DIRECTION & SUPPORT

We provide all sorts of theatre talent for organizations and events all around Indy. Whatever the need – directors, designers, facilitators, creative collaborators, builders and more – The Sapphire can provide the professional support needed.

The Sapphire has performed many production roles, including Director of PreEnactIndy (produced by the Harrison Center), Director of IUPUI Social Justice Scholars’ annual  Tunnel of Oppression, and Creative Collaborator on It’s My City in 2017 (with our design and direction, this event became a Guinness Book record winner for largest chalk pavement art display.)

PreEnactIndy

PreEnactment Theater (or PreEnactIndy) is a live envisioning of a neighborhood as it OUGHT to be – just, equitable, and economically vibrant. Produced by the Harrison Center and directed by The Sapphire, this one-of-a kind PreEnactment theater production spans three city blocks of downtown Indy along 16th Street from the Monon Trail to Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave. In addition to the Harrison Center and over 50 event and business partners, The Sapphire collaborates with a cast of local professional theater groups to create live performances throughout the day that illustrate to attendees scenarios of a thriving, inclusive and diverse community. Our Production Services team transforms vacant lots and buildings, existing businesses, street lanes and sidewalks to bring to life a section of the Monon16 neighborhood for a public gathering that gives attendees fully-immersive experiences of the active, healthy and well-designed neighborhood the area deserves. We engage the performing arts to produce this grass-roots, community-connected experience of revitalization in live time.

TUNNEL of OPPRESSION at IUPUI 

IUPUI’s Tunnel of Oppression is an emotionally immersive experience of live interactive theatre in a safe environment. The Sapphire serves as the Director of this production, working with IUPUI Social Justice Education faculty and graduate students, as well as faculty, Resident Assistants and others. Student-researched and -created scenes performed by professional actors from The Sapphire lead into facilitated conversations where the audience takes center stage, asking questions and practicing communication skills. Participants will be challenged to give up their preconceived notions and take action to assess, prevent, and end oppression throughout the world.

COMMUNITY STAGES at Fall Creek Gardens

COMMUNITY STAGES at Fall Creek Gardens was a R.O.W. Creative Placemaking Project during the summer of 2016. We built a performing arts playground that was programmed and open to the public all summer long. Multi-level, multi-purpose stages that were visually engaging and enjoyable with a giant maze, community table and chessboards with sets. Events and workshops were offered free to the community and included Theatre Game Nights, Garden Talks, Workshops on Presentation Skills, Reader’s Theatre, Yoga, community pitch-ins, and much more!

Sponsors and Partners included: Big Car Collaborative, Fall Creek Gardens, Reconnecting to Our Waterways (R.O.W.)

It’s My City & Indy DO Day Events

The Sapphire played a creative leadership role in the 2017 It’s My Cityand Indy DO Day Events, from serving on the joint committee to advising other partners and participant, to creating award-winning interactive experiences in downtown Indianapolis. David Orr designed a highway billboard for the event, and on Indy DO Day, event attendess got to create an artistic replica of that billboard by adding decal people doing all kinds of activities to the communal art image. Mayor Joe Hogsett and mascots from all of Indy’s major sports teams played along. And on Virginia Avenue, David laid out the 4,050 foot chalk-art design along the sidewalk leading from downtown to Fountain Square. On Indy DO Day, Lilly volunteers had fun filling in the chalky masterpiece, which then won the Guinness Book record winner for largest chalk pavement art display.