Indiana Repertory Theatre announces new Director of Finance
Jeffrey Bledsoe joins IRT to lead financial strategy, sustainability, and business planning

Indianapolis, Ind.— The Indiana Repertory Theatre has hired Jeffrey Bledsoe as the new Director of Finance for the organization. In this position, he will bring his extensive background in theatre management and finance to lead as the chief financial executive of the Theatre. As part of IRT leadership, Bledsoe’s decades of experience will lend to his success in planning the Theatre’s future strategy, maintaining operational integrity, overseeing fiscal controls, and leading financial administration, business planning, and budgeting.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff to our leadership team,” Managing Director Suzanne Sweeney said. “His experience at Signature Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City bring a new perspective to the IRT, while his Indiana roots make him an ideal fit as we move the Theatre into the future.”

Originally from Indiana, Bledsoe’s education and employment has taken him to Michigan for college and work at Tibbits Opera House, Connecticut for his MFA in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama and subsequent teaching role at the school, and New York for business management and finance roles with the Manhattan Theatre Club and Signature Theatre. Bledsoe also served as Director of Finance for Symphony Space, Pilobolus, and Frankel Green Theatrical Management, supervising the financial activity for Broadway, off-Broadway, and touring productions.

"I'm excited to be returning to Indiana after 30 years and eager to bring my experience to the team at the IRT," Bledsoe said. 
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​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.

IRT’s 2021-2022 Season Premiere The Book Club Play is up for discussion
Fizzy and unpredictable comedy invites audiences to join in on the laughs and secrets

Indianapolis, Ind.—After producing an entirely virtual season last year, the Indiana Repertory Theatre will open their doors again for the 2021-2022 Season, as well as continue to offer virtual options. The hybrid season will kick off with the with the tart comedy The Book Club Play, written by Karen Zacarías and directed by IRT’s Associate Artistic Director Benjamin Hanna. This fizzy, funny delight will be live on the OneAmerica Mainstage October 6 – 31 and available for streaming October 18 – 31, 2021.

“It is no coincidence that we selected a comedy to re-open our Theatre to live performance after an 18-month hiatus,” IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director Janet Allen said. “Our shared need to laugh, to allow our perspectives to be broadened by sharing joy in the human condition, has rarely been more sorely needed.”

Set in 2013, The Book Club Play follows a group of 30-somethings whose book club is the subject of a famous documentary filmmaker. The members of the club differ in perspective, race, sexual orientation and viewpoint on the world so completely, that their colliding assumptions also create a ripe environment for the comedy.

“Playwright Karen Zacarías has written a whip-smart play that celebrates our relationships to the literature we love and the friends we cherish,” Director and IRT’s Associate Artistic Director Benjamin Hanna said. “Book clubs celebrate great stories and our ability to love different things. We hope you settle in with this quirky group for an evening of secrets revealed through the power of a good book.”

Zacarías, a Latina playwright, is one of the most produced playwrights in the nation. This production of her work coincides with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs September 15 – October 16. The cast is made up of six actors from around the country, some of who are joining the IRT for the first time. Emily Berman, Sean Davis, Will Mobley, Adam Poss, Andrea San Miguel, and Cassia Thompson will bring to life these humorous and much-needed book club discussions for both our in-person and virtual audiences.
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Starting October 6 with our season opener, all IRT patrons attending public performances must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test (administered no more than 72 hours prior to the performance). This vaccine requirement will also apply to IRT artists, staff, and volunteer ushers. Masks will also be required in the building, regardless of vaccination status. Please visit irtlive.com/faq for the full information regarding this update. Our goal is that these are temporary measures, and we will continue to evaluate our policies in an effort to keep audience members, staff, and actors as safe as possible.

DETAILS

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

RUN DATES: Live in-person October 6 – 31, 2021, various times. Streaming online October 18 – 31, 2021. The Book Club Play 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:

EMILY BERMAN | Jen & Elsa
SEAN DAVIS | Rob & Sam
WILL MOBLEY | Will & Frank
ADAM POSS | Alex & Carl
ANDREA SAN MIGUEL | Ana
CASSIA THOMPSON | Lily & Mrs. Simpson

BENJAMIN HANNA | Director
JUNGHYUN GEORGIA LEE | Scenic Designer
ALEX JAEGER | Costume Designer
BETSY COOPRIDER-BERNSTEIN | Lighting Designer
SHARATH PATEL | Sound Designer
MIKE TUTAJ | Projections Designer
RICHARD J ROBERTS | Dramaturg
NATHAN GARRISON | Stage Manager
REBECCA ROEBER | Production Associate

SPECIAL EVENTS:
This production will have a filmed pre-show chat and post-show discussion available for viewing.

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.