Local Community Theaters Ready To Kick Off Seasons
By: Betsy Reason
Tim Long (from left), Lisa Warner, Ken Kingshill and Susan Hill rehearse on a ‘70s-era set for The Belfry Theatre’s “How the Other Half Loves,” a comedy directed by Noblesville’s Nicole Amsler, Sept. 22-Oct. 1 at Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Ave., Indianapolis. Hamilton County Theatre Guild’s Belfry Theatre is based in Noblesville. For tickets, visit thebelfrytheatre.com.
Michael Liphardt stars as Sweeney Todd and Claire Slaven as Mrs. Lovett in Main Street Productions of “Sweeney Todd: The Barber of Fleet Street,” a musical directed by Andrea Odle, Sept. 21-Oct. 1 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For tickets, visit westfieldplayhouse.org
It’s a busy community theater season in Hamilton County, with local theaters readying to kick off their live productions in just a few days.
Here’s a roundup of local community theater based in the county with shows to be staged in and around Hamilton County.
-Main Street Productions, which operates Basile Westfield Playhouse, presents these shows this 2023-24 season: “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Sept. 21-Oct. 1, a musical directed by Andrea Odle; “Inspecting Carol” a comedy directed by Kelly Keller, Nov. 30-Dec. 10; “Lost in Yonkers,” Feb. 8-18, a comedy directed by Ka’Lena Cuevas; “The Championship Season,” (Artist’s Choice Production: Shows that Celebrate Inclusion, Diversity and New Voices), April 4-14, a drama directed by Lori Raffel; “You Can’t Take It With You,” May 30-June 9, a comedy directed by Nicole Amsler; and “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” July 18-28, a summer youth production, directed by Brandi Davis, all at the Playhouse, 220 N. Union St., Westfield. Tickets at westfieldplayhouse.org.
-Hamilton County Theatre Guild, which operates The Belfry Theatre, celebrates its 59th season, with these shows: “How the Other Half Loves,” Sept. 22-Oct. 1, a comedy directed by Nicole Amsler, at at Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Ave., Indianapolis; “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Nov. 24-Dec. 3, a comedy directed by Eric Matters, at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville; “One Man, Two Guvnors,” Feb. 2-11, a comedy directed by Andrea Odle, at The Switch Theatre at Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, 10029 E. 126th St., Suite D, Fishers; “Father of the Bride,” April 26-May 5, a comedy directed by Barcia Miller Alejos, at Noblesville First United Methodist Church; Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” July 24-28, a Belfry Theatre Apprentice Players summer youth production directed by Tanya Haas, at Noblesville First United Methodist Church. Tickets at thebelfrytheatre.com
-Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission presents Noblesville Shakespeare in the Park featuring “As You Like It,” directed by Noblesville’s Jen Otterman, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27-30 at Federal Hill Commons, with free admission. Visit noblesvillearts.org.
-Hyperion Players presents “Waiting for Godot,” Sept. 28-Oct. 1, a tragiccomedy directed by Molly Ballner, at The Switch Theatre; “Doubt: A Parable,” Jan. 25-28, a drama directed by Daniel Maloy, at The Switch Theatre; “Grand Horizons,” March 15-24, a drama directed by Nicole Amsler, at Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Ave., Indianapolis; “I Love My Zombie,” June 6-9, a comedy by Brad Staggs and directed by Angela Staggs, at Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort. Visit hyperionplayers.com.
-The Attic Theatre presents “Winnie the Pooh,” Sept. 28-Oct. 1, directed by Anna Mayhill; and “Gaslight,” Oct. 26-28, directed by Bethany Worrell, both at True North Homeschool in Arcadia. Visit theattictheatre.com.
-Civic Theatre presents “The Prom,” Oct. 6-21, a musical; “Elf, The Musical,” Dec. 1-24; “Romeo & Juliet,” Feb. 9-24, a drama; “Driving Miss Daisy,” March 15-30, a drama; “Anastasia,” April 26-May 11, a musical; Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat,” Feb. 27-March 7; Disney Pixar’s “Finding Nemo Jr.,” June 21-26; “Revue,” June 24; Civic’s YAP production of “Cats,” July 25-28, at The Center for The Performing Arts, 1 Carter Green, Carmel.
-Carmel Community Players presents “Amused,” Oct. 13-22, a comedy, at The Switch Theatre in Fishers; “Moon Over Buffalo,” Dec. 8-17, a comedy, at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel; “Violet,” March 1-10, a musical, at The Switch Theatre; “The Dinner Party,” April 26-May 5, a comedy, at The Cat; “Anne of Green Gables,” June 28-July 7, a Rising Star youth production, at The Cat; “The Woman in Black,” Aug. 16-25, drama, at The Cat. Visit carmelplayers.org.
-Grace Church in Noblesville presents “The Music Man,” Oct. 27-Nov. 5, a musical at Grace Church, 5504 E. 146th St., Noblesville. Visit gracechurch.us.
-Firelight Theater Guild (previously Wisdom Builders Community Theater) presents “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” Nov. 9-11, a high school drama production at Indy Vineyard Church, 8383 Craig St., Suite 185, Indianapolis; and “Esther,” March 7-9, a musical based on the Old Testament Book, at The Historic Paramount Theater and Ballroom, 1124 Meridian St., Anderson. Visit wbtheater.com
Another theater company to check out includes Improbable Fiction Theatre Co. at iftheatrecompany.org, under the Nickel Plate Arts umbrella.
-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.