Gigi Jennewein in cast of 'Tribes' opening in Indy

Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Greencastle resident Gigi Jennewein (left), assistant professor of communication and theater at DePauw University, portrays Beth in the play "Tribes," opening Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis. Other cast members include (from right) Stephen Hunt as Christopher, Kathryn Bartholomew as Ruth, Andrew Martin as Billy and Matt Goodrich as Daniel. The Nina Raine play continues through Feb. 9.

Gigi Jennewein, a part-time assistant professor of communication and theater at DePauw University, is among the principal cast members in the Indiana premiere of Nina Raine's play "Tribes."

Presented by Phoenix Theat of Indianapolis, the play opens Thursday, Jan. 9 in the Russell Theatre at the Phoenix, and continues through Feb. 9 at the venue at 749 N. Park Ave., Indianapolis.

Jennewein portrays Beth in the drama directed by Purdue University Professor Richard Rand.

The story focuses on Billy, a young deaf man who lives silently among his loud, intellectually elite and fiercely opinionated family who talk a lot, but don't listen so well. It's not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, that he finally understands what it means to be heard.

Tickets for "Tribes" are on sale now. The entire first weekend tickets are $18 per person. All performances after that will be $28 per person. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 317-635-7529 or may be purchased on-line at phoenixtheatre.org.

"Tribes is on the list of top 10 most-produced plays in the country right now and 2012 winner of the Drama Desk Award for best play," said Bryan Fonseca, producing director of Phoenix Theatre.

The Phoenix has presented productions designed to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 31 years. It operates the 130-seat Russell Theatre as well as the 65-seat cabaret-style Frank and Katrina Basile Stage. Both venues are housed in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis' historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts and Theatre District.

Jennewein, meanwhile, serves as coordinator of DePauw Community Service and Outreach. She was assistant professor of Communication and Theater at DePauw for 17 years, eight of which were also dedicated to serving as the coordinator of arts publicity and marketing.

In between her DPU stints, Jennewein chaired the theater department at the Patel Conservatory of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Fla.

As coordinator of Community Service and Outreach, Jennewein is engaged in establishing, maintaining, and promoting opportunities for students to engage in the Greencastle and Putnam County community.

Jennewein has been an active presence in the Greencastle community. She served on the Main Street Greencastle board for several years and is a past president, she owns an historic building on the downtown square that supports the student-run Low Road Gallery, and she is a founding member of the Greencastle Arts Council.

In addition to the Phoenix, she has also appeared on stage at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Brown County Playhouse and Indiana State University's Crossroads Repertory Theatre.

Before coming to DePauw in 1992, her endeavors included an apprenticeship with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, founding of a theater company and costume designer/shop supervisor at the University of the South/Sewanee, as well as working as lecturer at Indiana State University and director of the theater program at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Jennewein holds a BA from Northwestern University in communication studies and her MA in theater from Indiana State.

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