Indiana Repertory Theatre

IRT's artistic and educational programming serves more than 50 Indiana counties each year, an impact unequaled by our theatrical peers. IRT seeks to provide experiences that will engage, challenge, and entertain ALL of Indiana, a state comprised of an ever-changing population of ethnicities, cultures, and experiences, all with rich histories and dynamic points of view. IRT provides this diverse population with a place where their stories can be presented and shared, where issues of social justice that center on culture and race can be explored through an inclusive array of productions intended to welcome patrons of all backgrounds. Programming for this diverse audience plays a central role in curating an IRT season, as we reach across the political, cultural, and racial divides of Indiana's urban and rural populations. IRT productions seek to inspire patrons and utilize the Theatre as a platform that fosters discussions about art, issues, empathy, and equity. Recognition of this need led to IRT's 2019 launch of the INclusion Series, featuring works by underrepresented BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists and reflecting their cultural experiences; initially presented as a distinct entity in order to introduce its central precepts to the public, the INclusion Series will no longer be distinguished as a separate block of productions as its precepts are now firmly embedded in all IRT programming. Moreover, the Theatre aims to do more than create a dynamic where these stories are passively viewed onstage - conversations must be held to show how issues related in these stories affect our community as a whole, and how action might be taken to find common ground and equitable social advancement. Also unique to IRT's programming is the Indiana Series, a growing collection of plays for and about Hoosiers, offering an expansive examination of Indiana's history, spirit, and character. The Series includes 18 plays, with 12 commissioned by the IRT. The Theatre has secured a restricted endowment to support the creation and development of new work for the Indiana Series. As the arts & culture landscape continues to be redefined in the years following the pandemic, IRT seeks to honor its institutional history while looking to the future and providing both artistic and community service to Hoosiers of all backgrounds. The Theatre programs to several crucial audience segments each year, including its loyal subscriber base, a state-wide student audience, and a diverse general audience. The Theatre programs 5-6 productions in its two primary performance spaces, including 5 plays in our subscription season and our annual presentation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a holiday tradition that remains our most popular production. IRT's 2021-22 Season saw the return to a full schedule of live performances following a fully virtual season in 20-21, necessitated by the pandemic. In addition to live performances, productions were also offered digitally for those patrons not able or willing to return to the Theatre in person. The season offered wide selection of programming: the topical comedy of THE BOOK CLUB PLAY and STEEL MAGNOLIAS, a historical examination of our country's trouble racial history in the INclusion Series productions of THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN and THE RECLAMATION OF MADISON HEMINGS (a world premiere), and literary classics RAY BRADBURY'S FARHEINHEIT 451 and CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As Indiana's premier professional theatre, each season the IRT fulfills its mandate to serve as the state's theatre arts education center and as a creative resource for teachers. The mission of the Indiana Repertory Theatre is to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, thereby helping to build a vital and vibrant community. In fulfilling our mission, we have created a rich legacy of more than 300 classic and contemporary productions, ranging from Shakespeare to Shaw to August Wilson; and, we are the only professional producer of pre-20th century dramatic literature in Indiana. The theatre also has a long-standing commitment to create and present new works, producing 34 world premieres (20 that we commissioned) and four American premieres. The positive impact of our rich artistic heritage and creative commitment has been recognized by our peers and private and public funders. Since 1998, the IRT has received over 28 grants from the national endowment for the arts totaling more than $640,000, and garnered accolades from national review panels for our artistic excellence, public outreach, and educational expertise.