Benjamin Hanna. (Photo by Jes Nijjer)
INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) has chosen Benjamin Hanna to turn out to be the following Margot Lacy Eccles inventive director. Hanna, Benjamin Hanna is a director, curator, and humanities educator with a ardour for multigenerational theatre and a dedication to fairness and entry. is the theatre’s present affiliate inventive director, and he’ll work alongside the present A.D., Janet Allen, to make sure a easy transition till he formally steps into the position after Allen’s retirement on July 1.
“Ben’s whole-hearted desire to immerse himself in our shared community, to challenge himself with directing in new genres, to jump into committee and board activities with delight, and to champion the theatre’s inclusion and diversity work has made him the perfect candidate to co-lead the next chapter of the IRT’s life with managing director Suzanne Sweeney,” mentioned Janet Allen in an announcement. “As the theatre celebrates its first 50 years, I am confidently cheering on this exciting new leadership team and the abundance of talent they will bring to crafting the IRT’s future.”
As IRT’s affiliate inventive director for the previous 5 years, Hanna’s affect on the group has included inaugurating IRT’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiatives for the board, workers, and neighborhood collaborators. He additionally directed such acclaimed productions as Fahrenheit 451, The Book Club Play, and the upcoming thriller Clue, developed season choice and casting processes, and ensured IRT’s fast pivot to digital programming throughout the pandemic.
Before the IRT, Hanna labored for the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. In his native Minnesota, Hanna served on the workers on the Penumbra Theatre Company, the place he expanded schooling and neighborhood engagement programming. Hanna has acquired many distinguished awards for each arts and management, together with a Theatre Communications Group Leadership University Award funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Richard O Morris Award for Exemplary Staff Service on the Indiana Repertory Theatre, and the Trailblazer Award from University High School in Carmel, Indiana. Hanna can also be at the moment a member of the Class of XLVI within the Stanley Okay. Lacy (SKL) Executive Leadership Series for Leadership Indianapolis.
In his new position, Hanna will champion playwrights’ work, develop choices for pupil and multigenerational audiences, and develop partnerships alongside the newly appointed director of inclusion and neighborhood partnerships, Devon Ginn.
“I am deeply honored to serve as IRT’s next artistic leader,” mentioned Hanna in an announcement. “In our next chapter, I envision a theatre that is nationally celebrated, revered for producing challenging new works of the highest caliber, and is known as a leader in modeling equity and inclusion. I aspire to break down historic barriers to the theatre and welcome new audiences by building community-responsive programming. I am committed to using theatre’s transformative power to strengthen our cultural community, build spaces of belonging for historically marginalized voices, and to serve as a vital catalyst for conversation, education, empathy-building, and civic engagement.”
Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is the most important skilled nonprofit theatre within the state. The theatre goals to provide skilled theatre and associated actions, offering experiences that can interact, shock, problem, and entertain folks all through their lifetimes, whereas serving to construct an important and vibrant neighborhood. As of 2020, IRT had an approximate funds of $7.5 million.
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