Jinee Majors, Chair of the Board
Thank you for your interest in The Sapphire! We are proud to share a condensed version of our 2023 Annual Report with you to offer insight into all we have accomplished in 2023. 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.
Happy New Year! – 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.
FACING GRIEF: Nourishing Loved Ones Through Loss
We launched this interactive performance with guided conversations on how to support those experiencing profound grief as part of the 2023 Spirit & Place Festival. Our powerful partners included IUPUI Spirit & Place, Congregation Beth-El Zedek, Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Deandra Dycus, John Swanson PhD, Unity of Indianapolis, Penrod Arts Society. The program was a profound success, and there are plans to honor the many requests we’ve had to bring it back in 2024.
FACING GRIEF
FACING GRIEF CAST: Daniel A. Martin, Shawnté P. Gaston, Victoria Betances, Reggie McGuire
FACING GRIEF show at Unity of Indianapolis
Andrea Lott Haney shares her story as Facilitator of FACING GRIEF show (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
FACING GRIEF at the Phoenix Theater (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
FACING GRIEF at the Phoenix Theater (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
FACING GRIEF at the Phoenix Theater (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Ed Trout and Michael Davis shared original music. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
ASL interpreters at The Phoenix (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Participants join in the facilitated dialogue of FACING GRIEF (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Daniel A. Martin, Vicki Betances and Reggie McGuire (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Participants join in the facilitated dialogue of FACING GRIEF (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Reggie McGuire and Mia Lee Roberts performing in FACING GRIEF (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Participants join in the facilitated dialogue of FACING GRIEF (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Participants write down names of lost loved ones (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
FACING GRIEF at the Phoenix Theater (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
FACING GRIEF Table of Resources (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Reception after FACING GRIEF show (Photo by Justin Casterline/Indiana University)
Attendees were welcomed to gather around and add the names of loved ones to our tablecloth, symbolizing this year’s theme of “nourish”. All of us were deeply moved by the sharing of so many names of people that were in the hearts of those attending in November. It is with honor and gratitude that we share those names with you.
Attendees were welcomed to gather around and add the names of loved ones to our tablecloth, symbolizing this year’s theme of “nourish”. All of us were deeply moved by the sharing of so many names of people that were in the hearts of those attending in November. It is with honor and gratitude that we share those names with you.
Ed Trout and Michael Davis shared original music
SUPPORTING STUDENTS and TEACHERS.
We collaborated on a variety of education initiatives such as IUPUI’s Tunnel of Oppression, Indiana Afterschool Network training sessions for teachers and educators, and an ongoing Afterschool Drama Club for IPS students through Shepherd Community Center. We also began a partnership with iXPLORE to script and record voices for a virtual reality education program at the Republic Airways’ new Aviation Campus that shows young students what it’s like to work in a variety of aviation careers.
Virtual 2023 Tunnel of Oppression shows created with the IU-I Social Justice Scholars
Andrea Lott Haney facilitating a 2023 Tunnel of Oppression script creation sessions with the IU-I Social Justice Scholars
One of the 2023 Tunnel of Oppression script creation sessions with the IU-I Social Justice Scholars
Andrea Lott Haney and Daniel A. Martin at the 2023 Indiana Afterschool Network’s Summit for Out-of-School Learning
Daniel A. Martin facilitating at the 2023 Indiana Afterschool Network’s Summit for Out-of-School Learning
Actor Vicki Betances recording a voice over at iXPLORE for a new virtual reality education program offered by Republic Airways.
Daniel A. Martin was there when Republic Airways rolled out their new program with the students of Shortridge High School.
Daniel A. Martin at Republic Airways when they rolled out their new program with the students of Shortridge High School.
Student using virtual reality program produced by iXPLORE and The Sapphire for Republic Airlines
One of the 2023 Tunnel of Oppression script creation sessions with the IU-I Social Justice Scholars
PRODUCTION SERVICES for other Arts & Cultural Organizations.
We supported theatre productions by the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Summit Performance Indy, The Point Theatre and the new Naptown African American Theatre Collective (NAATC). Our team contributed to exhibits such as the LUME’ at Newfields and Alfred J. Miller – Revisiting the Rendezvous for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, WY and coming to the Eiteljorg in 2024. And Sapphire’s production services supported the Harrison Center and the build-out of a new retail store in the Stutz building, WDRFA (We Don’t Run From Adversity) – a black-owned business built as part of the City of Indianapolis’ St’Art Up 317 initiative.
Summit Performance Indy’s The CONVENT – Set by The Sapphire’s Production Services (photo courtesy of Summit Performance Indy)
Summit Performance Indy’s The CONVENT – Set by The Sapphire’s Production Services (photo courtesy of Summit Performance Indy)
Shawnté P. Gaston in The CONVENT – Set by The Sapphire’s Production Services (photo courtesy of Summit Performance Indy)
Set designed and built for NAATC production of DETROIT ’67 (photo courtesy of NAATC)
The cast, design team and crew for the NAATC production of DETROIT ’67 (photo courtesy of NAATC)
Camp Scene by Sapphire at the Buffalo Bill Centre of the West (photo courtesy of BBCW)
Camp Scene by Sapphire at the Buffalo Bill Centre of the West (photo courtesy of BBCW)
Inside view of the infamous blue-striped tent portrayed in AJ Miller’s painting ‘Our Camp’
‘Alfred J. Miller – Revisiting the Rendezvous’ at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, WY
• In 1840, Alfred J. Miller moved to Scotland to live and work in Merthly Castle. This photo is a scene built within the exhibit for attendees to experience walking into one of the rooms in Merthly Castle. One of the experts working on the exhibit commented that the set we built looked exactly like the actual room it was based on.
Description and images of the many versions of VanGogh’s painting of his bedroom
3D set replicating VanGogh’s paintings of his bedroom, including replicas of 3 other original VanGogh
3D set replicating VanGogh’s paintings of his bedroom with creator and fabricator David Orr
For Newfields’ exhibit ‘The LUME Indianapolis featuring VanGogh,’ our team created and installed a 3D set version of VanGogh’s famous paintings of The Bedroom and a ‘Sunflower Infinity Room’ that allows attendees to stroll through a field of sunflowers that seems to go on and on and on…
Creator David Orr and mother Irene inside his 3D set version of VanGogh’s famous paintings of The Bedroom and a ‘Sunflower Infinity Room’ that allows attendees to stroll through a field of sunflowers that seems to go on and on and on…
2023 PARTNERS, ASSOCIATES & CLIENTS
**grateful for these NEW relationships in 2023!
ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH
We’re GROWING! Here are some examples of how we expanded our impact, capacity and reach in 2023.
BOARD increased from 3 to 7 directors. (Want to know who is on our fabulous board? CLICK HERE).
STAFF increased to 3 full-time and 4 part-time staff. CONTRACTORS – 38 paid opportunities supported 11 local actors.
STUDIO SPACE expanded significantly, vastly improving the workplace and increasing ability to provide Production Services and virtual Programming in addition to administrative support.
DEMAND for Production Services continues to increase, along with the number of arts organizations supported by The Sapphire (which was 10 this year).
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 and IndyHub’s IndyVolved event. We also served on a task force for the Corporation for Public Housing on a new Speak Up! initiative to support the voices of those experiencing homelessness.
STRATEGIC + D.E.I.A. PLANNING
The Sapphire’s Board of Directors and organizational leaders are in the process of creating our next Strategic Plan. It will be finished in Q1 of 2024. We plan to share primary elements of this plan in the 2024 At-A-Glance.
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. The Sapphire has a history of programs and partnerships that place D.E.I.A. in the spotlight, for diverse audiences, with diverse representation in the cast. In addition, the organization has a positive reputation for actively working 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:
2023 marks the organization’s BIGGEST FISCAL YEAR to date
The Sapphire awarded the LARGEST GRANT TOTAL to date
