About IBTC

Indianapolis Black Theater Company

About IBTC

Behind The Curtain

The Indianapolis Black Theater Company is a resident theater company housed within The District Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana. With a goal of supporting the growing Black Theater Community, the District mounted a capital campaign under the leadership of then Central Indiana Community Foundation president Brian Payne to garner funds to launch a resident theater company with matching funds from the Lilly Endowment.

In October of 2023 after a local and national search, Ben Rose was named the Founding Artistic Director. Rose has a vision to occupy the contemporary theater space and expand the boundaries beyond Indianapolis audiences to Black communities spread throughout the state of Indiana. IBTC is currently launching an annual national Black playwriting contest with aspirations to produce the winning authors’ work each following season. IBTC also has plans in 2025 to host an annual Black Solos Festival while producing 2-3 plays annually.

Unveiling

the Heart

and Soul

of IBTC.

Our Mission

The primary mission of the Indianapolis Black Theater Company is to produce contemporary narratives of Black Americans and their experiences.

The IBTC also seeks to foster growth and assist in the support and advancement of Black Professionals in the arts and entertainment industry.

The IBTC is also committed to collaborating with Black Cultural Arts and Entertainment Organizations for the purpose of shared resources and collective upliftment.

Our Leadership

Meet Ben Rose

Founding Artistic Director

Ben Rose is an award winning writer, actor, director and producer. Born in Indianapolis, but adopted and raised in the farming community of Tipton County, he has appeared as a lead in over 20 professional theater productions in Indianapolis and Atlanta, GA.

His feature length documentary, Haughville USA is currently in post-production and set for completion this Spring 2024. Rose is also an Indianapolis Arts Council Creative Renewal Fellow and his screenplay Lion of Judah was an official selection in the 2017 Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards.

Rose was one of 10 Indianapolis actors given the Indy Professional Theater MVP Award by the Indianapolis Foundation. He was also awarded Best Director in the Indianapolis 48hr Film Festival and led teams to 7 awards in 3 years. Rose holds a degree in photography from the Arts Institute and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

Behind The Curtain

The Indianapolis Black Theater Company is a resident theater company housed within The District Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana. With a goal of supporting the growing Black Theater Community, the District mounted a capital campaign under the leadership of then Central Indiana Community Foundation president Brian Payne to garner funds to launch a resident theater company with matching funds from the Lilly Endowment.

In October of 2023 after a local and national search, Ben Rose was named the Founding Artistic Director. Rose has a vision to occupy the contemporary theater space and expand the boundaries beyond Indianapolis audiences to Black communities spread throughout the state of Indiana. IBTC is currently launching an annual national Black playwriting contest with aspirations to produce the winning authors’ work each following season. IBTC also has plans in 2025 to host an annual Black Solos Festival while producing 2-3 plays annually.

Our Mission

The primary mission of the Indianapolis Black Theater Company is to produce contemporary narratives of Black Americans and their experiences. The IBTC also seeks to foster growth and assist in the support and advancement of Black Professionals in the arts and entertainment industry. The IBTC is also committed to collaborating with Black Cultural Arts and Entertainment Organizations for the purpose of shared resources and collective upliftment.

Unveiling the Heart and Soul of IBTC.

Our Leadership

Ben Rose is an award winning writer, actor, director and producer. Born in Indianapolis, but adopted and raised in the farming community of Tipton County, he has appeared as a lead in over 20 professional theater productions in Indianapolis and Atlanta, GA. His feature length documentary, Haughville USA is currently in post-production and set for completion this Spring 2024. Rose is also an Indianapolis Arts Council Creative Renewal Fellow and his screenplay Lion of Judah was an official selection in the 2017 Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards.

Rose was one of 10 Indianapolis actors given the Indy Professional Theater MVP Award by the Indianapolis Foundation. He was also awarded Best Director in the Indianapolis 48hr Film Festival and led teams to 7 awards in 3 years. Rose holds a degree in photography from the Arts Institute and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

Meet Ben Rose
Our Founding Artistic Director

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    info@indyblacktheater.org

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