Rooted in values of inclusivity and community, American Lives Theatre reflects the state of the country through thought-provoking productions of contemporary dramatic material. Led by founding artistic director Chris Saunders, the company aims to act as a town hall, presenting pieces that run the gamut of emotion while encouraging conversation.

Here, Saunders shares his thoughts about the company’s mission and place within the Indianapolis theater landscape:

Q: How did the idea to create American Lives come about?

A: “I moved back to Indy from Chicago in 2017. I’d had a theater career as a writer, director, actor, and producer, and I realized there were so many plays in other cities that weren’t getting produced in Indianapolis. I would talk about it with my friends who had also lived in Indy and send plays along to artistic directors as recommendations. The idea just sort of grew in my mind. I founded the company in 2019; our first performance was in 2020.”

Q: During Covid?

A: “Yes. It totally stopped our momentum. Our first show sold way better than projected, and we had a lot of great buzz going. We did the final dress rehearsal for our second show on March 13, 2020, and then shut down. We kept saying for weeks that we would return. Eventually, I went in and single-handedly took the set down.”

Q: Is that the biggest challenge you’ve faced?

A: “No. I think the biggest challenge we face is generating regular audiences for work with which they’re unfamiliar. Some of our plays have never been done before, and almost all of our plays have never been produced in this state. We’re doing plays with titles no one’s ever heard of. Since Covid, I find people are increasingly less likely to gamble on a night at the theater.”

Q: What kind of niche did you initially hope to fill within Indy’s theater scene?

A: “There’s a fair amount of companies producing contemporary plays, so I wouldn’t really call it a niche. I would say that we produce contemporary plays that speak to the pulse of America right now. I wouldn’t rule out doing something by a British playwright or something that takes place in another country if it falls within other aspects of our mission. But generally speaking, we’re looking at American playwrights writing about issues and stories in America.”

Q: How do you decide what the theme of each season is going to be?

A: “It just sort of reveals itself. There’s usually something that leaps out or bubbles to the surface. It’s not always issues with a capital ‘I.’ Maybe it’s a mood, things we’re focusing on, or things we’re afraid of. We start by just trying to find good plays that speak to us and go from there.”

Q: What do you look for when you’re considering shows?

A: “We have a pretty exhaustive way of sourcing material because we want to find the best work, and we are highly selective. We get submissions all the time. We’re aware of high-profile prizes and awards given to new plays and playwrights. We keep a working knowledge of what’s being done off-Broadway, in Chicago, Minneapolis, and L.A. We attend stage readings and other theater productions in town, and we’re part of the National New Play Network. That funnels a lot of scripts our way.”

Q: You produce modern dramatic material only?

A: “Yes. The most common criticism I get is, ‘Can we get a comedy in here?’ I would argue very earnestly that all of our dramas have a sizable amount of comedy in them.”

Q: How do you engage with the community beyond productions?

A: “Each show, on average, generates three to four discussions that are always free, typically held after the performance. We are constantly working with colleges, universities, and high schools for student matinees.”

(The company also hosts playwriting workshops and offers discounts for locals, first responders, and educators.)

Q: Where can people see your work?

A: “We’re a resident company at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, and we’re also a spotlight company at IF Theatre (formerly IndyFringe). We view the IndyFringe Festival as an opportunity to uplift local playwrights and directors. And I think next year, we’ll be doing a 10-minute play festival.”

American Lives Theatre’s seventh season kicks off Oct. 22 with an untitled commission by Lucy Thurber. For more information, visit americanlivestheatre.org.

Photo Caption: ‘Borrowed Babies’ by Jennifer Blackmer, Feb 2026 – L to R: Sarah Powell, Hannah Luciani, Jen Johansen, Carmia Imani, Dorian Underwood. Photo Credit – Indy Ghost Light