IRT Program: Fannie by Indiana Repertory Theatre

ONEAMERICA MAINSTAGE 2023-2024 SEASON Original artwork by Tasha Beckwith

JANUARY 9 – FEBRUARY 4

IRTLIVE.COM | 317.635.5252

A Round of Applause for Local Art Invested in our community For many years, OneAmerica ® has been proud to support the Indiana Repertory Theatre. The arts contribute to overall well-being, and so does sound financial planning.

Visit OneAmerica.com to learn more about our involvement with local nonprofits.

Our legacy began in the heart of Indy 145 years ago — and it lives on in the hearts of our associates and the people we’re committed to serving.

C-34420 09/07/23

G7® MASTER COLORSPACE QUALIFIED

WE DELIVER

PRECISION & QUALITY

C O M M E R C I A L P

U V O F F S E T P R I N T I N G D I G I T A L P R I N T I N G M A I L I N G S I G N S P R O M O P R O D U C T S P U B L I S H I N G P A C K A G I N G P U Z Z L E S & G A M E S

CELEBRATING LOCAL ART ONEAMERICA | 2023-2024 SEASON SPONSOR

A vibrant community is a healthy community. OneAmerica is proud our sponsorship ranks among the longest-running in community theater nationwide. As a legacy supporter of Indiana Repertory Theatre, OneAmerica celebrates IRT as a champion of imagination and inspiration. We hope you enjoy the 2023-2024 season.

—Scott Davison

Chairman, President and CEO OneAmerica, 2023-2024 season sponsor

Through its community outreach efforts, the Navient Community Fund supports organizations and programs that address the root causes which limit financial success for all Americans. The Navient Community Fund is proud to support the Indiana Repertory Theatre as the Education Partner for the 2023-2024 Season. Navient is a leading provider of asset management and business processing solutions to education, healthcare, and government clients at the federal, state, and local levels. Millions of Americans rely on financial support to further their education and improve their lives. We work hard each day to help our customers navigate financial challenges and achieve their goals. We at Navient have a deep appreciation for the arts and for the hard work, passion, and emotion that go into them, as well as the positive influences the arts have on individuals and their communities. Our employees in central Indiana are proud to support our community through amazing programs like those offered by IRT.

Enjoy the show.

OUR MISSION & VISION MISSION Rooted in the heart of Indiana, Indiana Repertory Theatre is committed to building a vital, vibrant, and informed community through the transformational power of live theatre. The Indiana Repertory Theatre produces inclusive, top-quality, professional theatre and community programming to engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain members of the whole community. VISION The Indiana Repertory Theatre will welcome the whole community, becoming a place of belonging for an ever-expanding audience of all ages and backgrounds seeking meaningful and enjoyable experiences. Using theatre as a springboard for both personal reflection and community discussion, our productions and programs will inspire our neighbors to learn about themselves and others. As the largest nonprofit theatre in the state of Indiana, IRT’s goal is to help make Indiana a dynamic home of cultural expression, economic vitality, and a diverse and engaged citizenry.

AS AN INSTITUTION, WE VALUE...

CONTENTS 3........................................Mission & Values 4..........Land & Building Acknowledgment 5.........................................................Profile 7............................................................IDEA 8................................................Leadership 12..........................................................Staff 14....................................Board of Directors 16........................................Dear Audiences 22.................Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer 28........Bios for Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer 43...........................................Donor Listing

REVIEWS! SOCIAL MEDIA: @irtlive EMAIL: reviews@irtlive.com

SUSTAINING A PROFESSIONAL, RESPECTFUL, CONTACT US INCLUSIVE, & CREATIVE ATMOSPHERE • Producing diverse plays, we strive to provide insight and celebrate human IRTLIVE.COM TICKET OFFICE: 317.635.5252 relationships through the unique vision of the playwright. ADMIN OFFICES: 317.635.5277 • Employing professional artists of the highest quality, we nurture an environment that allows them to grow and thrive on our stages and in our communities. 140 W. Washington Street • We foster a creative environment where arts, education, corporate, civic, and cultural Indianapolis, IN 46204 organizations collaborate to benefit our community. BUILDING INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESS (IDEA) • Our community thrives when diverse voices and peoples gather to make, watch, and support theatre. • It is our responsibility as a community resource to open our doors wide, welcoming all to our high-quality, relevant art. • We acknowledge our history of privilege as a predominantly White institution as an initial and necessary step toward effectively supporting the dismantling of systems of oppression. • To be an anti-racist organization we must seek knowledge and understanding to identify discriminatory practices and increase cultural awareness in collaboration with, and learning directly from, BIPOC, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI+), functionally diverse, and other historically excluded communities.

PHOTO POLICY Photography of the set without actors and with proper credit to the scenic and lighting designers is permitted. Due to union agreements, photography, video, and audio recording are not permitted during the performance. The videotaping of productions is a violation of United States Copyright Law and an actionable Federal Offense.

PRUDENT STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RESOURCES • As a public-benefit organization, we focus on community service, artistic integrity, and creating a range of ticket prices that allow all segments of our community to attend. • Fiscal responsibility and financial security fuel our institutional sustainability. • To ensure institutional longevity, we continue to grow our endowment fund as a resource for future development. 53

ACKNOWLEDGING THE LAND Every community owes its existence and vitality to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy to making the history that led to this moment. Some were brought here or removed from here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life, and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Acknowledgment of the land which the IRT now occupies is critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage. We want to acknowledge that what we now call Indiana is on the ancestral lands of many indigenous peoples including the Miami, Piankashaw, Wea, Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Delaware, and Shawnee. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of displacement, migration, violence, and settlement that bring us together here today.

This land acknowledgment was created in collaboration with Scott Shoemaker, PhD (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma). Portions of this acknowledgment come from the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture (usdac.us).

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR BUILDING’S HISTORY The Indiana Repertory Theatre moved to its current site on Washington Street in 1980, renovating and reopening a building that had been shuttered for nearly a decade. The historic Indiana Theatre was built in 1927, a time when the shameful practice of racial segregation was the standard in movie theatres and public buildings across the United States. The Indiana Theatre building was originally segregated and at some point in its history this practice ceased. Many Indiana residents and their families’ heritage stories recall being treated as less than equal citizens in this building, with some even being barred from entering. We cannot erase this history. We honor and respect all those who have faced discrimination and harm in this building. We strive every day to make the IRT a place that welcomes all people.

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE PROFILE HISTORY

PROGRAMS

The Indiana Repertory Theatre was founded in 1972 by Ben Mordecai, Greg Poggi, and Ed Stern. Since then, it has grown into one of the leading regional theatres in the country, as well as one of the top-flight cultural institutions in the city and state. In 1991 Indiana’s General Assembly designated the IRT as “Theatre Laureate” of the state of Indiana. The IRT’s national reputation has been confirmed by prestigious grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lila Wallace–Reader’s Digest Fund, the Theatre Communications Group– Pew Charitable Trusts, the Shubert Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation, and by a Joyce Award from the Joyce Foundation.

The OneAmerica Season includes five productions from classical to contemporary.

The IRT remains the largest fully professional resident not-for-profit theatre in the state, providing 100,000 live professional theatre experiences for its audience in a typical season. The Theatre regularly serves thousands of students from more than half of Indiana’s 92 counties, making the IRT one of the most youth-oriented professional theatres in the country. A staff of year-round employees creates seven productions exclusively for Indiana audiences. Actors, directors, and designers are members of professional stage unions. The IRT’s history has been enacted in two historic downtown theatres. The Athenaeum Turners Building housed the company’s first eight seasons. Since 1980 the IRT has occupied the 1927 Indiana Theatre, which was renovated to contain three performance spaces (OneAmerica Stage, Upperstage, and Cabaret) and work spaces, reviving this historic downtown entertainment site. To keep ticket prices and services affordable for the entire community, the IRT operates as a not-for-profit organization, deriving more than 50% of its operating income from contributions. The theatre is generously supported by foundations, corporations, and individuals, an investment which recognizes the IRT’s mission-based commitment to serving central Indiana with top-quality theatrical fare.

Young Playwrights in Process The IRT offers Young Playwrights in Process (YPiP), a playwriting contest and workshop for Indiana middle and high school students. Community Gathering Place Located in a beautiful historic landmark, the IRT offers a wide variety of unique and adaptable spaces for family, business, and community gatherings of all types. Please email Jacob Lang, House Manager, at jlang@irtlive.com or call 317.916.4872 for more information. Opportunities The IRT depends on the generous donation of time and energy by volunteer ushers; please email Jacob Lang, House Manager, at jlang@irtlive.com or call 317.916.4872 to learn how you can become involved. Meet the Artists Regularly scheduled pre-show chats and post-show discussions offer audiences unique insights into each production. Student Matinees The IRT continues a long-time commitment to student audiences with live school-day student matinee performances of all IRT productions. These performances are augmented with educational activities and curriculum support materials. Educational Programs Auxiliary services offered include workshops on demand, study guides, pre- and post-show discussions, and detailed discussions with artistic staff and community leaders. Classes The IRT offers classes inspired by the works we see to continue learning for a wide variety of ages, including our IRT Theatre Camp. Email education@irtlive.com or call 317.635.4841 for further information.

EQUITY IS JUSTICE. EQUITY IS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. EQUITY BENEFITS US ALL.

PROUD SPONSOR OF FANNIE: THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF FANNIE LOU HAMER

JOIN THE MOVEMENT BECOME AN TO BUILD A STRONGER EQUITY PARTNER COMMUNITY FOR ALL Learn more at CICF.org/equity

317.634.2423 CICF.org

INCLUSION, ANDACCESS ACCESS(IDEA) (IDEA) INCLUSION,DIVERSITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, EQUITY, AND

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE: WELCOMING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY We strive to celebrate and serve the diverse people and cultures that make up our whole community. The IRT is committed to creating and maintaining an antiracist theatre that is inclusive, safe, respectful, and accessible. Whether you have been coming for years or are here for the first time—welcome to your Theatre!

VALUES • Our community thrives when diverse voices and peoples gather to make, watch, and support theatre. • It is our responsibility as a community resource to open our doors wide, welcoming all to our high-quality, relevant art. • We must acknowledge our history of privilege as a Predominantly White Institution in order to effectively support dismantling systems of oppression. • In order to be an antiracist and inclusive organization we must seek knowledge and understanding to identify discriminatory practices and increase cultural awareness in collaboration with, and learning directly from, BIPOC, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI+), functionally diverse, and other historically excluded communities.

COMMITMENTS • We will represent and engage the diverse people, cultures, and communities of central Indiana. • We will employ more people of color, with a goal of 40% of all new hires being BIPOC, and foster an inclusive culture of artists, staff, board, and vendors. • We will continue and deepen our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) training for all board and staff. • We will be accessible to all audiences inviting those who have been unheard or unseen in the past, including functionally diverse people, BIPOC, LGBTQI+, and under-resourced communities.

If you would like to read more about our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) work, go to irtlive.com/about/idea.

Indiana Repertory Theatre proudly names BLACK: A Festival of Joy as our Spotlight Partner for our production of Fannie: The Music & Life of Fannie Lou Hamer. This dynamic festival, backed by The Indianapolis Foundation and GANGGANG Culture, celebrates the vibrancy of Black culture in Indianapolis. Led by a collective of volunteers from Black-led organizations, BLACK: A Festival of Joy aligns with our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access. Join us in spotlighting this impactful partnership, fostering connections, and celebrating the richness of Indianapolis’ cultural tapestry. Together, we amplify Black Joy, uplift communities, and create a lasting impact.

Spotlight Partnership 7

MARGOT LACY ECCLES WAS A LEADING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES. THE INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE CHERISHES ITS HISTORY WITH MRS. ECCLES AS A SUBSCRIBER, BOARD MEMBER, DONOR, AND CHAMPION OF OUR ORGANIZATION IN BOTH ITS EDUCATIONAL AND ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP. IN RECOGNITION OF MRS. ECCLES’S LEGACY AS BENEFACTOR AND ADVISOR, THE INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE IS PROUD TO HAVE NAMED ITS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR POSITION THE MARGOT LACY ECCLES ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

LEADERSHIP: BENJAMIN HANNA Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director

Ben is thrilled to embark on his first season as IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director, following six years as the company’s Associate Artistic Director. At IRT he has directed Clue, Fahrenheit 451, The Book Club Play, A Christmas Carol, and Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!,” among others. This season he looks forward to directing our first musical in a decade: Little Shop of Horrors. As a director, educator, and community engagement specialist, Ben is guided by the belief that access to high-quality theatre helps build creative, empathetic people and healthy communities. Across his career, he has focused on building the next generation of artists and audiences by creating and advocating for multigenerational, multicultural, and family-oriented programming. Prior to his role at IRT, he spent five years at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and directed shows at the Bay Area Children’s Theatre. In his native Minnesota, he served on the education staff of Penumbra Theatre Company and was an artistic associate at Children’s Theatre Company. He is the recipient of the prestigious Theatre Communications Group Leadership University Award funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is a recent graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Program—Class XLVI. Ben holds a degree in theatre arts from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He fell in love with telling stories at the age of eleven at the Prairie Wind Players community theatre in rural Minnesota, and he continues to create for his favorite audience: his five nieces and nephews.

The cast of the IRT’s 2023 production of Clue. Photo by Zach Rosing.

LEADERSHIP: SUZANNE SWEENEY Managing Director

Suzanne is a 25-year veteran of the IRT and is excited to work with Benjamin Hanna as co-CEO of the company, where she oversees its administrative functions. During her tenure, the IRT has secured a long-term lease for the building with the City of Indianapolis, renovated the Upperstage Lobby and restrooms, and raised $20 million for its Front and Center campaign. Suzanne was elected Treasurer of the national League of Resident Theatres, where she serves as a board member. She has been a panelist for Shakespeare in American Communities in cooperation with Arts Midwest. She was the treasurer of Irish Fest for nine years, a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the Day Nursery Association (now Early Learning Indiana) for three years, and treasurer of Indy Fringe. Suzanne is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and Indiana University. She has worked in finance in Washington DC, Texas, Germany, Hawaii, and New Zealand. She is an alum of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Program (Class XXXI). She lives in Lockerbie with her son, Jackson, and spends some of her downtime in Palatine, Illinois, with her partner, Todd Wiencek.

Cereyna Jade Bougouneau, Claire Kashman and Devan Mathias in the IRT’s 2022 production of Sense and Sensibility. Photo by Zach Rosing.

IN 2017, SARAH & JOHN LECHLEITER CREATED THE JAMES STILL PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE FUND, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE AS WELL AS THE CREATION OF NEW WORK FOR THE IRT.

LEADERSHIP: JAMES STILL Playwright-in-Residence

This is James’s final season as the IRT’s Playwright in Residence: an unprecedented relationship between an artist, a theatre, and audience that has seen 17 of James’s plays in 23 productions, as well as the more than 20 additional productions he has directed on both of the IRT stages. His work has been produced throughout the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. James is a member of the National Theatre Conference in New York, and a Kennedy Center inductee of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. Other honors include the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award for drama, the Todd McNerney New Play Prize from the Spoleto Festival, and the William Inge Festival’s Otis Guernsey New Voices Award. Three of his plays have received the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, and his plays have been nominated four times for the Pulitzer Prize. James also works in television and film and has been nominated for five Emmys and a Television Critics Association Award; he has twice been a finalist for the Humanitas Prize. James grew up in Kansas and lives in Los Angeles.

Below: Jennifer Johansen, Aaron Kirby, Constance Macy, and David Shih in the IRT’s 2021 production of The House That Jack Built written by James Still. Photos by Zach Rosing.

SAVE WITH A BUILD YOUR OWN 3 (BYO3) PACKAGE! Original artwork by Tasha Beckwith and Kyle Ragsdale

CHOOSE ANY THREE SHOWS FOR ONLY $198! DID YOU ALREADY ATTEND A SHOW THIS SEASON? YOU CAN APPLY YOUR TICKET PURCHASE TO A BYO3!

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 16 a modern family comedy

MARCH 12 - APRIL 7 extraordinary tour de force

APRIL 17 - MAY 19 hilarious horticultural horror musical

BUY NOW! I IRTLIVE.COM I 317.635.5252

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE STAFF & ASSOCIATES

Benjamin Hanna Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director Suzanne Sweeney Managing Director Ariana Fisher Office Administrator Malia Argüello Production Manager Hillary Martin Company Manager Richard J Roberts Resident Dramaturg Jane Robison General Manager James Still Playwright-in-Residence Tara Parchman Robin Reid Toni Bader Dameon Cooper Building Manager Housekeeping Roger Cunningham Tonika Miller Steven Robinson Erica Bascom Costume Shop Manager Lane Fiorini Wardrobe Supervisor Heather Hirvela Draper Niamh Langfitt First Hand

Brady Clark Development Systems Tracy Heaton de Martinez Development Associate for Strategic Initiatives Eric J. Olson Institutional Giving Manager Steven MacPherson Stolen Director of Development Kay Swank-Herzog Individual Giving Manager Anna E. Barnett Education Manager Claire Wilcher Education Assistant Paully Hawthorn Electrician Beth A. Nuzum Lighting Manager Megan Stockreef Electrician Crowe Horwath External Auditors Faegre Drinker Legal Counsel Jeffrey Bledsoe Director of Finance Jen Carpenter Payroll & Benefits Specialist Amanda Keen Business Manager Devon Ginn Director of Inclusion & Community Partnerships

Kerry Barmann Associate Director of Marketing Geneva Denney-Moore Design & Communications Manager Danielle M. Dove Director of Marketing & Sales Megan Ebbeskotte Audience Development Manager Noelani Langille Multimedia & Design Manager Claire Dana Charge Scenic Artist Jim Schumacher Scenic Artist

Assistant House Managers Grace Branam Claire Martin Stacy Brown Alicia McClendon Preston Dildine Phoebe Rodgers Dieter Finn Kathy Sax Christine Gordon Karen Sipes Marilyn Hatcher Sam Stucky Lexi Hudson Katy Thompson Sarah James Jacob Lang House & Events Manager Bartender Tina Weaver Customer Service Representatives Ashlee Lancaster Melody Lindner Owen Louden Chelsea Senibaldi Cara Wilson Courtney Plummer Ticket Office Manager Molly Wible Sweets Tessitura Administrator Eric Wilburn Assistant Ticket Office Manager

Jen Blue Hands DaSean McLucas Kristin Boyd Christopher Nelson Kathryn Burke Axel Osborne LB Clark Rebekah Radloff Ryan Dafforn Rebecca Reyes Ben Dobler Tonie Smith Lee Edmundson Jacob Spencer Andrea Haskett Anthony Stultz Katharine Ivey Abbie Wagner Louie Kaufman Jackie Walburn Emma Littau Hal Wenk Jackie Mahon Madelaine Foster Assistant Properties Shop Manager Rachelle Martin Properties Shop Manager Nick Chamberlain Stage Operations Supervisor WonJun Brendon Choi Operations Carpenter Chris Fretts Technical Director Nick Kilgore Automation Supervisor/Carpenter Samantha-Rae Oliver Carpenter David Sherrill Master Carpenter Brittany Hayth Lead Audio Engineer Todd Mack Head of Audio and Video

Stage Managers Nathan Garrison Erin Robson-Smith Janine Vanderhoff Assistant Stage Manager Becky Roeber Production Assistants Isabella Garza Emma Littau Natalie Stigall Doug Sims Group Sales & Teleservices Manager

Left: The cast of the IRT’s 2023 production of Oedipus. Above: Mi Kang in the IRT’s 2022 production of The Chinese Lady. Below: Belle Taylor-Moore and Rob Johansen in the IRT’s 2022 production of A Christmas Carol. Photos by Zach Rosing.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR

Andrew Michie OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. VICE CHAIR & CHAIR ELECT

Jill Lacy The Lacy Foundation

Welcome to the Indiana Repertory Theatre. As we move into our 51st season, we are delighted to welcome Ben Hanna in his new position as Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director. In this busy world, with so many demands on our time and our dollars, we appreciate not only your presence and your participation, but also your continuing financial support, which makes our work possible. On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for choosing the IRT. Your contribution is a vital part of our success. If you enjoy this production, please encourage your friends to come see it. If you do not already have a season ticket or a smaller ticket package, why not join the family? Consider a membership in the Repertory Society, too. Great art doesn’t just happen. It takes committed patrons such as yourself in tandem with talented artisans. Enjoy the show!

– Andrew Michie, IRT Board Chair

TREASURER

Joy Kleinmaier American Specialty Health SECRETARY

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Mark Shaffer* KPMG LLP

Julian Harrell Faegre Drinker

Kathryn Beiser Ricardo L. Guimarães Tammara D. Porter Eli Lilly & Company Indiana University American Electric Power Kelley School of Business Kathy G. Cabello Peter Racher Cabello Associates Michael N. Heaton Plews Shadley Katz Sapper & Miller, Retired Racher & Braun LLP Michael P. Dinius Noble Consulting Services, Inc. Brenda Horn Peter N. Reist Ice Miller LLP, Retired Oxford Financial Group, Ltd. Laurie Dippold KAR Auction Services, Inc. Lauren James Susan O. Ringo Mitch Daniels Community Volunteer Brooke Dunn Leadership Foundation Faegre Drinker Myra C. Selby Elisha Modisett Kemp Ice Miller LLP Dan Emerson* Corteva Agriscience Indianapolis Colts Darshan Shah Alan Mills BioCrossroads Troy D. Farmer Barnes & Thornburg LLP FORVIS Shelly Smith Nicholas C. Pappas Ernst & Young LLP Tom Froehle* Frost Brown Todd Faegre Drinker Sue Smith Rita Patel Community Volunteer Patricia Gamble-Moore Ascension St. Vincent PNC PMCH Ashley Garry Brian Payne Viatris Inc. Central Indiana Ron Gifford Community Foundation | RDG Strategies LLC The Indianapolis Foundation, Retired

BOARD EMERITUS Robert Anker* (in memoriam) Rollin Dick Berkley Duck* Dale Duncan* James W. Freeman Nadine Givens* Michael Lee Gradison* (in memoriam) Mike Harrington* Margie Herald (in memoriam) David Klapper David Kleiman* Sarah Lechleiter

E. Kirk McKinney Jr. (in memoriam) Michael Moriarty Richard O. Morris* (in memoriam) Jane Schlegel* Wayne Schmidt Jerry Semler* (in memoriam) Jack Shaw* Mike Simmons William E. Smith III* Eugene R. Tempel* David Whitman*

UP NEXT: A LOVE LETTER TO SITCOMS & FAMILY

The

Folks at Home by R. Eric Thomas

FEBRUARY 20 – MARCH 16 a modern family comedy

Roger and Brandon, an interracial couple living in South Baltimore, are doing the very best they can to live their version of the American dream: love, house, solid jobs. Except Roger’s been laid off for months, their mortgage is late…and there might be a ghost in the attic. And that was before both sets of parents decided to move in! This contemporary riff on the beloved family sitcoms of the 70s is a complex yet heartwarming portrait of modern life. Original artwork by Tasha Beckwith

BUY NOW! | IRTLIVE.COM | 317.635.5252

Dear Audiences, A New Year is upon us, and as we make resolutions, we often contemplate big questions. What changes are we hoping to make in the New Year? What are the core principles that guide our actions and get us up each morning to keep on keeping on? What is our purpose? Today we gather in the Theatre to experience the life and music of Fannie Lou Hamer—one of many unsung heroes who found her purpose and persevered through unspeakable hardship. Fannie saw everything she had—her time, her talents, and what little treasure she had—as gifts to be shared. She was led by an unstoppable faith in God and her country. Her legacy continues to inspire us: What gifts can we offer to nurture a more equitable, more free, and more loving world? A phenomenal creative team from across the country joins us to celebrate Fannie and her exceptional story. The wonderful Henry Godinez returns to IRT after directing the James Still play Miranda in 2017. Henry is joined by the brilliant designers Colette Pollard, Ari Fulton, Jason Lynch, Victoria Deiorio, and Mike Tutaj, and musical director Morgan E. Stevenson. With great spirit and energy, Maiesha McQueen graces our stage for the first time as Fannie. We are meeting Fannie in an election year. I think we need to hear her song the most in these moments when we are challenged to raise our voices and exercise our precious right to vote. Fannie’s 1964 call for action is just as true in 2024: “You can pray until you faint, but if you don’t get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap.” I hope Fannie’s music and story inspire you to engage in our democratic process and exercise the rights she and so many fought to secure. In community,

BENJAMIN HANNA, MARGOT LACY ECCLES ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Fannie Lou Hamer, Mississippi, 1971. Photo by Bruce Silverstein.

STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

JOIN THE REPERTORY SOCIETY TODAY! Be part of what makes our city a great artistic community! A gift of $1,500 or more provides you access to a variety of benefits crafted to enhance your theatergoing experience.

BE LIKE COLONEL MUSTARD AND JOIN THIS “LOVELY GROUP OF PEOPLE” Please visit irtlive.com/support for a full list of Repertory Society benefits CONTINUING OUR MISSION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS! The cast of the IRT’s 2023 production of Clue. Photos by Zach Rosing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO JOIN THE REPERTORY SOCIETY CONTACT

Kay Swank Herzog: kswankherzog@irtlive.com | 317.916.4830

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Celebrating how the arts connect and enrich our community. Citizens Energy Group is a proud partner of the Indiana Repertory Theatre. 26

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This is not your typical charity evening. Guests, along with special onstage “all-stars” gather for a festive pre-show party in our beautiful Grand Lobby.

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Fannie the music and life of

Fannie Lou Hamer by

Cheryl L. West

ONEAMERICA MAINSTAGE JANUARY 9 – FEBRUARY 4

Director_____________________ HENRY D. GODINEZ Musical Director____________________ MORGAN E. STEVENSON Scenic Designer_______________________ COLLETTE POLLARD Costume Designer__________________________ ARI FULTON Lighting Designer_________________________ JASON LYNCH Sound Designer_______________________ VICTORIA DEIORIO Projections Designer________________________ MIKE TUTAJ Dramaturg_________________________ RICHARD J ROBERTS Stage Manager______________________ NATHAN GARRISON*

Share your review on social media by tagging us at @IRTLIVE, using #IRTLIVE or by emailing REVIEWS@IRTLIVE.COM

SCENIC DESIGNER: Collette Pollard LIGHTING DESIGNER: Jason Lynch

SEASON 2023-2024

BENJAMIN HANNA Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director

SUZANNE SWEENEY Managing Director

Fannie Lou Hamer ___________________________________________ MAIESHA McQUEEN* Piano, Harmonica, Vocals_____________________________________ MORGAN E. STEVENSON Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Vocals_________________________________ SPENCER BEAN Percussion, Vocals______________________________________________ DORIAN PHELPS

Mississippi, 1975

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission.

Fannie was commissioned by the Goodman Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre, with additional development by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The rolling world premiere was presented by the Goodman Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Asolo Repertory Theatre, 2021. The play is produced by special arrangement with Kate Bussert, Bret Adams, Ltd., 448 West 44th Street, New York, NY, 10036. bretadamsltd.net “The author wishes to thank and acknowledge Mr. Charles McLaurin, Fannie Lou Hamer’s right-hand man and campaign manager; also, thanks to Civil Rights attorney Victor McTeer, who once represented Mrs. Hamer; and lastly to the Hamer family, especially Jacqueline “Cookie” Hamer, the youngest daughter of Fannie Lou. I thank them all for sharing their stories and providing me with much valuable insight.” Assistant to the Director & Understudy: AshLee “PsyWrn Simone” Baskin Assistant Scenic Designer: Delena Bradley Co-Sound Designer: Stephanie Farina *Actors and stage managers who are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. The scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and projection designers are represented by United Scenic Artists Local 829, IATSE. Photography and recording are forbidden in the Theatre. The videotaping of this production is a violation of United States Copyright Law and an actionable Federal Offense.

Original artwork by Tasha Beckwith

Keeping the Faith BY HENRY D. GODINEZ, DIRECTOR

In contrast to the more famous icons of the Civil Rights movement, Fannie Lou Hamer is not an instantly recognizable figure. Fannie was a simple uneducated daughter of sharecroppers who, until the age of 44, didn’t even know she had the right to vote. She endured terrible prejudice and unimaginable abuse during a time of racial injustice that nearly took her life. Still, she never lost her faith in the country she loved, or in the God who made it her mission to fight for every American’s right to vote. Unflinching in her belief in the promise of American democracy, Fannie was fortified in the darkest of times by her love of music. Beaten and traumatized, she used music as a source of inspiration, joy, and comfort. Singing was at the core of her Christian faith, and an extension of her determination. Music is fundamental to the telling of her story.

more common currency in American society. Truth has become relative, and the bedrock of democracy is shaken and vulnerable. It is the perfect time for the story of an unshakable salt-of-the-earth woman of faith whose love for this country was anchored in the most basic democratic beliefs: That all Americans are created equal. That “a house divided cannot stand.” My hope is that folks leave this production of Fannie with an appreciation for how remarkable Fannie Lou Hamer was, and a realization that each and every one of us has a voice and the right to use that voice by voting. Like Fannie, we must never lose our faith in the principles of democracy that this nation stands for, even in the face of intimidation, lies, and fear.

Cheryl L. West’s profoundly timely play is born out of another of the most challenging times in this country’s history. During a global pandemic and an onslaught of divisive political posturing, hate and fear have become 24

Fannie Lou Hamer rallying supporters in Mississippi, 1964.

Fannie’s Songbook Fannie Lou Hamer grew up singing in church and in the cotton fields where she worked as a sharecropper. When she became a Civil Rights worker and voting rights advocate, she spent much of her time traveling across the country on speaking tours. She usually incorporated songs into her appearances—it was another way of telling her story. Here are the songs included in Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer.

“Oh Lord, You Know Just How I Feel”

“Walk with Me, Lord” “Oh Freedom” “I Love Everybody”

“I’ve Been Changed”

“This Little Light of Mine”

“Keep Your Eyes on the Prize”

“I Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round”

“Certainly Lord” “America”

“We Shall Not Be Moved”

“I’m on My Way to Freedom Land”

“Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Freedom”

Listen to live recordings of Fannie Lou Hamer curated by the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the album Songs My Mother Taught Me.

Fannie Lou Hamer singing during the March against Fear in Mississippi, 1966.

Fannie Lou Hamer 1917-1977 BY RICHARD J ROBERTS, RESIDENT DRAMATURG

Fannie Lou Townsend was born in 1917 in Montgomery County, Mississippi, the last of 20 children of Louella and James Lee Townsend. In 1919, the family moved to Ruleville in Sunflower County. Fannie’s mother was a domestic worker, and her father was a Baptist preacher. Her parents were also sharecroppers, and Fannie joined them in the fields from the age of six. Fannie began singing in church as a child. She loved reading and poetry, and she won spelling bees, but after the sixth grade she had to quit school to work full-time. At the age of 13, she could pick 200 to 300 pounds of cotton a day, the same as the strongest adults—despite suffering from polio, which left her with a lifelong limp. One year the family was able to save a little money and used it to buy some farm equipment and livestock, hoping to move up from sharecroppers to renters. A vindictive white neighbor poisoned their animals to “keep them in their place,” and the family’s financial situation never recovered. Because Fannie could read and write, the plantation owner eventually put her in charge of weighing and recording cotton production. In 1945 Fannie married Perry “Pap” Hamer, a tractor driver on the plantation. The couple adopted two daughters, Dorothy Jean and Vergie Ree. In 1961, during surgery to remove a uterine tumor, Fannie’s doctor performed a hysterectomy without her knowledge or consent. This kind of forced sterilization was often committed against Black women in the South at the time. The practice was so common that Fannie called it a “Mississippi appendectomy.” In 1962, at the age of 44, Hamer attended a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) meeting at William Chapel Church in Ruleville and learned for the first time that she had the right to vote. Soon after, along with a group of 17 neighbors, she attempted to register to vote, but she failed an unfair literacy test. That evening her boss fired her for attempting to register. In 1963 Hamer became a SNCC field secretary, working 26

on voter registration and welfare programs. That year, a bus returning from a meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference stopped for a break in Winona, Mississippi. Hamer and others were arrested for sitting in a “whites only” café and brutally beaten by police. Hamer needed a month to get back on her feet, and never fully recovered. For the rest of her life she dealt with a blood clot in her eye and permanent leg and kidney damage. Hamer helped organize Mississippi’s Freedom Summer, a project to register Black voters. As vice president of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, she spoke at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, gaining national fame. She ran for the U.S. House of Representatives and was finally able to cast her first vote—for herself. Although her chances were slim—she ultimately lost— she explained to a reporter, “I’m showing people that a Negro can run for office.” Hamer founded the Freedom Farm cooperative in 1967, offering opportunities for Black families to grow vegetables and raise pigs, thus becoming more self-sufficient. That year she ran for political office again, but was disqualified by the local election board. When their daughter Dorothy Jean died, Fannie and Pap adopted Dorothy Jean’s infant daughters, Jackie and Lenora (Cookie and Nook). In 1971 Hamer co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and ran for the Mississippi State Senate—losing again. The next year she was elected as a national party delegate at the Democratic National Convention. Over the years, Hamer received many honors and awards for her work, including honorary degrees from Tougaloo College, Shaw University, Columbia College, and Howard University. In 1977, after several years of working through poor health, Fannie Lou Hamer died of complications from hypertension and breast cancer at age 59. US Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young gave the eulogy. Hamer’s headstone is engraved with one of her most famous quotes: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

“I’m going to tell you just like it is…. There’s so much hypocrisy in this society, and if we want America to be a free society, we have to stop telling lies.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer during the March against Fear, Mississippi, 1966.

MAIESHA McQUEEN | Fannie Lou Hamer Fresh off the critically acclaimed, sold-out run of Come from Away in Gander, Newfoundland, Maiesha is elated to be making her IRT debut! Earlier this year, she moved audiences in her Henry Award–winning portrayal of Celie in The Color Purple at Denver Theatre Center. In 2021, she starred alongside Sara Bareilles on Broadway in the smash hit musical Waitress as Becky. Other notable roles include Clyde’s (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Portland Center Stage), Until the Flood (Merrimack Rep), and Mahalia (Dominion Entertainment; Suzi Bass Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical). maieshamcqueen.com / IG: maieshamcqueen MORGAN E. STEVENSON | Musical Director, Keyboards, Harmonica, Vocals Morgan E. is a versatile creative professional rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of Chicago’s South Side. Noted productions include Marie & Rosetta (Northlight Theatre) and Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Goodman Theatre, True Colors Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, City Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley). She most recently served as conductor and keyboardist for a highly successful run of Passing Strange at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta. Morgan E. holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University and a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. linktr.ee/morganemusicnow SPENCER BEAN | Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, and Vocals Spencer was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Cal State LA. Theatre performance credits include the August Wilson African American Theatre in Pittsburgh, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre and Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, and Theatre Works in Silicon Valley. He has played for various movie sound tracks and jingles as well as The Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and Sesame Street. He has toured worldwide and recorded on multiple gold and platinum recordings for Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, and Barry White, to mention a few … including a White House Performance with Gladys Knight for PBS. spencerbeanmusic.com DORIAN PHELPS | Percussion, Vocals Dorian “Hurricane” Phelps is an Indianapolis musician who picked up a pair of sticks at the age of one and has been honing his craft ever since. Coming from a family of musicians (drummer Kenny Phelps and singer Valerie Phelps), he was exposed to many different genres. From starting in church to studying theory and jazz, he quickly adapted to covering all styles of music. He has shared the stage with Pharez Whitted, Opal Staples, Steve Davis, Lamar Campbell, Tad Robinson, Owl Music Group, and many more. Look for Dorian’s first album release featuring many local favorites. ASHLEE “PSYWRN SIMONE” BASKIN | Understudy & Assistant Director PsyWrn Simone, a multihyphenate artist from Indianapolis, is elated to be working on her first IRT production! Recognized as a performer on the rise, she has graced many stages and projects around Indy and beyond, including Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Cardinal Stage (now Constellation Stage and Screen), and Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre; and is a member of AEA. Additionally, she serves as the Associate Artistic Director for the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis. “Shout-out to my supportive ‘village’ of love—including my parents, brothers, mentors, chosen family, and fiancé, Antonio. Eternal gratitude to the Creator—the Bestower and Perfector of talents!” @psywrn.simone 28

A Christmas

Fannie the music and life of

Fannie Lou Hamer by

Cheryl L. West

CHERYL L. WEST | Playwright Cheryl L. West’s plays include Shout Sister Shout, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 (produced by the IRT in 2019), Last Stop on Market Street, Akeelah and the Bee, Pullman Porter Blues, Mwindo, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Birdie Blue, Play On!, Holiday Heart, Jar the Floor, and Before It Hits Home. She is the Webby-nominated writer of the original web series Diary of a Single Mom. She has received the Charlotte B. Chorpenning Playwright Award, the American Alliance for Theatre & Education Distinguished Play Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the AUDELCO Award, and the Helen Hayes Charles McArthur Award. HENRY D. GODINEZ | Director Henry is thrilled to return to IRT where he last directed James Still’s Miranda. He is the Resident Artistic Associate at Goodman Theatre, where he most recently directed American Mariachi and Fannie. As director of Goodman’s Latino Theatre Festival, he fostered the international production of Pedro Paramo between Goodman and Teatro Buendia of Cuba. Other directing includes Signature Theatre in NYC, Yale Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Rep, and Dallas Theater Center. Henry is professor and chair at Northwestern University, serves on the board of the Illinois Arts Council, and is the co-founder of Teatro Vista. COLLETTE POLLARD | Scenic Designer Collette is based in Chicago and is thrilled to debut at IRT. Recent work includes Fannie (Goodman and Seattle Rep), Little Women (Seattle Rep and Milwaukee Rep), The Lehman Trilogy (Timeline Theatre, where she is an artist associate), Dennis Watkins’s The Magic Parlour (in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s), and Gypsy (Marriott Theatre, where next she designs The Music Man and Beehive). Collette is the recipient of several Jeff Awards and is an Associate Professor of Design at the School of Theatre and Music at University of Illinois at Chicago. “Many thanks for endless support from my family.” ARI FULTON | Costume Designer Ari designed costumes for the IRT’s production of Pipeline. OffBroadway: Covenant (Roundabout Theatre), Nova (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Confederates (Signature Theatre Company, Lortel nomination), School for Wives (Molière in the Park), Little Girl Blue (LDK Productions). Regional: Rocky Horror Show (Dallas Theatre Center), Rent (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), L’Amant Anonyme (Atlanta Opera and Minnesota Opera), A Wonderful World (Miami New Drama, Broadway World winner). Film: Incomplete (20th Century Digital and Hulu, NAACP Image Award Nominee), Disney Discovers (Disney Television, ABC), Cupids (Tribeca Film Festival and P&G), Nigerian Prince (AT&T, Netflix Executively, produced by Spike Lee). JASON LYNCH | Lighting Designer Jason is a Chicago-based lighting designer making his IRT debut with this production. Off-Broadway: You Are Here: An Evening with Solea Pfeiffer (Audible Theatre/ Minetta Lane Theatre). Regional: Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Geva Theatre Center, Goodman Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Old Globe, among others. Awards: one Joseph Jefferson, two Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge, Michael Maggio Emerging Designer. Jason is represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE, and the Gersh Agency. jasondlynch.com, @jasonlynch.design 29

A Christmas

Fannie the music and life of

Fannie Lou Hamer by

Cheryl L. West

VICTORIA DEIORIO | Sound Designer Victoria has composed music and designed sound for The Great Gatsby, The 39 Steps, and The Heavens Are Hung in Black at the IRT. Off-Broadway: Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors, A Christmas Carol, Two Point Oh, Arnie the Doughnut, Cassie’s Chimera, The Bluest Eye, and Ophelia. Regional: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Court Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Syracuse Stage, Center Stage Baltimore, Chautauqua Theatre Company, American Players Theatre, and many others. Victoria has received seven Joseph Jefferson Awards, a SALT Award, and two After Dark Awards. victoria-sound-design.com MIKE TUTAJ | Projections Designer At the IRT, Mike has designed projections for Sense and Sensibility, The Book Club Play, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Mountaintop. Based in Chicago, his credits include the Goodman, Steppenwolf, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Second City, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, Writers’ Theatre, the Court Theatre, and many more. Off-Broadway credits include MCC Theater, p73, EnGarde Arts, and the York Theatre. Regional credits include the Alliance Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, South Coast Rep, Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, and more. Mike is an artistic associate with TimeLine Theatre and a member of United Scenic Artists local 829. RICHARD J ROBERTS | Dramaturg This is Richard’s 34th season with the IRT, and his 26th as resident dramaturg. He has also been a dramaturg for the New Harmony Project, Write Now, and the Hotchner Playwriting Festival. He has directed IRT productions of A Christmas Carol, The Cay, Bridge & Tunnel, The Night Watcher, Neat, Pretty Fire, The Giver, The Power of One, and Twelfth Night. Other directing credits include Actors Theatre of Indiana, the Phoenix, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Edyvean. Richard studied music at DePauw and theatre at IU and was awarded a Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis. NATHAN GARRISON | Stage Manager This is Nathan’s 28th season at the IRT. He has also worked with Center Stage in Baltimore, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Brown County Playhouse; and he is a company member with the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company.

mas

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Fannie the music and life of

Fannie Lou Hamer by

Cheryl L. West

Move to the Music Faegre Drinker is proud to support the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s rendition of Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hammer. The musical’s message of perseverance through the best and worst of times is thought-provoking and inspiring.

faegredrinker.com

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE

HONORING JANET ALLEN

BACK TO THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN In June, 2023, the IRT announced that the Upperstage Theatre would be renamed in honor of Janet and her indelible impact on the community, presenting a dazzling variety of creative work, innovative ideas, and an unswerving commitment to quality and the Theatre’s audience and staff. Since 2021, the BACK TO THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN has received support from generous supporters. These friends and contributors have made gifts and commitments to honor Janet Allen and the important work that continues at the IRT. This work includes:

The creation of dedicated resources to attract and retain creative, artisan, and production talent so deeply impacted by the pandemic since 2020. You know well how important these talented professionals are to our commitment to world-class theatre here in Indiana. If you were able to see the season opening production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, you experienced some of the early investment in production elements to enhance IRT productions. The thrilling production offered a sample of the theatre’s advancements in sound, light, and projection to make important creative tools available to our first rate designers.

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT Steven Stolen: sstolen@irtlive.com Suzanne Sweeney: ssweeney@irtlive.com

The Upperstage Theatre, soon to be the Janet Allen Stage, represents a legacy that you and countless others know well. We will celebrate Janet and the newly named theatre this spring with a production of Frida ... A Self Portrait. The IRT would be delighted and honored to include your name as a contributor to the Back to the Future Campaign recognition. Your commitment powerfully notes Janet’s legacy and will be an ongoing reminder of your role in making her long IRT career a remarkable success. Your gift will place your name in the listing of others that honor Janet, the IRT, and your family. Honoring her legacy can also be part of your legacy when you consider a gift in your estate plans, making you an Ovation Society member. Janet’s legacy…Your legacy…worthy of an “ovation” indeed. Join the dozens of IRT supporters and Janet Allen enthusiasts and consider making your gift or commitment to the Back to the Future Campaign and honoring Janet today. The world class theatre you have enjoyed, Janet has so deftly and passionately led, and the future to make the IRT even more impactful in its next 50 years have been possible in part by friends like you. A great celebration in the spring awaits us, we’ll hope to have you there to rename one of Janet’s “houses.”

Top: Tracy Michelle Arnold in the IRT’s 2023 production of Shakespeare’s Will. Photo by Zach Rosing. Bottom: Janet Allen at the IRT’s 2023 Celebrity Radio Show. Photo by Noelani Langille.

You can be part of both the future and the great history of Janet Allen’s impact.

CONGRATULATIONS

EUGENE (GENE) TEMPEL It is with great honor that we recognize Gene for receiving the Indiana Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award. Gene is the founding dean emeritus and professor of philanthropy at the IUPUI Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Under his leadership, the school flourished and continues to improve philanthropy throughout the world. Gene is a former board chair, distinguished IRT board emeritus, campaign strategist, capital campaign chair, and generous donor. From all of us at the IRT, thank you for all you have done for our mission, and for the lives you have touched throughout your philanthropic career!

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KEEP GROWING.

ANSWERING THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

JOIN THE

OVATION SOCIETY

GIVE THE GIFT OF THEATRE TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS! The Indiana Repertory Theatre has now produced professional, world-class theatre in Indianapolis for 50 years.

Make your mark on the next 50 years by endowing a legacy gift to the IRT. It can be as easy as changing your life insurance or retirement beneficiaries through your financial or estate plans to include the IRT. Above: John Guerrasio and Priscilla Lindsay in the IRT’s 1992 Production of The Miser. Below: Emily Berman, Cassia Thompson, and Will Mobley in the IRT’s 2021 production of The Book Club Play. Photo by Zach Rosing.

TO LEAVE YOUR LEGACY TO THE IRT, CONTACT:

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HOSTED BY DEVON GINN

Welcome to the home of IRT’s debut podcast, Green Room Meditations! Hosted by Devon Ginn, IRT’s Director of Inclusion & Community Partnerships, this podcast holds space for theatre makers and lovers to examine the industry through a lens of justice and defiant mindfulness. Guests include playwrights, actors, community leaders, and more—all gathering in conversation to discuss topics related both to our plays on stage and the art as a whole.

scan the QR code to stream or subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts. New episodes of the podcast will drop on the third Friday of every month!

BUILDING WHAT MATTERS. COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT TO WILHELM. We continuously seek opportunities to build and support the communities in which we live and work.

MAKE YOUR STUDENT MATINEE RESERVATIONS TODAY! MAR 1 & 6

The

Folks at Home by R. Eric Thomas

a modern family comedy

MAR 26 | APR 3 & 4

Frida ... A Self Portrait

written and performed by

Vanessa Severo

extraordinary tour de force

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

TO REQUEST TICKETS TO A PERFORMANCE PLEASE SCAN THIS QR CODE

APR 23-26 | MAY 1-3

Little Shop of Horrors book and lyrics by

Howard Ashman music by Alan Menken

hilarious horticultural horror musical

Photo: The cast of the IRT’s 2023 production of Oedipus. Photo by Zach Rosing.

BRING THE CLASSROOM TO LIFE Help us continue to give students, teachers, and their schools experiences they deserve by donating to the Alan and Linda Cohen Education Fund today. “Love that the IRT has secured subsidies for our school (from our free/reduced status). It makes it much easier to allow ALL of my students to attend. The resources you include for teachers reduces my work! The Oedipus guide was very thorough and packed with info! Thanks for everything!” Anonymous educator after seeing IRT’s 2023 production of Oedipus with class

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPORTING STUDENT MATINEES, CONTACT

Kay Swank Herzog: kswankherzog@irtlive.com | 317.916.4830

David Shih and Anne Bates in the IRT’s 2022 production of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin. Photo by Zach Rosing.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO DONATE, CONTACT

Kay Swank Herzog: kswankherzog@irtlive.com | 317.916.4830

THE SUPPORTING CAST

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THE SUPPORTING CAST

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE DONORS

A.J. Allen Janet Allen & Joel Grynheim Katy & Tim Allen Anonymous (4) Trudy W. Banta Sarah C. Barney Daniel & Rita Blay Victoria Broadie Sheila Brown & Juan Gonzalez Amy Burke David & Judith Chadwick Steve & Kim Chatham Shaun Healy Clifford Alan & Linda Cohen Family Foundation Sonya Cropper & Ajay Patel Daniel & Catherine Cunningham Frank & Norah Deane Dr. Gregory Dedinsky & Dr. Cherri Hobgood Fred W. Dennerline Laurie Dippold* Paul & Glenda Drew Craig & Marsha Dunkin Dr. & Mrs. John & Sheryn Ellis Troy D. Farmer Drs. Richard & Rebecca Feldman Joan M. FitzGibbon Mary L. Forster, M.D. Jim & Julie Freeman Daniel Fulmer & Brian Stockman Brian & Lorene Furrer Future Keys Foundation Ashley & Andrea Garry Garth & Christine Gathers Robert & Christy Gauss Dorothea & Philip Genetos Phylis & Paul Gesellchen Robert Giannini Ron & Kathy Gifford Bruce Glor Marta Gross & Richard M. Barnes Walter & Janet Gross Bill & Phyllis Groth 44

Chad & Kelli Grothen Ricardo & Beatriz Guimarães Mary & Gary Gustafson Emily F. (Cramer) Hancock* Benjamin Hanna Jeffrey Harrison Michael N. & Karen E. Heaton The Hedges-Dillman Family Holt Hedrick Kurt & Charlene Heinzman William & Patricia Hirsch Richard & Elizabeth Holmes Randy & Becky Horton Drs. Meredith & Kathleen Hull Rebecca Hutton The Indianapolis Fellows Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation Colette Irwin-Knott & Gary Knott Lauren James Patrick & Barbara James Tom & Kathy Jenkins Andrew & Brianna Johnson Mrs. Janet Johnson Denny & Judi Jones Elisha Kemp Joy Kleinmaier Steve & Bev Koepper Dr. Michael & Molly Kraus Kurt & Judy Kroenke Dr. Loretta Kroin PhD & Mr. Julian S Kroin Dr. & Mrs. Alan Ladd Edward & Ann M. Ledford Dan & Martha Lehman Joe & Deborah Loughrey Barbara MacDougall Steven & Rob MacPherson Stolen Kathryn Maeglin Marlene & Bob Marchesani Mike & Pat McCrory Sharon R. Merriman Lawren Mills & Brad Rateike* Dr. David H. Moore & Dr. Kris Beckwith Michael D. Moriarty Linda & Don Neel Tammie L Nelson & David McCaskill

The Blake Lee and Carolyn Lytle Neubauer Charitable Fund, a fund of Hamilton County Community Foundation Dr. & Mr. Nichols Dr. Joseph M. Overhage & Dr. Mary R. Brunner Nicholas & Tracy Pappas Rita Patel Larry & Louise Paxton The Payne Family Foundation, a fund of CICF Kenneth A. & Joan C. Peterson Dr. & Mrs. Lee Phipps Gail & William Plater Bob & Kathi Postlethwait Phil & Joyce Probst Scott & Susan Putney Ken Qualls Peter Racher & Sarah Binford Roger & Anna Radue Michael & Melissa Rawlings Peter & Karen Reist Ken & Debra Renkens Karen & Dick Ristine Chip & Jane Rutledge Paula F. Santa Jane W. Schlegel Alice Schloss Donor Advised Fund, a fund of Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Tom & Barbara Schoellkopf Darshan & Rebecca Shah Thomas & Teresa Sharp Jack & Karen Shaw Lee Shevitz Michael Skehan George & Mary Slenski Shelly & Jeremy Smith Cheryl & Bob Sparks Edward & Susann Stahl Ed & Jane Stephenson Robert & Barbara Stevens Jim & Cheryl Strain Jeff & Janet Stroebel Kay Swank-Herzog & Robert Herzog

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Mark K. Bear John Champley & Julie Keck Brady Clark Peter Furno & Pamela Steed Richard & Sharon Gilmor Marianne Glick & Mike Woods Diane Hall Don & Carolyn Hardman Tracy Heaton de Martinez The Steven Herker Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Iacocca Lyle & Deborah Mannweiler John & Carolyn Mutz Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. & Kelli DeMott Park The David and Arden Pletzer Endowment Fund, a fund of Hamilton County Community Foundation Judy Roudebush

David Andrichik The Todd A. Andritsch Family Fund

Beverly Watkins Dorothy Webb Dr. Rosalind Webb Bob & Susan Welch Emily A. West Alan & Elizabeth Whaley Cliff Williams

Anonymous (3) Constance C. Beardsley* Mr. & Mrs. Joseph B. Black III Jesse L. & Carolynne Bobbitt Barbara & Christopher Bodem* William Capello M.D. Vince & Robyn Caponi Allen B. Carter & Patricia Hester Jeffrey & Jeni Christoffersen Shane and Andrea Crouch* Karen Dace* Bill & Shirley Daley Carolyn Daly Fr. Clem Davis* Tom Dorantes & Sunah C Kim Dorantes* Drs. Eric Farmer & Tate Trujillo & Christopher Scott* Margie & Amy Ferguson* Hank & Nanci Feuer Arthur Field IV Roger & Susan Frick The David T. & E. Jean Fronek Charitable Fund, a fund of Hamilton County Community Foundation Thecla Gossett Greg Grossart Ron & Ellie Hackler Don & Elizabeth Harmon Andrea Hatch & Rich Dionne

John & Margaret Wilson Jim Winner Frederick & Jacquelyn Winters William Witchger, II & Kimberly Witchger John & Linda Zimmermann

Steve & Kathy Heath Sandra Hester-Steele Eleanor & Joseph Hingtgen David Jackoway Greg & Pat Jacoby Patricia Johnson & Michael Wilson Michelle Korin* Steven & Kathleen Krusie Hitch & Sandy Learned Kathy & David Lentz Andra Liepa Charitable Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation Carlos & Eleanor Lopez Linda Lough* Mark Magee* Gayle Mayne Mr. & Mrs. David McPherson Dr. Frank Messina & Robin Reagan Rev. Mary Ann Moman* Jim & Judi Mowry Mr Electric Solar Terry & Lew Mumford Sharon & Dan Murphy* Dr. LeeAnne M. Nazer Ann Marie Ogden & Brian Murphy Gerald & Dorit Paul Davie & Dorian Poole Greg Pugh & Jill Woerner Richard & Diane Rhodes Richard & Ann Riegner 45

THE SUPPORTING CAST

INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE DONORS

Richard & Christine Scales Linda J. Shinn Doug Sims Blair and Helen Snead Kimberly Sorg-Graves* Spence Family Vision Fund Luke Stark* Nela Swinehart* Steve & Barb Tegarden*

Garrett & Elaine Thiel Eric & Carolyn Tinsley Randall & Jennifer Todd Donald & Shirley Trapp Robert & Barbetta True* Barbara S. Tully* Bill & Janet Wakefield Paula Taylor Whitfield and Sherman L Whitfield

Angie & Andy Wilkinson Reba Boyd Wooden* Zionsville Physical Therapy* *Denotes sustaining donors

The Ovation Society is an exclusive program that recognizes donors that have made a legacy gift to the IRT. The IRT truly appreciates those individuals whose gift will ensure that the Theatre can continue to provide meaningful and inspirational experiences for future generations. Gary Addison Janet Allen & Joel Grynheim Bob & Pat Anker Bob & Toni Bader Frank & Katrina Basile Charlie & Cary Boswell Ron & Julia Carpenter John R. Carr (in memoriam) John & Mary Challman Doug Cooper & Megan McKinney Cooper Sergej R. Cotton Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Dapp Nancy Davis & Robert Robinson Rollie & Cheri Dick Nancy & Berkley Duck Dale & Karen Duncan Troy D. Farmer Jim & Julie Freeman Meg Gammage-Tucker

David A. & Dee Garrett (in memoriam) Michael D. Moriarty Michael Gradison (in memoriam) Richard & Lila Morris Marta Gross & Richard M. Barnes Mutter Marines--Jim & Carol Emily F. (Cramer) Hancock* Rob & Sara Norris Mike & Judy Harrington Deena J. Nystrom Michael N. & Karen E. Heaton Marcia O’Brien (in memoriam) Bruce Hetrick & Cheri O’Neill Brian & Gail Payne Tom & Nora Hiatt George & Olive Rhodes (in memoriam) Brenda Horn Pat Garrett Rooney Bill & Nancy Hunt Jane W. Schlegel David Kleiman & Susan Jacobs Myra C. Selby & Bruce Curry Frank & Jacqueline La Vista Michael Skehan Andra Liepa Charitable Fund, a fund of Jeff & Janet Stroebel The Indianapolis Foundation Michael Suit (in memoriam) Barbara MacDougall Suzanne Sweeney & Todd Wiencek Donald & Ruth Ann MacPherson Gene & Mary Tempel Stuart L. Main (in memoriam) Jeff & Benita Thomasson Michael R. Maine Christopher J. Tolzmann Sharon R. Merriman Alan & Elizabeth Whaley David & Leslie Morgan John & Margaret Wilson

CORPORATE Barnes & Thornburg LLP Corteva Agriscience F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Inc. Faegre Drinker Frost Brown Todd KERAMIDA Inc. KPMG LLP Navient Community Fund of the Delaware Community Foundation OneAmerica Financial Partners Oxford Financial Group, Ltd. Printing Partners STEELENCOUNTERS

FOUNDATION The Ackerman Family Foundation Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Christel DeHaan Family Foundation The Margot L. Eccles Arts & Culture Fund, a fund of CICF Efroymson Family Fund, a fund of CICF The Glick Family Foundation The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate Lacy Foundation Lilly Endowment, Inc. Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

The Penrod Society The Shubert Foundation

GOVERNMENT Indy Arts Council and the City of Indianapolis

IN-KIND/TRADE National Institute of Fitness & Sport

THE ALAN AND LINDA COHEN EDUCATION FUND Marta Gross & Richard M. Barnes

BACK TO THE FUTURE Charlie & Cary Boswell Risa Brainin & Michael Klaers Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Ann & Kenneth Dee Rollie & Cheri Dick The Michael Dinius & Jeannie Regan-Dinius Family Fund, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation Troy D. Farmer Jim & Julie Freeman

Tom & Jenny Froehle Mike & Judy Harrington Michael N. & Karen E. Heaton Bruce Hetrick & Cheri O’Neill Brenda Horn Rebecca Hutton Michael Keck David Kleiman & Susan Jacobs Jill & Peter Lacy Barry Landy Sarah & John Lechleiter Rob & Sara Norris Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc. Jackie Nytes & Patrick O’Brien Brian & Gail Payne Sue & Bill Ringo Pat Garrett Rooney Dan & Patty Schipp Tim & Karen Seiler Rosie Semler Shiel Sexton Company Sue & Mike Smith Jeff & Janet Stroebel Suzanne Sweeney & Todd Wiencek Gene & Mary Tempel Cheryl Gruber Waldman Alan & Elizabeth Whaley Dr. Christian Wolf & Elaine Holden Charitable Fund

IRT STAGE DOOR RESTAURANTS DISCOUNTS FOR OUR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Henry Woronicz, John Taylor Philips, Emily Berman, and Eric Sharp in the IRT’s 2023 production of Clue. Photo by Zach Rosing.

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