American Lives Theatre's new season explores the Marine who saved a president and more
"With every play this season you're watching a human being make big decisions in real time," said Founding Artistic Director Chris Saunders stated in a news release. "There's something riveting about that. In real life we aren't usually privy to those moments. But that's why we see theater, isn't it? And these decisions have an effect, that legacy we mention in the season theme."
Unless otherwise noted, all shows are at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St. Tickets will go on sale later this month at americanlivestheatre.org and phoenixtheatre.org.
By Keiko Green. Sept. 11-28
A death row inmate and young woman become pen pals, leading to discussions about justice and capital punishment. The production is in partnership with The New Harmony Project, where "Wad" was further developed during PlayFest Indy last September.
By Jennifer Blackmer. Feb. 5-22, 2026
The play examines how colleges in the mid-20th-century often used "practice babies" from orphanages to teach women in home economics classes.
More theater: 'Great Gatsby' and 'Scarlet Letter' are on Civic Theatre's new season
By Stephen Sachs. April 16-May 3, 2026, at IF Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair St. Tickets will go on sale by September.
The playwright used public records and court transcripts to tell the true story of an 18-year-old son who turned in his father for his part in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
By Andrew Kramer. May 21-June 7, 2026
The story centers on Oliver Sipple, the U.S. Marine who saved President Gerald Ford from an assassination attempt. Media outlets subsequently outed him as gay, which led to mental health difficulties and harassment of Sipple's family.
By Makasha Copeland. July 16-Aug. 2, 2026
After losing their patriarch, a Latino family auditions for a popular home decorating show in this play about resilience and healing.
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