howard Ashman with musical staging by Edie Cowan.

Originally produced by the WPA Theatre, Kyle Renick, Producing Director.

Originally produced at the Orpheum Theatre, New York City, by the WPA Theatre, David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh, and the Shubert Organization.

This production of Little Shop of Horrors was licensed by Music Theatre International.

Puppets designed by Matthew McAvene Creations.

Fight Choreographer: Leraldo Anzaldua

Intimacy: Claire Wilcher

Wig Design: Ray Sanchez

Dialect Coach: Henry McDaniel

Assistant Scenic Designer: Donnie Woodard

Understudy for Seymour and Audrey II (Voice): Breon Arzell

Understudy for Audrey: Tiffany Theona Taylor

Understudy for Orin, Mushnik, and Audrey II (Manipulation): Clay Mabbit

Understudy for Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon: Darian Wilson

Actors and stage managers in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

The scenic, costume, lighting, and sound designers are represented by United Scenic Artists Local 829, IATSE.

Photographyandrecordingareforbiddeninthetheatre.ThevideotapingofthisproductionisaviolationofUnitedStatesCopyrightLawandanactionableFederalOffense.

BENJAMIN HANNA

Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director

SUZANNE SWEENEY Managing Director

ACT I

“Prologue (Little Shop of Horrors)”_________________________________ Chiffon, Crystal, Ronnette

“Skid Row (Downtown)”__________________________________________________ Company

“Da-Doo”_________________________________________________ Chiffon, Crystal, Ronnette

“Grow for Me”_________________________________________________________ Seymour

“Ya Never Know”________________________________ Mushnik, Chiffon, Crystal, Ronnette, Seymour

“Somewhere That’s Green”_________________________________________________ Audrey

“Closed for Renovation”_______________________________________ Seymour, Audrey, Mushnik

“Dentist!”______________________________________________ Orin, Chiffon, Crystal, Ronnette

“Mushnik and Son” ______________________________________________ Mushnik & Seymour

“(Git It) Feed Me”______________________________________________ Seymour & Audrey II

“Now (It’s Just the Gas)”____________________________________________ Seymour & Orin

ACT II

“Call Back in the Morning”__________________________________________ Seymour & Audrey

“Suddenly, Seymour”______________________________________________ Seymour & Audrey

“Suppertime”_________________________________________________________ Audrey II

“The Meek Shall Inherit”__________________________________________________ Company

“Finale (Don’t Feed the Plants)”______________________________________________ Company

Andrew Bourgoin________________________________ Music Director/Piano Conductor (April 17-28)

Tenéh B. C. Karimu_____________________ Co-Associate Music Director/Piano Conductor (April 30-May 19)

Morgan E. Stevenson__________________________________ Co-Associate Music Director/Synthesizer

Eric Garcia _____________________________________________________________ Guitar

Steve Dokken____________________________________________________________ Bass

Art Reiner_____________________________________________________________ Drums

Darian Wilson_____________________________________________________ Offstage Singer

BENJAMIN HANNA Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director

SUZANNE SWEENEY Managing Director

OriginalartworkbyKyleRagsdale

Book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Howard Ashman was born and raised in Baltimore, where he played Peter Pan with the Children’s Theater Association. He did his undergraduate work at Boston University and Goddard college before earning a Master of Fine Arts at Indiana University in Bloomington. He moved to New York City in 1974, writing several plays and becoming the artistic director of the WPA Theatre in 1977. After meeting composer Alan Menken at the BMI Workshop, the two developed a musical version of Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Their next collaboration, Little Shop of Horrors, won the 1982 New York drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical and ran for five years, becoming the third-longest-running musical and the highest-grossing production in Off-Broadway history. With Marvin Hamlisch, Ashman wrote the book and lyrics for the short-lived 1986 Broadway musical Smile. After briefly writing songs for Sesame Street, Ashman and Menken began working for Disney. Together they wrote The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and three songs for Aladdin (1992), winning two Golden Globes, two Grammys, and two Oscars for Best Song. The latter two films were released after Ashman’s 1991 death at the age of 40 from AIDS.

Music by Alan

Menken

Alan Menken was born and raised in Manhattan. He began writing music at age nine. After graduating from New York University, he worked as a dance accompanist, a musical director for club acts, a jingle writer, an arranger, and a vocal coach before collaborating with Howard Ashman on Little Shop of Horrors. Menken has won four Best Song Oscars and four Best Score Oscars: two each for both TheLittleMermaidand BeautyandtheBeastwith Ashman, two for Aladdinwith lyricist Tim Rice, and two for Pocahontas (1995) with lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Other film work includes Newsies (1992), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Enchanted (2007), and Tangled (2010). Menken’s other stage works include A Christmas Carol (1994), King David (1997), and Sister Act (2009). In addition to his eight Oscars, Menken has won an Emmy, 11 Grammys, and a Tony, making him one of only 19 people with an EGOT.

The original Off-Broadway cast and crew of Little Shop of Horrors.

Greek Tragedy as Musical Comedy

BY RICHARD J ROBERTS, RESIDENT DRAMATURG

Little Shop of Horrors started life as a cheap afterthought to A Bucket of Blood, a 1959 comedy horror film produced and directed on a shoestring budget by “the King of Cult,” Roger Corman. When he discovered that he had access to the sets from that film for two more days, Corman quickly worked with screenwriter Charles Griffith to develop a script that could use that leftover scenery. They shot it in those two days. When the movie was released in 1960, Corman had so little faith in its commercial potential that he neglected to copyright it.

Fast-forward to 1982, when playwright-lyricist (and Indiana University alumni) Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken were looking for a follow-up to their less-than-successful Off-Broadway musicalization of Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Directed by Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors premiered at the WPA Theatre and went on to a five-year run, making it the third-longest-running musical and the largestgrossing Off-Broadway production in history.

This giant plant that terrorizes innocent bystanders has deep, dark roots. The nuclear bombs that ended World War II in 1945 also ushered in an age of anxiety. Confronted by science’s newfound ability to destroy the planet—literally—society began to see danger in everything new and different. People clung to community and conformity, even as the emerging Cold War further eroded those elusive feelings of comfort. Hollywood played on such fears, releasing more than 500 science fiction movies between 1948 and 1962. Celluloid radiation brought us creatures from black lagoons, 50-foot women, incredible shrinking men, and dozens of Godzillas. In her 1965 essay “The Imagination of Disaster,” Susan Sontag wrote: “We live under continual threat of two equally fearful, but seemingly opposed, destinies: unremitting banality and inconceivable terror.”

Little Shop of Horrors is certainly derived from the cheesy end of the sci-fi spectrum. But deep down, it is another version of the Faust legend, adapted over the centuries by Marlowe, Goethe, Gounod, Berlioz, and countless others, as well as the inspiration for Stephen Vincent Benét’s “The Devil and Daniel Webster,” Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the fifties musical Damn Yankees, and Queen’s epic hit “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It tells a timeless tale of fatal risk born from unrequited love and a deep yearning for something better.

Howard Ashman’s book is one of the most meticulously structured in all of musical theatre, with every story element carefully crafted for its maximum potential. Alan Menken has described his music as “the dark side of Grease, but there are also elements winking at the late fifties and early sixties—beach blanket horror movies with people dancing on the beach while some monster comes in from the water to terrorize them—as well as Phil Spector rock, which is apocalyptic in tone…. It’s a cocktail of really dark themes and fun spoof elements.”

Little Shop of Horrors may be a brilliant parody and a hilarious comedy, but it is also a Greek tragedy, with a flawed hero who somehow thinks he can harness a supernatural force. Instead, he—and the woman he loves—are destroyed by the monster he has wrought. There’s even a Greek Chorus—Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon, named after popular sixties girl groups—who send us home with the sobering moral of the tale: “Don’t Feed the Plants.”

The original Off-Broadway Seymour and Audrey, Lee Wilkoff and Ellen Greene, sing “Suddenly Seymour.” (Howard Ashman Papers, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC.)

RYAN ARTZBERGER | Mushnik Ryan’s IRT credits include A Christmas Carol, Clue, Oedipus, Cyrano, TuesdayswithMorrie,TheDiaryofAnneFrank,NoisesOff,RomeoandJuliet,TheThreeMusketeers, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Crucible, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, God of Carnage, Rabbit Hole, Iron Kisses, and Death of a Salesman. Ryan is executive artistic director of the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company. Regional credits include the Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC, the Studio Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Rep, the Lookingglass, and Great Lakes. Ryan graduated from Ohio University and Juilliard. “Love to Marita, Will, and Clara.”

LUCY MARIA GODINEZ | Audrey Recently, Lucy originated the role of Ana in Real Women Have Curves at the American Repertory Theatre. Other regional credits include Something Rotten (Bea), Fulton Theater and Maine State Music Theatre; ManofLaMancha(Aldonza), Fulton Theater; American Mariachi (Goodman Theater, Dallas Theatre Center, Cleveland Play House, Alabama Shakes); School of Rock and Legally Blonde (Paramount Theater); Big Fish (the Witch), Oliver! (Nancy, Jeff Award Nomination), and Footloose (Ariel), Marriott Theater; Into the Woods (Little Red), Writers Theatre. A Chicago native, Lucy is a graduate of Northwestern University. “For my mom.” @lucygodinez

JESSY JACKSON | Ronnette Jessy is excited to make her debut with IRT. She grew up in a theatre family with a playwright father, and began training in acting at an early age through John Robert Powers Acting School in Las Vegas. After receiving her B.A. from Western Kentucky University, where she studied TV production and Musical Theatre, she moved back to Vegas to continue her acting career with SJM Productions Theater Company. Her favorite role is Domonique in BurntCoffee, an original musical with SJM Productions. Outside of theatre, she enjoys working with brands as a content creator and videographer.

ROB JOHANSEN | Audrey II (Manipulation) This is Rob’s 54th show at IRT, and it’s unlike any he’s ever done. He is excited to be in a show where you’ll barely see him! Puppeteering is a new adventure and falls in line with his love for stage combat, yoga, ice hockey, and all things physical. Rob loves his life with his wife, Jen, and their fur-babies, Olive, Tibbs, and Boon. “This one’s still for Puds!”

DOMINIQUE LAWSON | Seymour Dominique is beyond excited to be making his Indiana Rep debut in this dream role! Off-Broadway: Shedding Load (59E59). Regional: Once on This Island (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Spring Awakening (Hangar Theatre), Rent (Theatre Aspen). Television: FBI, Bull (CBS), Younger (TV Land), High Maintenance (HBO), Hit & Run (Netflix), The Blacklist (NBC), Lisey’s Story (Apple TV+), Dr. Death (Peacock). Film: Happiest Season (Hulu), Down Low (Netflix). B.F.A. from University of Central Florida. “Thanks to my reps at Entertainment Lab & BWA!” @DominiqueAllenLawson

KYLE PATRICK | Orin, Bernstein, Skip, Luce, Derelict, & Everyone Else Kyle is thrilled to be making his IRT debut! Recent theatre credits include AmericanPsycho(Kokandy Productions), Dunsinane(National Theatre of Scotland), Antigone(the Barbican), TheBoysintheBand(Windy City Playhouse), and Xanadu(Metropolis). Recent TV/Film credits include You’reOUT!(Stay the Course), Subsurface(SoliFilm), Saturnalia(Fellpeller), EmperorofOceanPark (MGM+), ChicagoMed(NBC), and BloodFeuds(AHC). When not acting, Kyle is likely upside down on his trapeze, writing/producing some new film, or learning about something! He is proudly represented by Gray Talent Group.

“All the love to Ben!” Website: kylepatrickacting.com FB: @KylePatrickActor IG/TikTok: @_kyle_patrick

ALLEN SLEDGE | Audrey II (Voice) & Derelict Allen is thrilled to be making his IRT debut. Previous favorite roles include Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime, Black in TheWildParty, and Belize in Angels in America. “I would like to offer my sincerest thanks and gratitude to my friends and family and my partner Brandon for their continued support and encouragement. Many thanks to Ben Hanna and the IRT staff.”

TIFFANY THEANA TAYLOR | Chiffon & Understudy for Audrey IRT debut! Regional: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Cinderella (Paramount Theatre), Clue (Mercury Theatre), It Came from Outer Space (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Grease (Marriott Theatre), Spring Awakening (Porchlight Music Theatre, Blank Theatre Company), Head over Heels (Kokandy Productions), A Man of No Importance (PrideArts), and Christmas Mubarak (Silk Road Rising). BFA MT: Chicago College of Performing Arts @ Roosevelt University. “Mahal kita mom, friends, and Chicago.” @tiffanyttaylor

RAQUELLE VITERI | Crystal Raquelle is an NYC born-and-based Latina actor, singer, dancer, and educator. She earned a Master of Music in Vocal Performance: Musical Theatre along with an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from New York University Steinhardt, where she worked as an Adjunct Voice Instructor. She held a position as a Music Movement/Voice Instructor for six and a half years at NYU Steinhardt’s Music Education Department in their Continuing Education in Music Program. Her favorite credits include Woman 2 in Songs for a New World and Mad Hatter in Frank Wildhorn’s Wonderland under the direction of Gabriel Barre.

CLAY MABBITT | Understudy for Orin, Mushnik, Audrey II (Manipulation) Clay is thrilled to be involved with his first IRT production. Recent theatre appearances include Hedda Gabler at Theatre at the Fort and Predictor with American Lives Theatre. Other previous appearances on local stages include Thomas in Defiance Comedy’s North Wing, Ladahlord in James and the Giant Peach with the Children’s Museum, Rick in Building the Wall with Fonseca Theatre Company, and Apartment in Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake) with Theatre on the Square (now the District Theatre). “Thanks as always to Katy and Libby for supporting me as I come out to play.”

DARIAN WILSON | Understudy for Crystal, Ronnette, & Chiffon Darian is excited to bring her talent to Indiana Repertory Theatre in LittleShopofHorrors. With a diverse background in musicals, commercials, and stage performances, she has graced regional stages in Shrek the Musical, Hairspray, Memphis, and Ragtime. Her commercial campaigns span Giant Eagle, Wayfair, and Ohio Lottery. A true Hoosier, Darian is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Indianapolis. “Deep appreciation to my supportive family, friends, and the IRT community.”

BENJAMIN HANNA | Director Ben is finishing his first season as the IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director, after six years as Associate Artistic Director. He has previously worked with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Penumbra Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Steppingstone Theatre, and the Bay Area Children’s Theatre. At the IRT, Ben has directed Clue, Fahrenheit 451, The BookClubPlay,TuesdayswithMorrie,ThisWonderfulLife,AChristmasCarol,TheLittleChoo-ChooThat ThinksSheCan,Elephant&Piggie’s“WeAreinaPlay!,” and TheTownMouseandtheCountryMouse. (see full bio on page 8)

ANDREW BOURGOIN | Music Director/Piano Conductor Andrew is making his Indiana Repertory Theatre debut with a classic: Little Shop of Horrors! Broadway: Aladdin, Mean Girls. Touring: The Band’s Visit, Something Rotten!, The Little Mermaid, MJ: The Musical (upcoming). Regional Theatre: the Ordway, Ogunquit Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Guthrie, Children’s Theatre Company, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Theater Latté Da, and more. Andrew leads Bourgoin Productions with event clients ranging from Johnson & Johnson to Hennepin Theatre Trust. Education: St. Olaf College, HarvardX. Memberships: AFM (30-73), Project Management Institute. Find him @andrewbourgoin@ bourgoinproductions. “Congrats Ben & IRT Team, you have something special!”

BREON ARZELL | Choreographer & Understudy for Seymour and Audrey II (Voice) Breon is a dedicated teaching artist from Detroit, specializing in hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and body percussion, and he serves as mentor to several universities, studios, and theatres. Chicago: Black by Popular Demand (Second City); HowBloodGo(Congo Square Theatre); KillMoveParadise*(TimeLine Theatre); AmericanPsycho,TheWiz, and HeadOverHeels*(Kokandy Productions); TheTotalBent*(Haven Theatre); MarieChristine,TheScottsboro Boys,TheHairyApe*, and more. Regional: Dreamgirls (Goodspeed Musicals and McCarter Theatre); Rent and TheColorPurple(MUNY); Fela!and MissYouLikeHell(Olney Theatre); OnceonThisIsland(Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Acoustic Rooster (Kennedy Center). TV: South Side, The 4400. Listed among the “50 Players for Chicago” (2018, 2020, 2023), and recipient of six Jeff Awards*. @breonarzell//breonarzell.com

CZERTON LIM | Scenic Designer

Czerton is ecstatic to be back, having designed last season’s IRT production of Clue. His work has been seen regionally in New York at Syracuse Stage, the Rev Theatre Company, Hangar Theatre Company; around the country in NYC, DC, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, to name a few; and internationally in Melbourne, Australia, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He teaches design and other related topics for the Department of Theatre & Dance at the State University of New York at Fredonia. A proud member of USA local 829, Czerton is originally from the Philippines. czlimdesign.com

IZUMI INABA | Costume Designer

Izumi has designed Clue and Fahrenheit 451 at the IRT. OffBroadway: How to Defend Yourself (New York Theatre Workshop). Recent Chicago: Brooklyn Laundry (Northlight Theatre), Billy Elliot (Paramount Theatre), Lehman Trilogy (Timeline Theatre). Upcoming: LittleShopofHorrors (Penobscot Theatre Company), Constellations (American Players Theatre). Awards and exhibitions: Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Awards (2014), Jeff Awards (2011, 2014), Black Theatre Alliance Awards (2020), Prague Quadrennial (2019). Izumi is a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA829.

DAWN CHIANG | Lighting Designer

Dawn has designed Shakespeare’sWill and SenseandSensibility at the IRT. Broadway: Zoot Suit and co-designer for Tango Pasión. Off Broadway: Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre; Encores! Concert Musicals, co-designer. Opera: resident lighting designer, New York City Opera. Regional: Guthrie Theater, Mark Taper Forum, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory, Syracuse Stage, Denver Center Theatre Company, Trinity Repertory Company, and many more. Awards: One Broadway World award, two Syracuse Area Live Theatre Awards, two Drama-Logue Awards, and USITT Distinguished Achievement Award. Mentor for Theater Development Fund’s “Wendy Wasserstein Project” outreach program for New York City high school students.

TODD MACK | Sound Designer This is Todd’s 22nd season as resident sound designer at IRT, and his 12th season with Indianapolis Shakespeare Company as sound designer/composer. His work has been heard at Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre Center, San Diego Rep, St. Louis Black Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, among others. Todd stays involved in a variety of music projects around town. After more than 25 years in professional audio he can both create and describe the ruckus.

MORGAN E. STEVENSON | Co-Associate Music Director/Synthesizer Fresh off of music directing and conducting Fela!theMusicalin Atlanta, Georgia, Morgan is thrilled to be returning to IRT for this production! Morgan is a versatile creative professional rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of Chicago’s south side. Noted productions include Marie&Rosetta (Northlight Theatre); Fannie:TheMusicandLifeofFannieLouHamer (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodman Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, True Colors Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, City Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Indiana Repertory Theatre); and Passing Strange (Theatrical Outfit). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University and a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. linktr.ee/morganemusicnow

RICHARD J ROBERTS | Dramaturg This is Richard’s 34th season with the IRT, and his 26th as resident dramaturg. He has also been a dramaturg for the New Harmony Project, Write Now, and the Hotchner Playwriting Festival. He has directed IRT productions of A Christmas Carol, The Cay, Bridge & Tunnel, The Night Watcher, Neat, Pretty Fire, The Giver, The Power of One, and Twelfth Night. Other directing credits include Actors Theatre of Indiana, the Phoenix, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Edyvean. Richard studied music at DePauw and theatre at IU and was awarded a Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

NATHAN GARRISON | Stage Manager This is Nathan’s 28th season at the IRT. He has also worked with Center Stage in Baltimore, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Brown County Playhouse; and he is a company member with the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company.

BECKY ROEBER | Assistant Stage Manager Becky is now an Indianapolis local and is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. This is their sixth season working at Indiana Repertory Theatre. They also serve as Production Manager for Summer Stock Stage and as Production Stage Manager for Summer Stock Stage’s young professionals branch, Eclipse. “I am proud to be a part of the Indianapolis theatre community and grateful to continue to produce theatre with the team at IRT.”

CLAIRE SIMON | CSA Based in Chicago, Claire Simon CSA has worked with the IRT for the past 24 years on casting more than 40 productions, including The Folks at Home, A Christmas Carol, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Clue, Oedipus, Sense and Sensibility, Murder on the Orient Express, Twelve Angry Men, You Can’t Take It With You, Holmes and Watson, and many more. Other regional credits include Syracuse Stage, Asolo Theatre, Lyric Opera, Milwaukee Rep, and the Tony Award–winning MillionDollar Quartet. TV credits include Empire, Easy, Sense8, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Crisis, and Betrayal. Film credits include Divergent,Contagion,Unexpected, and Man of Steel. Claire has won two Artios Awards.

SARAH

LECHLEITER SEASON SUPPORTERS OF

CRAIG & BETSY DYKSTRA SEASON SUPPORTERS OF SUZANNE SWEENEY

SUSAN & CHARLIE GOLDEN SEASON SUPPORTERS OF ROB JOHANSEN

Indiana Repertory Theatre 2024

Entering the Portals of Imagination

Faegre Drinker cheers the IRT for expanding imaginations and introducing new generations to the theatre and the world’s storytelling old and new! We are grateful for Indiana’s largest nonprofit theatre, which helps us see our lives more clearly, and reminds us to live with compassion and intention.

With 1,200 attorneys and consulting professionals licensed in nearly every state in the U.S., and with strategic offices in London and Shanghai, we also are committed to imagination and justice in our communities.

JOIN THE OVATION SOCIETY

GIVE THE GIFT OF THEATRE TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS!

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Make your mark on the next 50 years by endowing a legacy gift to the IRT.

It can be as easy as changing your life insurance or retirement beneficiaries through your financial or estate plans to include the IRT.

TO LEAVE YOUR LEGACY TO THE IRT, CONTACT:

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Above:JohnGuerrasioandPriscillaLindsayintheIRT’s1992Productionof The Miser.

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Jesse L. & Carolynne Bobbitt

Barbara & Christopher Bodem*

Natalie Boehm

Louise & Joseph Boling

William Capello M.D.

Vince & Robyn Caponi

Allen B. Carter & Patricia Hester

Robert Cedoz

Jeffrey & Jeni Christoffersen

Jerry & Carol Collins

Shane and Andrea Crouch*

Kathleen A. Custer

Karen Dace*

Bill & Shirley Daley

Carolyn Daly

Fr. Clem Davis*

Mary & Steve DeVoe

Tom Dorantes & Sunah C Kim

Dorantes*

Rosemary Dorsa

Patricia Edwards

Nikki Eller

Sherry Faris

Drs. Eric Farmer & Tate Trujillo & Christopher Scott*

Hank & Nanci Feuer

Arthur Field IV

Esther Fogle

Roger & Susan Frick

Thecla Gossett

John & Mary Ann Grogan

Greg Grossart

Ron & Ellie Hackler

Mr. & Mrs. David J. Hamernik

Don & Elizabeth Harmon

Mark & Laurie Hartman

Andrea Hatch & Rich Dionne

Steve & Kathy Heath

Sandra Hester-Steele

Eleanor & Joseph Hingtgen

Katie, Tim & Jennifer Holihen

David Jackoway

Kyle & MaryBeth Jackson

Greg & Pat Jacoby

Patricia Johnson & Michael Wilson

Jay & Carole Kirkpatrick

Michelle Korin*

Steven & Kathleen Krusie

Jonathan and Lisa LeCrone

Charitable Fund

Hitch & Sandy Learned

Kathy & David Lentz

Andra Liepa Charitable Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation

Carlos & Eleanor Lopez

Linda Lough*

Donald & Ruth Ann MacPherson

Mark Magee*

Gayle Mayne

William McNiece

Mr. & Mrs. David McPherson

Dr. Frank Messina & Robin Reagan

Rev. Mary Ann Moman*

James Monn & Valerie Purcell-Monn

Jim & Shantel Morris

Jim & Judi Mowry

Mr Electric Solar

Terry & Lew Mumford

John & Beth Murphy

Sharon & Dan Murphy*

Dr. LeeAnne M. Nazer

Deena J. Nystrom

Ann Marie Ogden & Brian Murphy

The Ostergaard Family

Risheet & Aimee Patel

Gerald & Dorit Paul

Judy & Sidney Pellissier

Deb & Greg Perkins

Davie & Dorian Poole

Greg Pugh & Jill Woerner

Richard & Diane Rhodes

Richard & Ann Riegner

Richard & Christine Scales

Linda J. Shinn

Doug Sims

Blair & Helen Snead

Kimberly Sorg-Graves

Spence Family Vision Fund

Luke Stark*

Dr. Tim & Tina Tanselle

Steve & Barb Tegarden*

Garrett & Elaine Thiel

The Lori Thompson & Ben Downing Charitable Fund

Randall & Jennifer Todd

Donald & Shirley Trapp

Robert & Barbetta True*

Barbara S. Tully*

Bill & Janet Wakefield

Norma B. Wallman

John & Pamela West

Paula Taylor Whitfield and Sherman L Whitfield

Angie & Andy Wilkinson

Reba Boyd Wooden*

Zionsville Physical Therapy*

*Denotes sustaining donors

IN MEMORY OF SHEILA RENE LEACHMAN | Nikki Koval

IN HONOR OF SARAH MYER’S RADIO SHOW APPEARANCE | Katrina Canfield | Chris Gahl

IN HONOR OF MELISSA PROFFIT | Joann Brouillette

IN MEMORY OF KEITH D. SORENSON | Kimber Sorenson-Brugh

IN HONOR OF KAY SWANK-HERZOG’S DEDICATION AND FRIENDSHIP DURING HER TIME AT THE IRT | Brady Clark

The Ovation Society is an exclusive program that recognizes donors that have made a legacy gift to the IRT. The IRT truly appreciates those individuals whose gift will ensure that the Theatre can continue to provide meaningful and inspirational experiences for future generations.

Gary Addison

Janet Allen & Joel Grynheim

Pat Anker

Bob & Toni Bader

Frank & Katrina Basile

Charlie & Cary Boswell

Ron & Julia Carpenter

John R. Carr (in memoriam)

John & Mary Challman

Megan McKinney Cooper & Doug Cooper

Sergej R. Cotton

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Dapp

Nancy Davis & Robert Robinson

Rollie & Cheri Dick

Nancy & Berkley Duck

Dale & Karen Duncan

Troy D. Farmer

Jim & Julie Freeman

Meg Gammage-Tucker

David A. & Dee Garrett (in memoriam)

Michael Gradison (in memoriam)

Marta Gross & Richard M. Barnes

Emily F. (Cramer) Hancock*

Mike & Judy Harrington

THE SUPPORTING CAST INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE DONORS

Michael N. & Karen E. Heaton

Bruce Hetrick & Cheri O’Neill

Tom & Nora Hiatt

Brenda Horn

Bill & Nancy Hunt

David Kleiman & Susan Jacobs

Frank & Jacqueline La Vista

Andra Liepa Charitable Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation

Barbara MacDougall

Donald & Ruth Ann MacPherson

Stuart L. Main (in memoriam)

Michael R. Maine

Sharon R. Merriman

David & Leslie Morgan

Michael D. Moriarty

Richard & Lila Morris

Mutter Marines--Jim & Carol

Rob & Sara Norris

Deena J. Nystrom

Marcia O’Brien (in memoriam)

The Payne Family Foundation, a fund of CICF

George & Olive Rhodes (in memoriam)

CORPORATE

AARP Indiana

Robert & Kristin L. Altice

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Christ Church Cathedral Citizens Energy Group

Corteva Agriscience

F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Inc.

Faegre Drinker

Frost Brown Todd

KERAMIDA Inc.

KPMG LLP

Navient Community Fund of the Delaware Community Foundation

OneAmerica Financial Partners

Oxford Financial Group, Ltd.

Nicholas & Tracy Pappas

Printing Partners

STEELENCOUNTERS

F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Inc.

FOUNDATION

The Ackerman Family Foundation

Elba L. & Gene Portteus Branigin Foundation, Inc.

Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation

Christel DeHaan Family Foundation

The Margot L. Eccles Arts & Culture Fund, a fund of CICF

Efroymson Family Fund, a fund of CICF

The Glick Family Foundation

Glick Philanthropies

The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Lacy Foundation

Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

The Penrod Society

The Shubert Foundation

Pat Garrett Rooney

Jane W. Schlegel

Myra C. Selby & Bruce Curry

Michael Skehan

Jeff & Janet Stroebel

Michael Suit (in memoriam)

Suzanne Sweeney & Todd Wiencek

Gene & Mary Tempel

Jeff & Benita Thomasson

Christopher J. Tolzmann

Alan & Elizabeth Whaley

John & Margaret Wilson

GOVERNMENT

Indiana Arts Commission

Indy Arts Council and the City of Indianapolis

IN-KIND/TRADE

National Institute of Fitness & Sport

THE ALAN AND LINDA COHEN EDUCATION FUND

Marta Gross & Richard M. Barnes

United Way of Central Indiana

2024 IRT CELEBRITY RADIO SHOW

500 Festival Inc.

Brandon Alstott

Amelia’s

Malia Arguello

David Austin & Doris Taylor-Austin

Bar Bosco

Anna Barnett

Chris Bartenbauch

Bazbeaux Pizza

Kathryn Beiser & Mick Domagala

Elizabeth Binford

Maggie Bishop

Jeffrey Bledsoe

The Block

Susie & Joel Blum

Angela M. Boarman

Kathryn Bobel

Seth C. Bowers

Kriss & Andrew Bowes

Dan Bradburn & Jane Robison

Nick Brady

Stacy Brake

Abbey Brands

Janet Lynn Brinkman

Linda Broadfoot & Jeff Arvin

Heather Brogden

Brown County Music Center

Brian Brown

Amy Burke

Jamie Burton

Cabello Associates

The Capital Grille

Mary Ann Carter, Portrait Artist

Central Indiana Community Foundation

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Clancy’s Restaurant Group

Guy Clark

Natalie Clayton

Climb Time Indy

Conrad Indianapolis

The Cooking Besties

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants

Don & Dolly Craft

Cassandra Crutchfield

Debra D’Adamo

Daniel’s Vineyard

Geneva Denney-Moore

The Michael Dinius & Jeannie

Regan-Dinius Family Fund, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation

Craig & Betsy Dykstra

Patricia Edwards

Eiteljorg Museum

Victoria Elia

Ellie Sophia Pet Photography

Ellis Mechanical & Electrical

Ashley Elrod

Rebecca Engle

Faegre Drinker

Falcone Automotive

Troy D. Farmer

David Feinberg & Maureen Keller

Margie & Amy Ferguson

Monika Fischer

Fitness By Design

Michelle Folz

Heather Ford

Forvis

Foundry Provisions

Dick & Brenda Freije

Tom & Jenny Froehle

Frost Brown Todd

The Gahl Family

Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Gaich

Michael Gargano

Mr. Jim Gawne

Dorothea & Philip Genetos

Devon Ginn

Marianne Glick & Mike Woods

Bruce Glor

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

Gwenn Goebel

Lindsay Danielle Gramlich

Julie Grice

Benjamin Hanna

Christine M. Hansen

Jeff Harrison

Mary Hauser

Alissa RaLynn Hayes

Heartland Film

Tracy Heaton de Martinez

Brian Heaton

Michael N. & Karen E. Heaton

Holt Hedrick

Brian & Nancy Henning

Glenda Hernandez

Carl Hoadley

Brenda Horn

Derek & Meg Horn

Susie Howard

Ice Miller LLP

Illinois Street Food Emporium

India Garden

Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Indiana Landmark

Indiana Medical History Museum

Indiana Sports Corp

Indiana State Museum

Indiana University Health

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate

Indianapolis Indians

Indianapolis International Airport

Indianapolis Motor

Speedway/Penske Entertainment

Indianapolis Opera

Indianapolis Zoo

David Ingram & Sarah Stelzner

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

Invoke Studio

IU Athletics

Lauren James

William Jannetta

Monet Jensen

Keri Jeter Lewis

Dr. Terri Jett

Jiffy Lube

Andrew & Brianna Johnson

James Johnson

Suzan Kallus

Janette L. Kauffman

Elisha Kemp

KERAMIDA Inc.

Andrea Kessler

THE SUPPORTING CAST INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE DONORS

KeyBank

Brian & Natalie Killeen

Michael Kimball

Anne M. King

Megan Klopchin

KPMG LLP

Lacy Foundation

Howard Lacy

Jill & Peter Lacy

Noelani Langille

Ann M. Lathrop

Sarah & John Lechleiter

Edward & Ann M. Ledford

Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Nataly Lowder

Lynn MacAbee

Steven & Rob MacPherson Stolen

Terren B. Magid & Julie Manning Magid

Rachelle Martin

Brent Marty

Master Jewelers

Matt the Miller’s Tavern & Tucci’s

Sheila McNelis

Lisa Mecce

David Mellott

Jennifer Mendoza

Julie Mervis

Andrew & Amy Michie

Crystal Miller

Lawren Mills & Brad Rateike

Nick Mitchell

Chris Morehead

David & Leslie Morgan

Jim & Judi Mowry

Moyer Fine Jewelers

John Mundell

Julie Mundell

Kristy Murphy

Carl Nelson & Loui Lord Nelson

Tammie L Nelson & David McCaskill

Jackie Nytes & Patrick O’Brien

Joel & Mary O’Brien

Old National Bank

Tim Oliver

Kevin Osburn & Monica Bopp

Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Rita Patel

The Payne Family Foundation, a fund of CICF

Petite G Jewelers

Dr. & Mrs. Lee Phipps

Plews Shadley Racher & Braun

PNC

Tammara D. Porter

Printing Partners

Purdue Athletics

Kathi Quinn

Peter Racher & Sarah Binford

Stacey & Ross Raifsnider

Mike Raunick

Tommy Reddicks

Red’s Classic Barber Shop Co.

The Rejoicing Vine

Relocation Strategies

Sue & Bill Ringo

Roberts Camera

Sahm’s Catering

Juan Sanchez

Joanne Sanders

John & Salena Scardina

Tanya Searcy

Myra C. Selby & Bruce Curry

Mark & Gerri Shaffer

Darshan & Rebecca Shah

Robert Shegog

Brian Shockney

Shred415

Julie Slavens

Shelly & Jeremy Smith

The Michael L. Smith and Susan L. Smith Family Fund, a fund of Hamilton County Community Foundation

Nora Spitznogle

Luke Stark

Anne Decker Steinberg

Taryn Stone

Kay Swank-Herzog & Robert Herzog

Suzanne Sweeney & Todd Wiencek

Patrick Talty

Joe & Jill Tanner

Carrie Tauscher

Marla Kay Taylor

Telemon Enterprise Ventures

Gene & Mary Tempel

Rupal Thanawala

The Center for Performing Arts

Elana Thompson

Katy Thompson

Tinker Coffee Company

Top Shelf Tours

Yecenia Tostado

Total Wine & More

Tim Trostle

John Turchi

Robin Turner

Stephan A. Viehweg

MaCharri Vorndran-Jones & Tony Jones

Amy Waggoner

Darla Werner

Alan & Elizabeth Whaley

Wheel Fun Rentals

Dave Whitman & Donna Reynolds

Brian & Susan Brock Williams

Cliff Williams

Jerry & Sandy Williams

Jarod Wilson

Amanda R. Wishin

André Zhang Sonera

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Janet Allen & Joel Grynheim

Pat Anker

Charlie & Cary Boswell

Risa Brainin & Michael Klaers

Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation

Mike & Irene Curry

Ann & Kenneth Dee

Gary Denney & Louise Bakker

Rollie & Cheri Dick

The Michael Dinius & Jeannie ReganDinius Family Fund, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation

Troy D. Farmer

Jim & Julie Freeman

Tom & Jenny Froehle

Charles Goad & James Kincannon

Mike & Judy Harrington

Michael N. & Karen E. Heaton

Bruce Hetrick & Cheri O’Neill

Brenda Horn

Rebecca Hutton

Michael Keck

David Kleiman & Susan Jacobs

Jill & Peter Lacy

Barry Landy

Sarah & John Lechleiter

Michael L. Lincoln

David & Leslie Morgan

Rob & Sara Norris

Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

Jackie Nytes & Patrick O’Brien

Brian & Gail Payne

Sue & Bill Ringo

Pat Garrett Rooney

Michael Sample & Jhani Laupus

Dan & Patty Schipp

Tim & Karen Seiler

Rosie Semler

Jack & Karen Shaw

Shiel Sexton Company

Sue & Mike Smith

Jeff & Janet Stroebel

Suzanne Sweeney & Todd Wiencek

Gene & Mary Tempel

Cheryl Gruber Waldman

Alan & Elizabeth Whaley

Dr. Christian Wolf & Elaine Holden Charitable Fund

BACK TO THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN

In June, 2023, the IRT announced that the Upperstage Theatre would be renamed in honor of Janet and her indelible impact on the community, presenting a dazzling variety of creative work, innovative ideas, and an unswerving commitment to quality and the Theatre’s audience and staff.

Since 2021, the BACK TO THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN has received support from generous supporters. These friends and contributors have made gifts and commitments to honor Janet Allen and the important work that continues at the IRT. This work includes:

The creation of dedicated resources to attract and retain creative, artisan, and production talent so deeply impacted by the pandemic since 2020. You know well how important these talented professionals are to our commitment to world-class theatre here in Indiana.

If you were able to see the season opening production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, you experienced some of the early investment

The Upperstage Theatre, soon to be the Janet Allen Stage, represents a legacy that you and countless others know well. The IRT would be delighted and honored to include your name as a contributor to the Back to the Future Campaign recognition. Your commitment powerfully notes Janet’s legacy and will be an ongoing reminder of your role in making her long IRT career a remarkable success. Your gift will place your name in the listing of others that honor Janet, the IRT, and your family. Honoring her legacy can also be part of your legacy when you consider a gift in your estate plans, making you an Ovation Society member. Janet’s legacy…Your legacy…worthy of an “ovation” indeed.

Join the dozens of IRT supporters and Janet Allen enthusiasts and consider making your gift or commitment to the Back to the Future Campaign and honoring Janet today. The world class theatre you have enjoyed, Janet has so deftly and passionately led, and the future to make the IRT even more impactful in its next 50 years have been possible in part by friends like you. A great celebration in the spring awaits us, we’ll hope to have you there to rename one of Janet’s “houses.”

We will take your unneeded vehicle, sell it at auction, and the proceeds will directly benefit IRT. You can qualify for a tax deduction for your generous gift!

WE ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR: