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Writer's pictureIndiana Players

Indiana Players, Inc. Newsletter - August 2023

OPENING SOON: DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE

Dead Man’s Cell Phone

Written by Sarah Ruhl

Directed by Vanessa Arvidson


A ringing phone demands to be answered. And so, when a cell phone at a neighboring cafe table rings and its owner fails to meet the phone's increasingly incessant demand, Jean steps in. After politely taking a message, she discovers the owner is not just inattentive, but is not even alive. She uses his phone to dial 911 but then keeps his phone, taking messages from the man's business associates, friends, family… even his mistress. Jean becomes increasingly entangled in the life of the owner, inserting herself into the life he now no longer lives and creating well-intentioned “confabulations” in an effort to keep the man alive and comfort those he left behind - and maybe even fulfill her own subconscious need for connection and comfort.


Combining both comedy and introspection, Dead Man’s Cell Phone explores technology's paradoxical ability to both unite and isolate, the human need for connection, and the lengths we will go to to find it.


Performances:

September 8, 9, 10 and 15, 16, 17

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm

Sunday Matinees at 2:30pm


Tickets:

General Admission: $15

Seniors (65+) and Students: $12

Indiana Players (IPI) Members: $10


Content Warning:

Contains Mild Language and Mature Themes


Purchase your tickets online on the "Tickets" page of our website or in-person at the Box Office. House and Box Office open 30 minutes before each performance.

Questions? Email: tickets@indianaplayers.com 


 

JOIN THE CREW OF DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE 


We are looking for volunteers interested in helping in any of the following areas:


Assistant Stage Manager

Backstage Crew

Wardrobe/Hair/Make-Up Assistants

Sound Design and/or Operation

Lighting Programming and/or Operation

Box Office


No experience necessary! If you are interested, please email: volunteer@indianaplayers.com before September 2nd, 2023


 

UPCOMING MAINSTAGE AUDITIONS: PUFFS


Open Auditions ᐧ September 11 and 12 ᐧ 6:00pm - 8:00pm

11 Roles (5F, 5M, 1M/F) ᐧ  Open to ages 18+

Auditions will consist of a reading of a monologue from the show


For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs... who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.


Show Dates: October 20, 21, 22 and 27, 28, 29


 

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR A MONSTER MASH MYSTERY:

THE KIDNAPPING OF THE CRYPT-KICKER FIVE

Join the cast of A Monster Mash Mystery:

The Kidnapping Of The Crypt-Kicker Five! 


Audition Information:

Open Auditions ᐧ Sunday, August 27th ᐧ 4:00pm-6:00pm

Philadelphia Street Playhouse ᐧ 725 Philadelphia Street, Indiana PA


No experience or preparation necessary.

Auditions consist of readings from the script.

The show itself is entirely scripted so no improv required!

Open to ages 10 and up. All roles are gender neutral and not age-specific.


Character Descriptions:

  • Boris - a mad scientist, and the host for the evening’s festivities

  • Igor - hunch-backed lab assistant 

  • Dracula - Vampire; Eastern European accent

  • Mummy - sarcastic comedian

  • Wolfman - Radio DJ, a cool cat (uh, dog)

  • Frankenstein’s Monster - doesn’t speak, just grunts, but very intelligently

  • Crypt Kicker Five - five punk rockers

 

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR OUR

2ND ANNUAL CHILDREN’S MYSTERY DINNER

Indiana Players, Inc and the Children’s Advisory Commission of Indiana County are partnering once again to present our Second Annual Children’s Mystery Dinner!


We welcome you to join us for:

A Monster Mash Mystery:

The Kidnapping of the Crypt-Kicker Five

Sunday, October 15th, 2023

Doors open at 3:30pm | Event begins at 4:00pm

Indiana Fraternal Order of Eagles | 420 Philadelphia Street, Indiana PA 15701


You are invited to Boris' annual Monster Mash! Come hang out and party with your favorite spooky characters including Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Igor, and more! But when the Crypt-Kicker Five suddenly go missing, it's up to you to help figure out who is behind their kidnapping!


There will be multiple opportunities to go home with some great gifts and prizes! Participate in a 50/50 raffle and enter to win themed baskets. Dress up as your favorite monster or spooky character and enter our Costume Contest in the individual or group division (up to 4 per group). Plus, everyone who correctly solves the evening's mystery will be entered into a drawing for another great prize!


Enjoy a delicious Southern BBQ dinner prepared and provided by our platinum event sponsor: CH Fields Craft Kitchen @ Hilton Garden Inn at IUP


The menu for the evening features:

Creamy Coleslaw and Tossed Garden Salad

Buttermilk Biscuits with Sweet Cream Butter

Roasted Chicken with BBQ Rub

Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Tangy Gold and BBQ

Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes

Fresh Vegetable Medley

Red Velvet Cake


GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Adults (16 and up): $30.00/person

Kids (Ages 5 to 15): $15.00/person


Please Note: Event open to ages 5 and up.

Attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are available online only. Tickets will not be available at the door.


 

ATTENTION INDIANA COUNTY BUSINESSES!

BE AN EVENT SPONSOR FOR THE CHILDREN'S MYSTERY DINNER!


 We are asking local businesses to help support the Children's Mystery Dinner by becoming an event sponsor. We need your help to bring this fun, family-focused event to the Indiana County community and make it a success! Any sponsorship amounts raised above the cost of the event will be equally split between Indiana Players, Inc and the Children’s Advisory Commission of Indiana County to further support our respective missions. 


Sponsorship levels are as follows:

  • Gold Sponsor ($500.00+): As a Gold Sponsor you will receive a dedicated booth at the event (which seats 4 people of your choosing), with your business name and logo prominently displayed on the table. In addition, you will receive a full-page ad in the event program as well as recognition in additional promotional materials.

  • Silver Sponsor ($250.00+): As a Silver Sponsor you will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the event, a half-page ad in the program along with recognition in additional promotional materials.

  • Bronze Sponsor ($100.00+): As a Bronze Sponsor you will receive a quarter-page ad in the program  as well as recognition in additional promotional materials.


If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor or have any questions, please reach out to: Vanessa Arvidson (publicity@indianaplayers.com | 703-717-1885) OR Laura McLaine (lmclaine@concordiahcbs.org | 814-229-1121)


 

PAINT DONATIONS NEEDED!


We need your help! We are asking for donations of canned paint, opened or unopened. Have some extra cans sitting in your garage? Donate them to the Indiana Players! Any color! Any finish! We can use it! Help us continue creating beautiful scenery and decor on stage.


If you can contribute any cans of paint, please reach out to:

Richard Smith, Theater Manager


 

SUBMIT A SHOW FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL ONE-ACTS FESTIVAL

We are currently accepting submissions for this season’s One-Act Festival happening March 29 - April 5th, 2024! Submit an original piece you would like to bring to the stage! Or submit a one-act you are dying to direct (royalty-free preferred). One-Acts should be less than 15 minutes in length.


Send your original work or show proposal to: submit@indianaplayers.com

Submissions Due: January 1, 2024


 


We survive and thrive through the support of our community and volunteers like you! There are many opportunities to get involved onstage and off. No previous experience required!*


Acting

Directing*

Stage Management

Music and Choreography

Props, Wardrobe, and Make-Up

Lights, Sound and Backstage Crew

Set Construction and Painting

Theater Upkeep and Maintenance

Box Office/Tickets/Ushers


Fill out our online interest form or email volunteer@indianaplayers.com 


*Anyone interested in directing a mainstage production must have previous directing or stage management experience with the Indiana Players. Previous experience includes Mainstage and/or One-Act Festival productions. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis with approval from the Board of Directors.


 

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

This month, we have THREE volunteers we would like to recognize for all their help and generosity throughout the production of our summer youth musical, Press Start.

Our August Volunteers of the Month are:

Angela Kellar

Carrie Schneider

Katelyn Waterhouse


 

BECOME A MEMBER!


You can also support live, local community theater by becoming a member! Membership provides you with discounted admission at all mainstage productions and allows you to run for and elect the Board of Directors at our annual meeting each May. Fill out a membership form on the "Become A Member" tab of our website or in-person at the theatre! There is one in every program!


Annual Membership Plans:

Family Membership: $60.00

Individual Membership: $25.00

Student Membership: $20.00

Senior Membership (Ages 65+): $20.00


 

HOW ELSE CAN YOU SUPPORT THE PLAYERS?


We need your help to allow us to grow and continue to serve the community through our art. It is only through your donations, volunteerism, and patronage that we can survive and thrive as a member of this community. We accept and appreciate any donations you are able to make to our organization.


Donations can be made on our website, www.indianaplayers.com, using the yellow “Donate” button in the top left corner. You can choose to utilize a Debit/Credit Card, Bank Transfer, or a PayPal account. Physical checks can also be mailed to: Indiana Players, Inc., P.O. Box 333, Indiana, PA 15701

 

 

CONTACT US


Have a general question for the Indiana Players? Or maybe you have a specific question about tickets or volunteering. We have a dedicated contact to help with all your questions and concerns!


General Information - info@indianaplayers.com

Show Submissions - submit@indianaplayers.com

Volunteer Coordinator - volunteer@indianaplayers.com


 

2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Katrina Kayden, President

Bill Herring, Vice President/Artistic Director

Sharon Herring, Secretary

Kathy Kerns, Treasurer

Richard Smith, Theater Manager

Vanessa Arvidson, Publicity Director

Eric Witmer, Fundraising Manager


 

LIKE, FOLLOW, AND MORE!


Check out our website and social media accounts to find more information on who we are and what we do! Find information on shows, fundraisers, community events, and other involvement opportunities. Purchase tickets on our website. Like, comment, and share our posts and events!


Check out our website!


Like and Follow our Facebook Page!


Follow us on Instagram!



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