Fishers Play Director Brings Local Playwright’s Comedy To The Switch

By: Betsy Reason

Kelly Keller performed on stage in his first community theater production nine years ago in nine small roles.

He’s now directing his ninth show.

Keller is thrilled to present “aMUSEd,” a fast-paced comedy by local playwright Megan Ann Jacobs of Indianapolis. The play opens Friday and is onstage through Oct. 22 at The Switch Theatre in Fishers.

“Megan has written a great play, and we are honored to put her work on stage,” Keller said.

He’s worked with Jacobs before when she directed him in “Coping with Autumn,” which she also wrote. The play was performed in May 2022 at Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort.

“As a gift, she gave the cast the ‘aMUSEd’ script. I read it and really liked it,” Keller said.

“I love Megan’s writing. She writes about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Her writing is easily accessible, and she tells great stories,” he said.

The play is about two individuals, a muse and a lawyer, who both have suffered traumatic losses and are “stuck,” Keller said. “Both need help in moving on.” When the two meet, they are at odds with each other. “The devious but charming muse has met his match in the smart and unflinching lawyer. It’s a beautiful story of dealing with loss, honoring those we love and finding your way.”

When Carmel Community Players was seeking submissions from local directors for the 2023-24 season, Keller submitted the play.

“I thought it would be a great fit for their two primary venues, The Cat or The Switch, which require loading in of a set the week before a show opens.”

Keller said audiences will love the play’s characters. “They will love Sebastian, the muse. He’s irreverent and mischievous. You never know what he might do next. They will love the story that Megan has written, and the common themes will resonate.”

Kelly Keller performed in his first community theater production, “It’s A Wonderful Life” for Mud Creek Players in 2014, and had nine small roles. His wife, Tanya, worked with director Jim Williams who was the show’s assistant director and mentioned the need for some help.

“I had done ballet with my daughter and several of the ballet dads, like Ryan Shelton (of Noblesville) suggested to me to get into community theater,” Keller said. “I loved my first show. I was welcomed warmly by Jim and the female lead, Andrea Odle. They educated me on my aspects of theater.”

Keller said, “I love the opportunity to tell a story, whether on stage, directing or as crew, and transport an audience member from their daily struggles to another place for a couple of hours. The joy of seeing someone lose themselves in a show is intoxicating.”

As a play director, he loves the opportunity to bring all of the elements — acting, lighting, sound and more — together for an immersive experience.

This show, as do all shows that are loaded in, has the challenges associated with moving into a different space than where the show has been rehearsing. Challenges include having to build a set in a different location, transport it, assemble it, and do the sound and lights.

Additional challenges have come, with a cast member who contracted Covid and unexpected absences from the cast and crew.

However, he said, “What has been easy has been the cast. We had a great turnout at auditions and equally great choices for casting. The cast we chose has embraced the play and worked collaboratively to produce an excellent production. We are anxious to show off our work and our local playwright.”

Keller said the cast and crew have been very committed to the production.

“When I had an emergency out-of-town work trip come up, they rehearsed on their own. When a cast member got Covid, we figured out how to have him at rehearsal virtually and walked him around on a mobile device. When our rehearsal location was unavailable due to road construction, one of our cast members offered her house for rehearsal and rearranged her furniture to match our set layout.”

The play is set in a New York apartment. “Our set designers have created a space that is warm and welcoming,” Keller said. “Audience members will immediately feel at home. Our award-winning costumer has chosen costumes that match each character’s personality. She includes color palettes for each cast member that matches their character.”

Keller is originally from South Bend and is a senior director for DMI digital transformation services in Indianapolis.

Keller has gotten his family involved in this show as well. His wife, Tanya, has helped build the set, read lines and provided line notes at rehearsal and is stage managing the production. Daughter, Erin Keller, a professional real estate photographer who often takes photos for local community theaters, took the cast and crew headshots and character scene dress rehearsal photos.

This comedy has strong themes. “It includes some of the hardest challenges we face as people,” Keller said. “We’ve worked hard to find the humor in these situations. In creating the show, we’ve looked for opportunities to bring the joy and uniqueness these characters have to the stage. We’ve added bits that reference well-known comedy styles, persons and routines. Our actors have fully embraced this and give everything to their performances.”

MEET THE CAST

Sebastian, Joe Wagner; Nikki, Ameetha Widdershins; Ryan, Malcolm Marshall; Anita, Wendy Brown; and Tyler, Austin Uebelhor

MEET THE CREW

Director, Kelly Keller; Assistant Director and Producer, Jeremy Ried; Stage Manager, Tanya Keller; Set Design, Kelly Keller; Set Build, Charlie Hanover, David Muse; Set Decoration, Tanya Keller; Costume Design, Karen Webster-Cones; Sound Operator and Light Operator, Carly Tanner; Light Design and Sound Design, Kelly Keller; Properties, Eric Bowman; Program and Poster Design, Lori Raffel; and photography, Erin Keller

Want TO GO?

What: Carmel Community Players presents the fast-paced comedy, “aMUSEd,” by Megan Ann Jacobs and directed by Kelly Keller of Fishers.

When: Oct. 13-22, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21) and Thursday (Oct. 19), 2:30 p.m. Sundays (Oct. 15 and 22).

Where: The Switch Theatre at Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, 10029 E. 126th St., Suite D, Fishers.

How much: $18, $13 on Thursdays.

Tickets: https://carmelplayers.org/ or 317-815-9387.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at [email protected].