IRT’s Virtual 2020-2021 Season opens with holiday hope in This Wonderful Life

​IRT’s Virtual 2020-2021 Season opens with holiday hope in This Wonderful Life
Streaming starts early December and tickets and packages are on sale now
 
Indianapolis, Ind.—The Indiana Repertory Theatre will open its adapted 6-play virtual season in early December with the holiday offering This Wonderful Life, starring one of Indianapolis’ favorite actors, Rob Johansen. Focused on hope and holiday joy, the story speaks to the need for connection and comfort during these especially difficult times. In partnership with WFYI, the show will be filmed and available to stream in-home, allowing the Theatre to unite patrons near and far through storytelling.
 
“Our platform for making art at the IRT has changed enormously in the past few months:  battling our way through COVID-19 protocol and safety concerns sometimes seems like only the tip of an iceberg of our immense need, as a community, to come together and help heal human divisiveness.  Stories matter more than ever now,” said IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director Janet Allen.
 
While 2020 will be the first time in more than 25 years that the IRT isn’t producing the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, the festiveness won’t be lost. This Wonderful Life, written by Steve Murray, is a hilarious and heartwarming reimagining of Frank Capra’s iconic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life and its message of kindness, community, and love.
 
“We picked this play for a variety of reasons:  we very much wanted to find a holiday piece that would gather people virtually, if not physically, around the idea of the best of American traditions—rediscovering community, reigniting individual purpose, and reinventing the essence of family celebrations,” Allen said.  
 
Actor Rob Johansen portrays the Storyteller, a man in love with the film who enacts and reacts to the classic characters and content, taking the audience on a witty and heartfelt holiday ride.
 
“In this joyful retelling, Rob Johansen plays all of the characters in the film with a huge heart, unbridled imagination and exceptional skill,” Director and IRT’s Associate Artistic Director Benjamin Hanna said. “As we all experience new levels of isolation and separation from family, the story reminds us of our impact and the gifts we bring to those who we love.”
 
Virtual packages and individual tickets are now on sale for the 2020-2021 Season and This Wonderful Life. To learn more and purchase virtual tickets, please visit irtlive.com.


DETAILS

WHERE: Streaming online via irtlive.com.

RUN DATES:  December 1, 2020 - January 3, 2021. This Wonderful Life is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets and information at irtlive.com. 

TICKETS: Virtual tickets start at $30. Click to buy.
 
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM:
ROB JOHANSEN | Storyteller
 
BENJAMIN HANNA | Director
ROB KOHARCHIK | Scenic Designer
JUNGHYUN GEORGIA LEE | Costume Designer
XAVIER PIERCE | Lighting Designer
TODD MACK REISCHMAN | Composer & Sound Designer
RICHARD J ROBERTS | Dramaturg
NATHAN GARRISON | Production Coordinator
 
For more information contact Kerry Barmann, Marketing Communications Manager, at kbarmann@irtlive.com or 317.916.4824.
 
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ABOUT THE IRT
Founded in 1971, the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is the largest professional not-for-profit theatre in the state and one of the leading regional theatres in the country. The mission of the Indiana Repertory Theatre is to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that will engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, helping us build a vital and vibrant community.

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