Indiana Repertory Theatre announces 50th Anniversary with 2022 – 2023 Season
IRT celebrates five decades of transformational and entertaining live theatre

Indianapolis, Ind.—The Indiana Repertory Theatre has announced its 2022 – 2023 season, which will be the Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Season. From the beginning years at the Athenaeum to its current home in the Indiana Theatre, the IRT has welcomed audiences for experiences that engage, challenge, and surprise in an effort to help build a vibrant and informed community through the transformational power of live theatre. This next season, scheduled from September 14, 2022 to May 20, 2023, will be full of special ways to celebrate, reflect back, and look forward to the next 50 years.

“We are thrilled to be able to craft and share this upcoming season of celebration and reflection,” said Janet Allen, IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director. “We’ll celebrate IRT’s 50th Anniversary with shows that highlight human wit and wisdom with artists we’ve enjoyed in the past, and artists who will change our future. And throughout, we’ll celebrate the kinetic joy of live theatre.”

This special season consists of the beloved romance of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, an adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus, Shakespeare’s Will, and the holiday tradition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Our INclusion Series will feature the critically-acclaimed play The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh and Pearl Cleage’s Flyin’ West, a story of pioneering women overcoming tremendous odds to protect their freedom. The season will close when the games begin with the ultimate whodunit, Clue.

A few other noteworthy elements about the season: IRT is producing the Indiana premiere of The Chinese Lady, a homecoming for Indianapolis’ own Lloyd Suh; Indy actor Rob Johansen will reprise his role as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol; David Alan Anderson will lead in Oedipus; and Sense and Sensibility returns with actor Priscilla Lindsay after originally being slated for the 2019 – 2020 Season before the pandemic closure.

“We are looking forward to continuing to welcome our audiences back in September, especially after the past two years of navigating a shut down and ongoing changes,” said Managing Director Suzanne Sweeney. “We have big things planned for next year and know there’s going to be a lot of excitement building as we celebrate the last 50 years, as well as our future ahead."

For more than half of the 50 years the IRT has been creating meaningful theatre experiences, OneAmerica Financial Partners has played a key role as IRT’s Season Sponsor. This support shows their long-time commitment and belief in IRT’s work. It is a partnership that both organizations believe in and will continue not only in the 2022 – 2023 Season, but beyond.

“We are delighted to join the IRT in celebrating the announcement of the 50th Season lineup. OneAmerica is committed to championing the imagination, innovation and inspiration that you see each season on the IRT’s stages,” said Jen Pittman, vice president of community affairs at OneAmerica. “We look forward to joining the community for another year of engaging and entertaining professional theatre.”

Seated ticket packages are available now, and Build Your Own packages and single tickets will go on sale this summer. To learn more about season packages and to purchase, visit irtlive.com.

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2022 – 2023 SEASON AT THE INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility
adapted by Jessica Swale
September 14 – October 9, 2022
OneAmerica Mainstage

beloved romance
Three sisters and their widowed mother lose their family home and must create new lives for themselves in a tiny seaside cottage. Along the way, they face kindness and cruelty, duty and deception, as they try to navigate the complex social rules for proper young ladies. What will lead to lasting happiness and true love: practical good sense or following the sensibility of your heart? Sit back and indulge in the wit and wisdom, the beauty and charm of Jane Austen.
 

The Chinese Lady
by Lloyd Suh
October 11 – November 6, 2022
Upperstage

piercing & poetic portrait
In 1834, 14-year-old Afong Moy was the first Chinese woman to come to America. She spent her life traveling across the country as a living exhibition for a paying public, who were mesmerized by her exotic ways and unnerved by her bound feet. Inspired by a true story, this critically acclaimed play unearths hidden history as a displaced woman and a young nation struggle with how to define themselves.

*Part of IRT’s INclusion Series: Celebrating Diverse Storytelling
 

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
adapted by Tom Haas
November 19 – December 24, 2022
OneAmerica Mainstage

Indy’s holiday tradition
Banish your bah humbugs, and celebrate the season at the IRT! Scrooge’s visits to the past, the present, and the future bring us hope in the dark of winter, when we need it most. A Christmas Carol celebrates the power of kindness, family, and love in this treasured tale filled with laughter, tears, and redemption.
 
 
Flyin’ West
by Pearl Cleage
January 11 – February 5, 2023
OneAmerica Mainstage

the strength of sisterhood
Four brave female African American homesteaders and pioneers settle together in the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas. Fighting a harsh and unforgiving wilderness, they work hard to till the soil and build better lives for themselves. Their courage is tested when an unexpected and deadly threat invades their home in this surprising story set in the Old West.

*Part of IRT’s INclusion Series: Celebrating Diverse Storytelling
 

Oedipus
by Sophocles
adapted by David Daniel
February 22 – March 18, 2023
OneAmerica Mainstage

timeless tragedy
As a plague ravages Thebes, the citizens turn to their leadership. Oedipus is an extraordinary hero: courageous, flawed, determined to do what he must to protect his community—even if it means his own undoing. From the mists of Greece comes this compelling story of fate, human nature, and the devastating peril of secrets.
 

Shakespeare’s Will
by Vern Thiessen
March 15 – April 16, 2023
Upperstage

a forgotten woman
Her husband is the most famous man in literary history. She has been cloaked in silence and invisibility. Now Anne Hathaway tells her side of the story, full of love and loss, secrets and sacrifices. Inspired by what little we know about Anne, this witty and imaginative play creates a surprisingly modern portrait of a proudly imperfect wife and mother: a liberated woman living on her own defiant terms.
 

Clue
based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn
written by Sandy Rustin
additional material by Hunter Foster & Eric Price
April 19 – May 20, 2023
OneAmerica Mainstage

let the games begin!
Invited to dinner by a mysterious host, Mrs. Peacock, Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, and the rest of the usual suspects roll the dice at a gloomy mansion where blackmail and murder are on the menu. As the players become victims, the plot thickens and the noose tightens. With thrills and chills, twists and turns, and lots of laughs, it’s going to be a night they’ll never forget…and neither will you!
 
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.

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.

​IRT produces gripping world premiere of The Reclamation of Madison Hemings
INclusion Series show explores history, identity, hard truths, and the ties that bind
 
Indianapolis, Ind.— This spring, the Indiana Repertory Theatre will share with audiences the world premiere of The Reclamation of Madison Hemings written by Charles Smith. A story steeped in the struggle of historical representation, the play gives voice to untold narratives hidden by the racial power dynamics of slavery. This season’s first production of the INclusion Series, which celebrates diverse storytelling, will be live on the OneAmerica Mainstage March 23 – April 16 and available for streaming online April 11 – 24.
 
The Reclamation of Madison Hemings takes place shortly after the Civil War has ended and follows Madison Hemings, the son of enslaved woman Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, as he returns to Monticello with formerly enslaved footman, Israel Jefferson. Now in ruins, Monticello brings up the haunting, complicated, and conflicting perspectives and memories from the two men: one struggling with anger and resentment toward his biological father and mother, and one whose memories lean more toward the recollection of the warmth and belonging of family, even in the time of bondage.
 
“We chose this play because of our strong relationship with Charles Smith and because the subject matter is particularly compelling, revealing a historic moment that is rarely dramatized,” said Janet Allen, IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director. It causes us to reflect, not only on the new insights themselves, but also on the fact that history is too often only seen through the experiences of those with the most power.”
 
The influence of the past, the need to tell stories from different perspectives, and the drive to honor our ancestors helped inspire Charles Smith to write this compelling play in which he works to shed light on individuals who have largely disappeared from history–in this case the history of Monticello.
 
“After visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, and the Whitney Plantation (museum) in Louisiana, I became fascinated by how the mere listing of names had the power to paint a vivid picture of the past, while keeping the past present and vital,” said Smith. “For several years, I wondered if there was a theatrical equivalent to what these memorials were doing. When I started researching The Reclamation of Madison Hemings and came across the names of hundreds of enslaved people who lived and died at Monticello, I realized that this was my chance to find out.”
 
Directed by Ron OJ Parson, this gripping world premiere about the past, identity, and hard truths will star long-time IRT actor David Alan Anderson as Israel Jefferson and Brian Anthony Wilson as Madison Hemings. There will be multiple post-show discussions throughout the run to help enhance the reflection and conversation about this important piece of theatre and the supporting history.
 
“It’s a play that deserves to be seen by everyone—particularly people who care about how the past affects us all, how families define us, how legacy matters. We hope it will bring a lot of people to the Theatre for a deep, emotional experience and the opportunity to not only talk about this play to family and friends but also participate in our community conversations,” said Allen.
 
In-person and virtual tickets are on sale now and start at $25. For information regarding ticketing, the full creative team, special performances, and related materials, visit IRTlive.com.
 
 
HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDELINES
IRT’s focus on artistry is also matched by its focus on safety, and entry to the IRT will require a mask and photo ID, as well as proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test (administered no more than 72 hours prior to the performance). This vaccine and mask requirement will also apply to IRT artists (except when performing), staff, and volunteer ushers. Please visit irtlive.com/faq for the full information regarding IRT’s health and safety policies.

DETAILS

WHERE: Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington Street, OneAmerica Mainstage. Streaming online via irtlivevirtual.com. 

RUN DATES: Live in-person March 23 – April 16, 2022, various times. Streaming April 11 – 24, 2022. 
 
The Reclamation of Madison Hemings is approximately 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission. Tickets and performance schedule are available at IRTlive.com.

TICKETS: Tickets for live performances start at $25. Click to buy. Virtual tickets are $30. Click to buy.

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM:
DAVID ALAN ANDERSON | Israel Jefferson
BRIAN ANTHONY WILSON  | Madison Hemings
 
CHARLES SMITH  | Playwright
RON OJ PARSON | Director
SHAUN MOTLEY | Scenic Designer
DANA REBECCA WOODS | Costume Designer
JARED GOODING | Lighting Designer
CHRISTOPHER KRIZ  | Composer & Sound Designer
MIKE TUTAJ  | Projections Designer
ANSLEY VALENTINE | Assistant to the Director
TANYA PALMER | Consulting Dramaturg
RICHARD J ROBERTS  | Dramaturg
NATHAN GARRISON  | Stage Manager
BECKY ROEBER  | Assistant Stage Manager
 
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES:
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: THE RECLAMATION OF MADISON HEMINGS’ PLAYWRIGHT CHARLES SMITH WITH IRT BOARD MEMBER JULIAN HARRELL
Saturday, March 26, 2022 | Following the 5 PM performance of The Reclamation of Madison Hemings

Please join us for a lively post-show conversation with playwright Charles Smith and Julian Harrell, an attorney at Faegre Drinker who also serves as an IRT Board member and Chair of its Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee, as they discuss the inspiration behind The Reclamation of Madison Hemings. 
 
*More post-show information to come
 

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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.