The Signature Six Series includes Twelve Angry Men, And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears, Morning After Grace, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin, and Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. The additional productions not in the Subscription Series will be The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, James Still’s The Little Choo-Choo That Thinks She Can, and the return of the Indy holiday tradition, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
“Our next season is a true representation of our institution’s mission and the power of storytelling through art,” IRT’s Executive Artistic Director Janet Allen said. “These productions are diverse not only in content, style, and time period, but also in identity, age, and background. We’re looking forward to sharing these complex stories with our patrons.”
The next season at Indiana Repertory Theatre will take audiences on a journey through modern and historical times, realistic and magical elements, and intense and heartwarming emotions, with productions ranging from classics and beloved stories to thought-provoking and diverse work. The 2019-20 season will open Sept. 4.
New elements this upcoming season include an expanded schedule for the Exploring Stages production The Choo-Choo That Thinks She Can to provide options for both fall and spring performances, and this year’s version of A Christmas Carol will feature certain design updates that have not happened in more than 15 years.
Seated
ticket packages are available now, and include options for the Signature Six
Series. To learn more about season package benefits and to purchase, visit irtlive.com. Build Your Own
packages and single tickets will go on sale later this summer.
The 2019-20 IRT SEASON
Twelve
Angry Men by
Reginald Rose. Sept. 4 through 29. The plot: A young man’s life hangs in the
balance as a trial jury meets behind closed doors to debate his guilt or
innocence. Did he kill his father? Or is there reasonable doubt? What is
justice, and how do we achieve it? You will be on the edge of your seat as a
dozen men with different viewpoints try to agree on one verdict. This classic
American drama from the 1950s could have been written yesterday with its
provocative look at power, prejudice, and clashing perspectives.
The
Little Choo-Choo That Thinks She Can by James Still. Oct.12 through 27 and
Feb. 22 through March 8. The plot: A beloved story comes to life in front of
your eyes as a young brother and sister, with nothing but their toy box and
their own imaginations, invent a train full of friends and a big, big hill to
get over. Making up the story as they go along, the two create a cast of
colorful characters who try and try again until they have reached the other
side of the hill. Introduce your children to the joyful experience of live
theatre and the creativity of play.
And So We Walked: An Artist’s Journey Along the Trail of Tears, created and performed
by DeLanna Studi. Oct. 15 through Nov. 10. Join Cherokee actor and artist
DeLanna Studi as she explores her personal and cultural identity while
traveling the Trail of Tears with her father – and her family spirits. This
one-woman play probes the complexities and conflicts that the Cherokee Nation
still wrestles with today, almost 200 years after their forced relocation. Past
and present intertwine with dreams, history, and legend in this frank and
moving memoir of doubt and discovery.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Tom Haas. Nov. 16 through Dec. 26. A delightful ensemble of players will bring Scrooge, Tiny Tim, four spirits, and all of Victorian London to life on IRT’s snow-covered stage for this holiday treasure infused with music and song. In the darkness of winter, we all need the shining light of forgiveness, redemption, and love. Come celebrate the joy of the season and the spirit of giving.
Morning After Grace, by Carey Crim. Jan. 14 through Feb. 9. Described as a comedy with heart, the play focuses on three neighbors in a Florida retirement village who wake up one morning to find their lives unexpectedly tangled together, adding a new wrinkle – and a new sparkle – to their golden years. Unforeseen complications force them to confront old demons, but laughter and love will help them deal with these issues – if they can accept each other’s helping hands. Nothing is what it seems in this surprising play that shows how retirement can offer a whole new lease on life.
The
Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, adapted by Cheryl L. West fromthe
book by Christopher Paul Curtis. Feb. 1 through March
1. When the Watsons load their young children into the car for the long drive
from Michigan to visit family in the Deep South, they take their “Green Book”
to help plan for the prejudice encountered by black people traveling in Jim
Crow America. What they don’t expect is to find themselves caught up in an act
of violence that will go down in Civil Rights history. Strength and love help
them face their struggles and find a path forward in this powerful drama for
the whole family.
Agatha
Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig.
March 3 through 29. A luxury train trapped in a snowdrift, a dining car full of
glamorous passengers, a dead body with multiple stab wounds, a suspicious
intruder who keeps disappearing, and mysterious links to a far-distant murder
case. Hercule Poirot, the world’s greatest detective, must interrupt his
holiday to solve this fiendishly intricate and clever plot – before the snow is
cleared and the train moves on. A golden-age detective story springs to life
from the pages of the world’s best-selling author.
The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin by Jessica Huang. March 24 through April 19. Described as “a surreal journey through past and present,” the play tells the story of a man who, despite the U.S. ban against Chinese immigrants, forges a new identity to earn precious American dollars to send home to his starving village. Now he is trapped between two families and two worlds. Seasoned with magic and mystery, this hauntingly theatrical tale from our overlooked history considers the personal and political repercussions of making a group of people illegal.
Jane
Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, adapted by Jessica Swale. April 14 through
May 10. 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 yourself in the wit and wisdom, the beauty and
charm of Jane Austen.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This report was made public March 20, a day after the April issue of Urban Times went to press. Look for more on the coming IRT season in the May edition of Urban Times.
