Q&A with Indiana Repertory Theatre 🎭

As the temperatures rise, we are on the hunt to find the best ways to beat the heat in Indianapolis! We were thrilled to be able to talk to GIPC Member Suzanne Sweeney, Managing Director of the Indiana Repertory Theatre, to learn more about the IRT’s upcoming season starting this September.

Tell us more about you!
I’ve been at the IRT for 26 years, and (obviously) love my job.  Before moving to Indianapolis, I lived in a lot of different places including DC, Dallas, Frankfurt, Germany, and Honolulu, and settling in Indy has been a wonderful decision.  I love the energy of the city and the people, and especially love contributing to making Indy a great place to live and work.

How did you get involved with the IRT?
I got an MBA at night at the college formerly known as IUPUI.  When that was completed, I set a goal to work for a nonprofit, work downtown, and not do only accounting.  The job of Director of Finance and Administration was the perfect fit, and I’m delighted that Brian Payne, who was the Managing Director at the time, saw it the same way! Over time, I stepped into the Managing Director position and have been in this role for 11 years.

The IRT’s 52nd Season will run from September 18, 2024, to May 11, 2025. What performances are you looking forward to most?
I love a musical, so I’m excited for our opening musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  I think audiences of ages will love this production.  But what I’m looking forward to the most is The Play that Goes Wrong at the end of the season.  This is a farce, and I’ve heard wonderful things about it, but I’ve never seen it.  It will be directed by our Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director, Ben Hanna, and I love his work (yes, I’m biased!).

How can GIPC members participate in the IRT community?
We love to welcome everyone to the Theatre, and are happy to welcome all GIPC members to our plays.  We also have Community Conversations for certain productions so we can discuss issues related to the plays–these are a great way to deepen the experience.  And, we have opportunities for volunteers, ushers assist people with seating and then watch the plays for free, and we are always looking for engaged and energized board members.

Anything else you would like to add?
A few things that many people don’t know about the IRT:

  • All of our productions are built in Indianapolis by Indy artisans.  These are productions built specifically for our community–not built elsewhere and brought in on a truck.  The artistic talent of our production team always amazes me.
  • We have a lot of students come to the Theatre each year for student matinees.  Pre-pandemic, those numbers were around 40,000, and we are working to build back up to that.
  • We are a nonprofit, and we have a lot of pricing options to make sure we can offer affordable pricing for all members of our community.  We offer $2 tickets in our Access Pass program, managed by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, for individuals who receive statewide assistance.  Other ticket prices range from $25 and up. We also have great deals on season tickets–ask me why they are a good option for busy people! 5-play seated or Build Your Own 3 play options are easy to book and treat yourself to date nights at the Theatre.