Stage Write

One of my favorite annual Indy traditions is back this weekend! The Indianapolis Shakespeare Company (formerly Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre) is presenting As You Like It at White River State Park tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday. The show 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 a special "As You Like It" beer. Don't miss it! Visit their website here for more info. Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Shakespeare Company 

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...

Every theatre is unique and the shows that they produce there reflect that diversity. I’m grateful Indy has so many great ones to choose from. There were some wonderful shows in 2014 and here’s a top ten list of my personal favorites. Make sure you keep an eye on these theaters in 2015!   1) The Wars of the Roses performed by the EclecticPond Theatre Company   2) Who Am I This Time? at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 3) A Streetcar Named Desire an Acting Up Production     4) The Tempest a Shakespeare on the Canal performance by HART   5) The Rocky Horror Show a Zach Rosing Production 6) The Book of Mormon at the Old National Center performed by Broadway Across America 7) Petunia and Chicken an iNDYFRINGE performance 8) Tribes at the Phoenix Theatre   9) The Games’s Afoot at the Indiana Repertory Theatre   10) Hamlet an Acting Up Production Photos courtesy of EclecticPond, Acting Up, HART, ...

This past weekend I had the opportunity it participate in something truly incredible. Indianapolis hosted the American Theatre Critics Association Conference (ACTA) and critics from all over the country made their way to our fine city. From San Francisco, CA to New Haven, CT the critics came; many had never been to Indiana before and had no idea that we had such a wide variety of cultural events available. This conference was a chance to widen perceptions about how our city is viewed throughout the country. The driving force behind this event was Indianapolis Business Journal , led by Arts and Entertainment editor Lou Harry. A lot of work went into pitching and organizing this conference. Every detail from the food to the transportation had to be worked out and dozens of schedules had to be juggled to fit in as much as possible, but the result was a smashing success. Attendees enjoyed local food from Yats , Ralston’s Draft House , Shapiro’s and the Rathskeller . They traveled f...

There are few things as magical as watching Shakespeare's work being performed outdoors. Even the Globe Theatre in London was designed to recreate the original roofless Globe, combining the Bard's beautiful words and starry nights. The Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre presented a weekend of Shakespeare on July 31st and August 1st. The show, "Much Ado About Nothing" was performed on a simple, yet beautiful set in White River State Park. With the river created the perfect backdrop and the performers shared barbs and banter as the sun set. When performed without a sense of humor Shakespeare can feel stale and archaic, especially a comedy like "Much Ado About Nothing." HART's performers took the classic material and brought it alive, embracing the author's wicked wit. The cast included seasoned actors like Charles Goad and Mark Goetzinger, talented HART regulars Ben Tebbe, Michael Shelton and Diane Timmerman, a few newcomers and many others. They ...