INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Politics, religion and controversial social issues take center stage in Catalyst Repertory’s latest production, “Building Jerusalem,” opening Oct. 9 at IndyFringe Theater.
The immersive theatrical experience transports audiences to a New Year’s Eve party in 1899, where real historical figures gather to debate issues that remain relevant more than a century later.
“It’s kind of like the movie ‘Clue,’ set at the turn of the century,” said director Tristan Ross. “These are all real people who really existed. They were all real movers and shakers at the turn of the century.”
The production features historical figures including a suffragist, a eugenicist and others who clash over politics, religion, gender and the role of faith in public life.
Anna Himes plays Alice, the mysterious hostess behind the evening’s provocative parlor games.
“She really controls a lot that’s going on at the party,” Himes said. “She kind of has this sort of puppeteer-type character that helps move the narrative along.”
While the story is set in 1899, Ross said many of the issues explored in the production will sound familiar to modern audiences.
“One of the characters deals with what was just being discussed, the role of religion in public life,” Ross said. “All things that were happening then are absolutely happening now.”
Catalyst Repertory has spent more than a decade creating intimate theatrical experiences around Indianapolis, with a focus on bold adaptations and rarely performed works.
The company describes its approach as “reach-out-and-touch-it” theater, designed to put audiences close to the action while creating opportunities for meaningful conversations.
