Jinee Majors, Chair of the Board
Hello and thanks for your interest in The Sapphire! We are proud to share all we accomplished in 2024 with you. As you’ll see – between social justice programming, supporting other theatres and arts organizations, participating in arts advocacy and providing living wages to local theatre talent – it was another year of living our mission.
The Sapphire is a unique theatre company. In addition to our own productions, we provide an artistic support system for the community. We’re like a one-stop-theatre-shop to support all things arts and culture. As a board member, it is empowering to support many arts organizations through my support of The Sapphire.
On behalf of our board and staff, thank you for supporting this mission-driven, community-minded and strategically-focused organization. And if you have any questions, or The Sapphire can support you in any way, please let us know!
All the best, Jinee Majors
PERFORMANCES, PROGRAMS & PRODUCTION SERVICES in the SPOTLIGHT
This company is like a theater turned inside-out, taking elements of theatre and applying them directly where needed. We offer PERFORMANCES (completely unique theatrically-motivated entertainment); PROGRAMS(one-of-a-kind education programs and tailor-made training for corporations, including PICTURE THIS, Indiana’s longest-running social-issue theatre program); and PRODUCTION SERVICES (professional services including theatre sets, murals, exhibits, and restoration). The Sapphire is the only Indy theatre company offering this depth and scope of services.
The TURNAWAY PLAY by Lelsey Lisa Greene
This play is based on The TURNAWAY STUDY: Ten Years, A Thousand Women and the Consequences of Having – or Being Denied – an Abortion by Dr. Diana Greene Foster, sister of the playwright. We produced a virtual reading of The TURNAWAY PLAY featuring eight local actresses with a post-show discussion with Dr. Foster, creator of The TURNAWAY STUDY (and sister of the playwright).
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PRODUCTION SERVICES for Indy Arts & Cultural Organizations
Our team continued to design and fabrication sets and large props for local theatres including the Phoenix, the Cabaret, Freetown Village, IBTC: Indianapolis Black Theatre Company, the District Theatre, NAATC: Naptown African American Theatre Collective, Summit Performance, and Butler Opera and Ballet. And we partnered with NAATC on their EDUCATION for ALL series, offering free theatre classes to adults taught by professionals in the field. Our Producing Director taught their Set Design series of 12 classes. We also contributed to exhibits such as the LUME at Newfields and Alfred J. Miller – Revisiting the Rendezvous for the Eiteljorg in 2024. And we continued to support the Harrison Center with projection technology, installation of ‘Greatriarch’ murals and a rooftop climbing wall.
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SUPPORTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS and EDUCATORS
We provided programming support for Indiana Afterschool Network, Indianapolis Public Schools, Steuben County Literacy and Shepherd Community Center. We also partnered with iXPLORE to create interactive education programming and continued to direct IUI’s Tunnel of Awareness, collaborating with faculty and students of the Multicultural Center. In 2025, we began a partnership working with the IPS Fine Arts Coordinator to supply critical programming to teachers and students that is tailored to fit their needs. This program is funded by Glick Philanthropies.
Andrea Lott Haney facilitating a 2023 Tunnel of Oppression script creation sessions with the IU-I Social Justice Scholars
2024 PARTNERS, ASSOCIATES & CLIENTS
**grateful for these NEW relationships in 2024!
ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH
We’re still GROWING! Here are some examples of how we expanded our impact, capacity and reach in 2024.
- STAFF increased to 5 full-time and 3 part-time staff. CONTRACTORS – 39 paid opportunities supported 16 local actors.
- 9 NEW PARTNERSHIPS in 2024
- 9 THEATRE’S SHOWS supported with set and props design and fabrication
- DEMAND for Production Services continues to increase – we supported
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Our leaders remain engaged with the community in several ways, including participation in the Indy Arts Council’s ongoing Arts Leadership meetings and with the www.IndyArtsEd.org initiative, presence in Leadership Indianapolis’ Get on Board event.
STRATEGIC + D.E.I.A. PLANNING
The Sapphire’s Board of Directors approved our 2025 – 2027 STRATEGIC PLAN, complete with tasks and timelines.
Diversity, Equity, inclusion and Accessibility is central to our mission, programming, leadership and community partnerships. D.E.I.A. is an integral part of the Strategic Planning process. In 2024, the organization continued to earn our positive reputation by actively partnering to progress D.E.I.A. in the arts and expand opportunities for theatre artists of color. The Sapphire has been part of the Indy Arts Council’s Equity Task Force since 2021.
DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT
FISCAL MILESTONES:
2024 marks the organization’s BIGGEST FISCAL YEAR to date
The Sapphire awarded the LARGEST GRANT TOTAL to date
