In this conversation, we dive into the magic and evolution of the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s beloved A Christmas Carol, from its imaginative Tom Haas staging—where actors and minimal props bring Dickens’ world to life on a snowy, sloped stage—to the behind-the-scenes realities of trap doors, rehearsal challenges, and mountains of fake snow. Former director Richard shares the pressure and pride of guiding a production that everyone else in the room had performed for years, the subtle artistic updates made over time, and the influence of new directors like Cara Hihn, whose own childhood experiences at IRT helped shape her inclusive vision. The discussion expands into how theater has long championed representation, diversity, and authenticity in casting, the collaborative joy of working with artists, and the importance of leadership in setting a positive creative environment. We talk about the casting process in the age of Zoom, the resilience of the IRT during COVID—producing streamed productions while many theaters shut down—and the emotional return of audiences craving community. The conversation closes with reflections on the irreplaceable value of live performance, especially in the age of AI, and how theater continues to offer shared human experiences no technology can replicate.

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