The upcoming Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre world premiere of MIDWESTERN HEMISPHERE by Lou Harry and Eric Pfeffinger received national attention!

In this month's issue (April 2008) of American Theatre magazine, MIDWESTERN HEMISPHERE and the fact that it is the first ever performance in the Indianapolis Artsgarden is written about in the News In Brief section of the magazine (pg. 13). For those that do not receive the magazine ( I do not believe News In Brief shows up in the online version) here is what the article says:

"Planting Theatre in the Garden" Indianapolis: This spring Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre became the first company to stage a full theatre performance at what is, on its own terms, a dramatic city landmark: the glass-enclosed Artsgarden, run by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. ("To our knowledge," notes council spokesperson Mike Knight, "it's the only arts venue in the country owned by an arts council or peer organization.") Linking a mall and two hotels, the seven-story atrium hosts some 350 free musical performances annually along with visual art exhibits. But Heartland's Midwestern Hemsiphere: a suburban metaphysical comedy, performing through April 13, has the distinction of being the first ticketed play to unfold in the suitably dome-shaped space. The world premiere asks, "What happens when people who live next door to each other suddenly have to become, well, neighboors?" Have to is no joke: In Lou Harry and Eric Pfeffinger's script, an invisible dome seals off an entire neighborhood. At the tender age of two, Heartland has already shown a preference for venues with character, such as a loading dock of a local winery. Company Manager Ben Tebbe says the Arts Council encouraged the group not to balk at the idea of inhabiting this prominent public space, the biggest challenge of which, according to Tebbe, is the abundance of light at all hours. "But we love the fact that the Artsgarden is so visible right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis," he says. "There is something about producing a premiere in a space that is essentially having its theatrical premiere as well." Visit www.heartlandactors.org.

-Nicole Estvanik (Associate Editor)

Pretty Cool!!