Stage Write

One of my favorite annual Indy traditions is back this weekend! The Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre is presenting Twelfth Night at White River State Park tonight, tomorrow and Saturday. The shows start at 8 pm, but the pre-show festivities begin at 6 pm.  Every year the productions are incredible and so much fun. Professional actors take the stage for only three days during this FREE event. There will be food trucks and Sun King Brewery will be serving. Don't miss it! Visit their website here for more info. Parking options: 1.     White River State Park underground parking garage: 801 West Washington Street (not recommended for Friday, July 31st) •     Entrance is located between the Eitlejorg Museum and the Indiana State Museum (and across Washington Street from the Marriott Courtyard Hotel/JW Marriott complex). •     Price: $6-$10. Mention you are with HART Shakespeare for the $6 pric...

The Importance of Being Jeff Speedthru Written and directed by Jeremy Grimmer IndyFringe 2015 Two actors, preparing for a rehearsal, are forced by the company’s board of directors to do an immediate run of an obscure two-hour classical play in forty-five minutes… without the rest of the cast. Confusion, calamity, and chaotic cross-dressing ensue. This is our 2015 IndyFringe offering performed at one of the festivals new venues, the Firefighter's Union Hall at 748 Massachusetts Avenue. (Right next to the beer tent!) Featuring the talents of Matt Anderson and Kate Homan, and written by Jeremy Grimmer, co-writer of such ETC best-selling hits as 10x10 and Shakespeare Wrote What...?, this is one Fringe show you won't want to miss! Titus Andronicus By William Shakespeare Adapted and directed by Thomas Cardwell October 2015 By transporting the characters and events of this play to an unforgiving post-apocalyptic world, a world that is as violent as a...

In a post-electric world with no television, smartphones or computers, what does a group of survivors talk about? They rehash old plots of Simpsons’ episodes of course! This comedy tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world through the eyes of a small traveling band of people. It’s a strange show, unlike anything else you’ll probably see this year. It provides a surreal mix of humor and poignant reflection.  The group, huddled around a campfire, finds a sense of connectivity in their shared memories of pop culture. They also try to keep the semblance of normalcy in the formality of simple tasks. By doing things “properly” there’s the illusion of calm in the chaos. The cast is so in synch. They convey an instant sense of comradery when you first meet them. Eric Olsen, Jen Johansen, Eryn Bowser, Paul Collier Hansen, Paeton Chavis, Rob Johansen, and Ryan O’Shea work so well together. They provide our only view into this brand new world, but through their interactions we...

Pride and Prejudice  This story is so well-known and beloved that any new adaptation has a high bar to hit for success. The American Players Theatre’s adaptation features a huge cast complete with lovely costumes and a delicate set which switches from a small sitting room or a ballroom in a moment. Kelsey Brennan and Marcus Truschinski star as Elizabeth Bennet and the infamous Mr. Darcy. Their chemistry is electric, beginning with their first hostile scene all the way through the tender romance that develops. The play features a Lizzy that’s stubborn and self-righteous and whom you can’t help but love. Mr. Darcy is stormy and cold, right up until the moment when he bares his heart. Each of the Bennet family members was perfectly suited for their role. There was the frivolous Lydia, witty Mr. Bennet, gentle Jane, and of course, the eternally high-strung Mrs. Bennet. Brennan’s interactions with her father, played by James Ridge, were subtle and gave so much depth to the fam...