GRACE
By Brenda DeVita, Director

There are nine known facts about Anne Hathaway. Just nine. So researching this woman was fascinating because all I knew about her was her name. I found out pretty quickly why that was: there’s nothing out there about Anne Hathaway. It’s all about William Shakespeare.

Of course, history is built on the facts we can piece together, plus a lot of supposition to be shaped into something that sounds like truth. In Anne’s case, she is often maligned by historians (who were mostly men, writing about men, for men). So her “truth” became that she was an older woman who trapped this young, intelligent, special boy by getting pregnant and marrying him. (Because everyone wants to marry a poor playwright with no prospects, right?)

Remember … Shakespeare wasn’t SHAKESPEARE when she met him.

Shakespeare’s Will weaves those nine facts into a fully realized Anne Hathaway. A beautiful, poetic story about a brave woman in honest contemplation of her life’s choices. Anne owns the choices she’s made. Not proud of every choice but, more importantly, proud of the way she has handled them: the good ones and the bad.

One reason we tell stories, I believe, is that we long for inspiration from those who get through this thing called life with a modicum of grace. Anne is graceful. Not with a perfected, calm, angel-like grace, but an honest, steely, truthful kind of grace. A grace that most of us can understand—can aspire to.

I flatter myself to find myself in her. That is what good art does for us. I do see the parallels: independent, mother, wife of an artist … minus the grace, at times, I fear. And the play speaks to me on that very personal level. Challenges me—challenges us—to determinedly scour our lives, our choices, our actions with fierce honesty … and accept ourselves.

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See Shakespeare's Will onstage now through April 16 at the IRT! Tickets are available here. 

Indiana Repertory Theatre gives new look at Shakespeare through the eyes of his wife
Story focuses on the forgotten woman behind the most famous man in literary history 

Indianapolis, Ind.— For the penultimate production in IRT’s 50th Anniversary Season, the Theatre will share a surprisingly modern portrait of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway. Written by Vern Thiessen and directed by Brenda DeVita, Shakespeare’s Will runs March 15 – April 16, 2023, on the IRT Upperstage. Starring in the show is Tracy Michelle Arnold, who made her IRT debut in 2019 as Nora in A Doll’s House, Part 2. 

Inspired by what little is known about Anne Hathaway, this witty and imaginative play tells her side of the story, full of love and loss, secrets and sacrifices. Set after Shakespeare’s death in 1616, audiences receive an in-depth look at a proudly imperfect wife and mother–a liberated woman living on her own defiant terms.  

“There are only nine known facts about Anne Hathaway,” Director Brenda DeVita shared. “Shakespeare’s Will weaves those nine facts into a fully realized Anne. A beautiful, poetic story about a brave woman in honest contemplation of her life’s choices. Anne owns the choices she’s made. Not proud of every choice but, more importantly, proud of the way she has handled them: the good ones and the bad.” 

DeVita previously directed this show in 2012 at American Players Theatre in Wisconsin, where she currently serves as the Artistic Director. Arnold also starred in that production and is a member of the Core Acting Company at APT, as well. The pair is excited to bring this story to life again more than 10 years later for the Theatre’s 50th Anniversary and IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director Janet Allen’s final season. For DeVita and Arnold, doing the play again brings with it deeper connections to the character and story due to new perspectives on childrearing and partnering, processing grief and isolation after COVID-19, and the ongoing movement for women’s rights. 

“There is no doubt that this play lifts the role of women in history and attempts to fill in the blanks that history traditionally leaves around the famous men who have made the ‘his’ in ‘history’ have meaning. But the fact that it does it with great artistry and remarkable depth is what makes it worthy theatre,” said Janet Allen. “I hope audiences will come away moved and inspired.”  

The IRT will host multiple Talk Backs and engagement opportunities during the production. The two Community Conversations will take place on March 18 after the 1 pm performance and March 19 after the 2 pm. The post-show programs will explore topics related to the show, including reflecting on the historical overshadowing of women through thoughtful panel conversations and poetry readings.  

For tickets and information about the run of Shakespeare’s Will, please visit irtlive.com.

 
DETAILS

WHERE: Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington Street, OneAmerica Mainstage

RUN DATES:  March 15 – April 16, various times. Shakespeare’s Will is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets and performance schedule available at IRTlive.com. Shakespeare’s Will contains profanity and adult themes and situations. Recommended for patrons 9th grade and above.

TICKETS: Tickets start at $25. Click to buy.

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM: 

TRACY MICHELLE ARNOLD | Anne 

VERN THIESSEN | Playwright 
BRENDA DEVITA | Director 
SCOTT PENNER | Scenic Designer 
DANIELE TYLER MATHEWS | Costume Designer 
DAWN CHIANG | Lighting Designer 
SARTJE PICKETT | Composer & Sound Designer 
RICHARD J ROBERTS | Dramaturg 
ERIN JOY SWANK | Stage Manager

 
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING: 

PRE-SHOW CHATS
Patrons can enjoy a Pre-Show Chat hosted by IRT staff and artists. Pre-Show Chats begin 45 minutes prior to the scheduled performance and last 20 minutes. 

OPENING NIGHT | Friday, March 17, 2023 | Performance at 7:30 PM
Raise a glass and cheers to the cast and crew at IRT’s Opening Night! After the show, delight in a champagne toast and a one-time-only chance to explore the set with IRT Artisans (masks required onstage). 

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: DISMANTLING THE BINARY | Saturday, March 18, 2023 | Following the 1 PM performance
“Dismantling the Binary” will discuss ruminations on how powerful women are historically overshadowed by their husband's legacies, as well as how to dismantle orthodoxies surrounding gender binaries and patriarchal societal norms in today’s society. The panel consists of Tenéh Karimu, Janice Morris Neal, and Dr. Marcia Eppich-Harris, with Dr. Terri Jett serving as the moderator. 

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: WAX POETIC–BREAKING SHADOWS | Sunday, March 19, 2023 | Following the 2 PM performance
Poets Januarie York, Chantel Massey, Taylor Pearson, and Okara Imani will recite poetry about women and fems who have been overshadowed by the famous people in their lives, poems about being in someone's shadow, and poems about femininity, womanhood, and defiance.  

TALK BACK | Thursday, March 23, 2023 | Following the 7:30 PM performance
Join IRT staff and cast immediately after the performance for a post-show discussion that covers a variety of interesting topics related to the show. Post-show discussions typically last for 20 minutes.
*Sponsored by Faegre Drinker 

ASL/AD PERFORMANCE | Sunday, March 26, 2023 | Performance at 2 PM
The IRT offers ASL/AD services to our patrons with vision and hearing needs. Patrons with hearing needs are encouraged to sit in the interpretation zone and meet with the interpreter before the show. We also offer Assisted Listening Devices free of charge at each performance. To learn more visit irtlive.com/accessibility. 

TALK BACK | Friday, March 31, 2023 | Following the 7:30 PM performance
Join IRT staff and cast immediately after the performance for a post-show discussion that covers a variety of interesting topics related to the show. Post-show discussions typically last for 20 minutes.
*Sponsored by Faegre Drinker 
 
For more information contact Kerry Barmann, Associate Director of Marketing, 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. 

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA): The IRT strives to celebrate and serve the diverse people and cultures that make up our whole community. The IRT is committed to providing access for all; to creating and maintaining an antiracist theatre that is inclusive, safe, and respectful.