The District Theatre will present a very different look at the pivotal night in 1968 when Sen. Robert F. Kennedy – standing on ground which is now the Kennedy King Park – helped calm a crowd when word spread of the assassination that day of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear Bobby The Musical will dramatize and reflect on this profound moment in history, connecting it to themes of memory, justice, resilience, and hope. By blending history with art, the production honors both Dr. King’s legacy and Kennedy’s extraordinary act of empathy that forever shaped Indianapolis’ story.
Two performances are planned for the newly named Indianapolis Foundation Mainstage – at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12.
Dear Bobby The Musical is the work of Angela Jackson-Brown, an award-winning playwright, poet and novelist. The play is produced as part of the Black Light Training and Development Program at The District Theatre, which over the past three years has nurtured emerging artists and produced six original works centered on the history and culture of Indiana Avenue.
The play focuses on Judith Rosenstein and Annabelle Strong – two 12-year-old girls from opposite sides of Indianapolis. But their stories are similar. Both girls are growing up without their mothers and both have two very loving fathers and brothers. Judith is the Jewish daughter of a local physician; Annabelle’s father is a custodian who works at Indianapolis General Hospital and is the local NAACP president.
The play begins with each penning a letter to Bobby Kennedy, whose campaign for president brought him to Indianapolis. Both girls are infatuated over Kennedy’s impending arrival, but for very different reasons. Judith has a secret crush and hopes to finally get to see her favorite Kennedy in person, and Annabelle, a driven and intense young girl, wants to one day get into politics, just like Bobby, and she hopes to get started by working on his campaign.
This play explores the very real struggles and successes of the Jewish community and the black community to unite as one in Indianapolis during this time. It explores in a larger scope, the tumultuous times everyone was living through as they watched in horror the assassination of their leaders.
Angela Jackson-Brown’s work often explores the intersections of history, race, memory and resilience. She is the author of several acclaimed novels, including When Stars Rain Down (a finalist for the Weatherford Award) and The Light Always Breaks. Her plays — including House Repairs, Home to a Stranger, Anna’s Wings and Flossie Bailey Takes a Stand — have been staged regionally and nationally, showcasing her gift for combining historical truth with deeply human storytelling. Jackson-Brown is also a respected educator, currently serving as a professor of creative writing at Indiana University.
Black Light Training & Development Production has become a nationally recognized model for combining workforce training, mentorship, and new play development while amplifying historically underrepresented voices.
