Indiana Repertory Theatre’s James Still talks new season lineup

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By Zach Dunkin

For 20 years, James Still has been the playwright in residency at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, and to honor him, the Indy downtown show palace is featuring two of his plays in its 46th season. IRT recently announced the nine-production season, which runs from Sept.19 through May 20.

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Still

The Still pieces are “Appoggiatura,” a romantic idyll set in Venice, and audience favorite “Looking over the President’s Shoulders,” a celebration of native Hoosier Alonzo Fields’ long career in the White House. Fields spent two decades as chief butler at the White House, serving Presidents Herbert H. Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“My 20th season is an opportunity for my plays to continue ongoing and dynamic conversations with IRT audiences,” Still said. “This anniversary celebrates a relationship between a writer and an audience, a body of work and a community and stories told and hearts opened.”

One of the IRT’s most requested productions, “Looking over the President’s Shoulders” is a one-man show that debuted in the 2001-2002 season and returned in the 2007-2008 season. The 2017-2018 season will mark the second time David Alan Anderson has been cast as Fields.

“I continue to be amazed by how audiences are drawn to David Anderson,” Still said. “He’s a wonderful storyteller on stage.”

“Appoggiatura” runs March 7-31 on the Mainstage, followed by “Looking over the President’s Shoulder,” March 27-May 6 on the Upperstage.

Another of the season’s biggest highlights is one of America’s first non-commercial productions of the Tony Award-winning hit, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Based on the 2003 mystery novel by British author Mark Haddon, the story involves a teenage boy with an autism spectrum condition who discovers the dead body of the neighbor’s dog. The dog’s owner calls the police, and the boy comes under suspicion. He decides to investigate the dog’s death, despite his father’s orders to stay out of other people’s business. The production runs from Sept. 19 to Oct.14

“The Originalist,” a play by John Strand, will run Oct. 17-Nov. 12. The two main subjects of the play are Supreme Court Justice and conservative icon Antonin Scalia, arguably among the most polarizing jurists of his stature in American history, and hid young, liberal, female law intern.

“This season has been specifically selected for our central Indiana audiences of all ages, to invite us to come together as a community under one roof and share in the magic of live theatre,” said IRT executive artistic director, Janet Allen. “It celebrates our differences, while reminding us that we are deeply connected. We’ll create new, insightful productions of important classics, as well as challenging new work to encourage us to pause, reflect, enjoy and reenergize.”

The rest of the season will include:

“A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 18-Dec. 24. The Charles Dickens tradition returns as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and three lively ghosts travel on a dark, snowy journey that leads to a bright new day of joy, hope and renewal.

“A Raisin in the Sun,” Jan. 10-Feb. 3. The story tells of a black family’s experiences in a rundown Chicago neighborhood as they attempt to “better” themselves with an insurance payout following the death of the father.

“Romeo and Juliet,” Jan. 27- March 3. One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, it’s a timeless tale of young love struggling to survive amid old hatreds.

“The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” Feb. 24-March 25. The young audience play marks the fourth year of Exploring Stages, a partnership between the IRT and United Way (UW), designed to bring UW preschools to the IRT and enhance both the public and student matinee performances through wrap-around learning experiences and activities.

“Noises Off,” April 24-May 20. The comedy features rehearsal implosions, backstage shenanigans and onstage disasters.

On sale now, season ticket packages start at $149. Single tickets go on sale in August. For more, visit irt.live.com.


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