Traditionally, the theater season begins in September. But with these theaters all offering shows in August — American Lives Theatre, Indy Shakes, Beef & Boards Dinner Theater, Summer Stock Stage, Indy Drag Theatre and more — the line between one season and the next has become less clear.
Still, this seems like a good time to look ahead between now and New Year’s. There’s something to be said for tradition. And so, after combing through the announcements of upcoming shows, I’ve narrowed the list down to some very promising ones.
Keep in mind that some theater companies have yet to announce their lineups. And offerings that may not immediately excite based on preliminary information could turn out to be the season’s winners.
That being said, here are 10 shows I’ve put at the top of my list.
“Wad”
🗓️ Sept. 11-28
📍 Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center, 705 N Illinois St.
Front loading its season after the August run of “Aspen Ideas,” American Lives Theatre will offer “Wad,” a play by Keiko Green in a co-production with The New Harmony Project. It concerns a young woman who makes a pen-pal connection with a man on death row.
“The Mountaintop”
🗓️ Sept. 18-28
📍 The District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Ave.
Over on Mass Ave, local favorite Daniel Martin, fresh from Indy Shakes’ “Comedy of Errors” and many TV commercials, will play Martin Luther King, Jr. in Katori Hall’s oft-produced drama “The Mountaintop.”
The production by the Indianapolis Black Theatre Company will take place at the District Theatre Sept. 18-28. If it sounds familiar, that may be because Indiana Repertory Theatre and Actors Theatre of Indiana have both produced it in past years.
“An Evening with Christian Borle”
🗓️ Sept. 12-14
📍 The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St.
Okay, The Cabaret technically isn’t producing plays. But it is bringing Broadway’s top talent to town for intimate shows, so I’m making an exception.
On Sept. 12-14, we’ll get to hear Christian Borle, whose many roles have included leads in “Falsettos,” “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “Something Rotten.” I had the pleasure of seeing him in those last three (and caught the first on video) and I expect this performance as himself will be as charming as his other stage work.
“Evil Dead: The Musical!”
🗓️ Oct. 10-26
📍 Basile Theatre at IF, 719 E St Clair St.
Cryptid Entertainment will live up to its name when it stages “Evil Dead: The Musical!” at the Basile Theatre at IF (formerly Indy Fringe). If you’ve seen the horror movie classic this show is based on, you should have some idea what you are in for.
If you haven’t, some of the song titles should give you hints. They include “Cabin in the Woods,” “It Won’t Leave Us Alone,” and of course that immortal classic, “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons.” It (and the blood) runs Oct. 10-26.
“The Crucible”
🗓️ Oct. 23-Nov. 2
📍 Shelton Auditorium, 1000 W. 42nd St.
Horrors of a more grounded kind are featured in “The Crucible,” playwright Arthur Miller’s look at the Salem witch trials filtered through the McCarthy-era blacklist.
Southbank Theatre Company’s strong cast includes Morgan Morton, Hannah Embree and Brian Hartz (alas, moving from Indy after this production. Our loss).
And then there’s December holiday shows
Not knowing what playwright Zack Neiditch and songwriter Paige Scott have in store is half the fun of “A Very Phoenix Xmas XVII: Sleigh, Girl, Sleigh!,” the Phoenix Theatre’s latest version of its annual holiday offering. It runs Nov. 29-Dec. 21.
I’m curious to see what Ben Asaykwee, creator of such shows as “White City Murder,” has in store with his holiday musical “Wonders,” having its world premiere Dec. 4-24 at the District Theatre.
And I’m expecting big laughs from Defiance Comedy’s “Christmas Vacation,” another original musical with December dates to be announced.
Oh, and then there’s that little musical called “Hamilton,” whose tour returns to the Murat Theatre Dec. 2-14 as part of the Broadway in Indianapolis season.
All of the above are from professional or semi-professional theater producers. But I would be remiss if I didn’t also encourage you to check out Butler University Theatre’s “The SpongeBob Musical” Nov. 12-16.
And I know it’s early, but a reminder: Theater tickets and season subscriptions make wonderful gifts.
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Lou Harry is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at louharrywriter@gmail.com.
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