Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI) will present its next production in the 2021-2022 season beginning Oct. 29 and running through Nov. 21. Lombardi is the story of the complex and charismatic Vince Lombardi, coach of the 1965 champion Green Bay Packers, and his wife Marie.
The play takes place mostly in November of 1965 when a young journalist from New York City, Michael McCormick, comes to live with the Lombardi family in order to write a newspaper article about the man. The pair form a close but tense relationship as McCormick dives into the psyche of this motivated, but agitated sports hero. He also tries to penetrate the minds of Lombardi’s tough Green Bay players and in turn learns about his own life goals.
The cast of this production features talent from right here in Central Indiana as well as actors across the country. Meet the ‘players’ who make up this talented team here:
Joel Ashur
Portraying Dave Robinson
Joel Ashur says he is pleased to make his Actors Theatre of Indiana debut. He has been in productions and readings for Capital Stage Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, Virginia Repertory Theatre, B Street Theatre, Chenango River Theatre and various other theatres across the country. His television and film credits include Angels, The Good Lord Bird and Carry Me Home.
Christian Condra
Portraying Paul Hornung
Christian Condra says he is thrilled to make his ATI debut. He recently moved back to Indianapolis after living in St. Louis studying acting at Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Before making the move to STL, he was previously seen working with LAFF Shows at the District Theatre in productions like Puffs, Fly, You Fools, and their hilarious hit series, The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes. He has worked both on and off stage, as director, designer, and technical director for productions like Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Legally Blonde, and his most recent directorial debut with First Date the Musical. He would like to thank the cast and staff at ATI for their continued diligence in sustaining live theatre during such a chaotic time and his friends and family for their wonderful support and for being the best (free) dog sitters. “All thanks to you, Mikey.”
Don Farrell
Portraying Vince Lombardi
Don Farrell has more than 33 years of experience working as a professional performer with credits including Off-Broadway (Irene, Last of the Red Hot Mamas, Dodsworth), International/National Tours (Forever Plaid, The Taffetas), Las Vegas (Forever Plaid), and Regional productions and guest soloist concerts with major national symphonies. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1992, Don’s credits include five world premieres and over 90 different production credits including Alabama Story (Senator Higgins), A Comedy of Tenors (Tito/Beppo), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney), A Christmas Story (The Old Man), La Cage Aux Folles (Albin/Zaza), and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Andre). His Frank Sinatra cabaret ‘All the Way’ plays monthly at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael (feinsteinshc.com). He is co-founder and Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Indiana, CEO of Crossroads Entertainment (crossroads-ent.com), is a proud father of his wonderful daughter Elizabeth, and currently resides in Westfield. He dedicates this performance to the memory of his late father, Don Sr.
Adam LaSalle
Portraying Michael McCormick
Adam LaSalle says he is profoundly humbled to be returning to ATI after appearing in their production of Murder for Two right before the 2020 shutdown. Off-Broadway: Spamilton. Regional: Darling Grenadine, Holiday Inn (Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire), Elf The Musical (First Stage Milwaukee), Spamilton (Royal George Theatre, Chicago premiere), and Forever Plaid (Theatre at the Center). He sends countless thanks to Jane and all the creatives at ATI for this extraordinary opportunity as well as the great folks at Shirley Hamilton Talent, his amazing family, and Meghan for their endless support. He is a proud AEA Union member. Visit adamalasalle.com.
Mat Leonard
Portraying Jim Taylor
Mat Leonard is a New York-based actor. TV/film: Netflix’s Orange is the New Black (CO Miller), Kosmonavt (Ranger). Off-Broadway: Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man (Stefan), The Austerity of Hope (Vinny Delano). Regional Theatre: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Spike, Shakespeare and Company), Handle With Care (Terrence, Florida Studio Theatre), Julius Caesar (Octavius/Soothsayer/Trebonius, Shakespeare and Company), The Valley of Fear (Ensemble, Williamstown Theatre Festival), Of Mice and Men (Lennie, Olney Theatre’s National Players), Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick, Brooklyn One), May Violets Spring (Laertes, Bridge Theatre). Webseries: Revenue Stream with Sherie Rene Scott (Mat), Back to Reality (James). He would like to thank his fiancée, Celeste. Mat is proudly represented by Act One Management. Visit MatLeonard.com.
Judy Fitzgerald
Portraying Marie Lombardi
Judy Fitzgerald is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Credits include: Radio City Music Hall with Glenn Close, Madison Square Garden with Liza Minnelli and Danny Burstein (conducted by Marvin Hamlisch). National Tour with Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Jones and Omar Sharif. Off-Broadway: Swingtime Canteen with Tony Award-winner Charles Busch (Blue Angel); Placido Domingo’s operetta VLAD (Lamb’s Theatre); Dodsworth with John Collum, George Lee Andrews, and Dee Hoty (York Theatre, John Houseman Theatre); Irene (Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse); and Face the Music, That’s The Ticket! with Tony Award-winner George S. Irving (Musicals Tonight! Series). As a co-founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana, she was last seen in ATI’s Always … Patsy Cline as Patsy. A native of Indiana and longtime resident of New York City, she currently resides in Carmel. Much love to her ever-supportive family, her partner, Cindy, and her amazing daughter, Lizzie.
Jane Unger
Director
Jane Unger says she is delighted to be returning to Actors Theatre of Indiana after directing Alabama Story in 2019. She is the founding Artistic Director of Profile Theatre Project of Portland, Ore., whose mission celebrates the playwright by presenting a full season of plays by a single writer. In 15 years helming Profile, she produced and directed work by Arthur Kopit, Tennessee Williams, Constance Congdon, Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Romulus Linney, Terrence McNally, Lanford Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, Neil Simon, John Guare, Horton Foote, Lee Blessing and Athol Fugard, working directly with many of these great writers on new play development. Profile continues under the leadership of Josh Hecht who invited Unger back to direct the Lisa Krohn season opener 2.5 Minute Ride. Her other directorial work includes: Triad Stage, The Inge Festival, Creede Repertory Theatre, Idaho Theatre for Youth, Great Plains Theatre Conference, Storefront Theatre, Miracle Theatre, CoHo Productions, JAW, Portland Center Stage, New Rose Theatre, and Artists Rep where she directed the world premiere of Yussef El Guindi’s The Talented Ones. She recently directed an audio production of Sue Mach’s Madonna of the Cat for Portland’s Fertile Ground, January 2021. She adapted and directed Carver Country for Portland’s Literary Arts and has worked as a consultant with Book-It Rep on The Financial Lives of the Poets and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. She is currently working with Book-It co-founder Myra Platt on the stage adaptation of Brian Doyle’s Mink River. As an actress, she worked in the New York area at theatres including Manhattan Theatre Club, Manhattan Punch Line and Hartford Stage. Among the awards she has received, she says she is especially proud of Portland’s Drammy Award for Best Director for Profile’s inaugural production Wings and the Drammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Visit janeeunger.com.
Abigail Tomlin
Production Stage Manager
Abigail Tomlin is a native of Lebanon, Ind., and holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre with a focus in Production Stage Management from Ball State University. Professionally she has worked at a variety of theatres and venues, such as Drury Lane Theatre, Big Noise Theatre, DMT Entertainment, Roosevelt University, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Music Theatre Works, and Actors Theatre of Indiana. She says she is excited to be working her first season as the Production Stage Manager for ATI.
* * *
This play will be performed at The Studio Theater located in The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are available at atistage.org or by calling the Box Office at The Center for the Performing Arts at (317) 843-3800.
About Actors Theatre of Indiana
Actors Theatre of Indiana was co-founded in 2005 by Cynthia Collins, Don Farrell, and Judy Fitzgerald with a mission to celebrate the power of theater and contribute to the quality of life in Central Indiana by offering high quality professional theater performances and programs that engage, inspire, educate, and entertain. An award-winning Equity Professional Theater company, Actors Theatre of Indiana is the resident professional theater company of The Studio Theater at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, now in its 16th season of high-powered musical theater productions, world premieres, and innovative community works.
Visit ATI on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For more information on schedules, educational initiatives and ways you can order tickets, visit atistage.org.