Indiana Players, Inc., is a non-profit community theater group located in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Since the first show in 1977 (Harvey), the Indiana Players has continued to offer Western Pennsylvania audiences the best of dramas, mysteries, comedies, and musicals. Stressing community involvement, the Indiana Players strongly encourage anyone with an interest in theater to join or get involved with a show.
The Philadelphia Street Playhouse is located at 725 Philadelphia Street in downtown Indiana, Pa. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 333, Indiana, PA 15701.
Katrina Kayden—President
John Henry Steelman—Treasurer
B. Johns—Recording Secretary
Bruce Dries—Publicity
What makes the Players unique?
Our audiences cover the range from children to senior citizens, and our ticket prices are very reasonable. We offer discounts for students, seniors, and groups of fifteen or more. We also invite several service groups to be our guests at our final dress rehearsals. For many people in these groups, our shows are the only live theater they ever get to see.
We encourage families to take part in our shows, both on stage and behind the scenes, affording them quality time while working toward a mutual goal. Through the years, there have been numerous families who have taken advantage of this opportunity.
While many university musical and theater productions are open to anyone, the roles usually and naturally go to students who are learning their craft. The Players’ auditions are open to everyone. People have come from Kittanning, Homer City, Shelocta, Punxsutawney, Blairsville, and many other outlying areas.
The Players also give high school and college students an opportunity to perform school-required community service. Students have helped in the lobby as ushers and ticket-takers, and worked backstage with sets and lighting. We have also cooperated with IUP, such as when the Robert E. Cook Honors College staged five performances of Clue: The Game Show as their community service.
How do the Players benefit our economy?
The existence of a successful community theater in Indiana County has boosted the local economy by attracting literally thousands of people to our town. Our casts and crews, numbering from eight to eighty depending on the show, spend four to six weeks coming to rehearsals and parking and eating downtown.
When children are rehearsing for a show, many parents drop them off at the theater and spend a few hours shopping while they wait. Many patrons go out for dinner before or after a performance, and the casts and crews frequently gather at local restaurants after the shows.
Except for scripts and royalties, the Indiana Players' funds are spent locally on materials for sets, costumes, sound, and lighting.
We regularly work with the Tourist Bureau when they arrange bus tours into our area. Performances such as Narnia or On Golden Pond are an important attraction for these visitors. They eat, see a show, and frequently spend the night in local motels.
How do the Players contribute to our community?
Since 1990, the Indiana Players has participated in the activities of Downtown Indiana, Light-Up Night, Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, the Tourist Bureau, and the Indiana Arts Council. We have built a float for the Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day parades for eight out of ten years, and have provided carolers for many events.
At least five or six times each year we are asked to provide entertainment for organizations such as the Indiana Free Library, IUP’s Retired Faculty Association, the faculty union (APSCUF) at IUP, and many of our civic and service clubs.