JUNE 27 - 28, 2025 | 7:00 PM
PHOENIX THEATRE CULTURAL CENTRE, 705 N ILLINOIS ST, 46204
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ONE-ACT
THIS IS DIFFERENT is the ninth Community Conversation One-Act produced by Summit and developed in collaboration with Dr. Sally Wasmuth, an occupational therapist and faculty member at the IU Indianapolis School of Health and Human Sciences. The scripts are created from local interviews conducted by Dr. Wasmuth. Each one-act performance is followed by a moderated panel discussion with a mix of interviewees, artists, and relevant content experts, depending on the project. Since 2019, Summit has used this one-act model to explore such topics as post-partum depression, racial inequity in healthcare, living in Indiana as a trans person, and domestic violence.
There will be a moderated panel discussion immediately following the production.
RESEARCH TEAM
Research
Dr. Sally Wasmuth​
Interviews, Research, & Outreach
Research Assistant
Kylie Laker​
Transcription
CAST
Tracy Herring (Actor) (she/her) is excited to be working with Summit Performance for the first time. A social worker specializing in substance use disorder, she values this play’s effort to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help. Tracy has been a regular improvisor with ComedySportz Indianapolis since 2012 and has been a trainer for Camp YesAnd where improv is applied to skill building for people with symptoms of anxiety, autism, etc. With my remaining 42 words I would like to say I’m a fan of Aldi, Andrew Scott, dachshunds, mini goats and the idea of tiny house living.
Miki Mathioudakis (Actor) (she/her) is grateful to perform in this important piece about women in recovery. Miki is grateful to have lived long enough to be 29 years and 8 months clean and sober. Thanks to Summit for creating this opportunity to work with such strong and versatile artists! A retired and now very part time chaplain at OI, Miki enjoys gardening, knitting and doing plays that say something important. She worked for 20 years as a chaplain at St. Vincent Women’s. She has been performing in Central Indiana for the past 58 years and took a troupe from Marian University to Crete in 1992 to perform Antigone! Favorite roles: Abby in Ripcord, Golda Meier in Golda’s Balcony, Martha Watson in White Christmas, and Sister in The Convent... Thank you for coming and supporting local theatre!
Morgan Morton (Actor) (she/her) is thankful you’re here and thankful for the opportunity to work on such a unique piece! Recent credits include: Relativity (Liesel; Southbank), sick girl (New Harmony PlayFest), Spay (Assistant Director; ALT), Doubt: A Parable (Sister James; Hyperion Players), and Hedda Gabler (Hedda; Indy Bard Fest). Endless gratitude to Grandma Jo for being one of the first to teach me the joy of storytelling.
Tracy Nakigozi (Actor) (she/her) is delighted to join Summit Performance Indianapolis’ 2025 production of THIS IS DIFFERENT. Recent credits include Oak with Phoenix Theatre, and Stew with NAATC. She is deeply grateful to be part of a project that uses storytelling as a form of art and healing, and hopes this work inspires, awareness, and conversation within our community. Endless thanks to her parents, mentors, Kelsey Leigh Miller, Lauren Briggeman, Kelsey Johnson Lyons, and Indy Arts Council for making this possible.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Kelsey Johnson Lyons (Playwright) is an actor, writer, and educator here in Indianapolis, Indiana. She’s honored to uplift and support her community through the arts. When she’s not acting, writing, or teaching, Kelsey can be found reading, singing old spirituals to her little one, poring over the poetry of Mary Oliver, and getting lost in the woods.
Lauren Briggeman (Playwright; Director) (she/her) is a professional actor, director, and playwright based in Indianapolis. Acting credits include To Kill a Mockingbird (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Typhoid Mary, The Agitators, and Alabaster (Phoenix Theatre); As You Like It (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company), among others. Directing credits include The Convent by Jessica Dickey and Mary Jane by Amy Herzog (Summit). In 2019, Lauren was named one of Indiana Business Journal’s “Forty under 40.” She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and a company member of Indianapolis Shakespeare Company.
Nico Meisner (Stage Manager) (they/them) is so excited to be doing their debut show with Summit. They graduated last year from Ball State University and have been living in Indy ever since. Thank you to the cast and production team for everything. Enjoy the show :)
Mariel Greenlee (Choreographer) (she/her), originally from Vestal, NY, joined Dance Kaleidoscope in 2005, performing as a professional contemporary dancer for 15 years. She continues her work in dance as a freelance choreographer and teaching artist, specializing in ballet, contemporary, Graham technique, musical theater dance, and stage movement. She has choreographed more than 100 professional works for: Dance Kaleidoscope, Indianapolis Ballet, IRT, Summer Stock Stage, American Lives Theater, Summit Theater, Civic Theater, Indy Shakes, Pittsburgh Public, and many others. She is the founder of the Indy Dance Council, dedicated to elevating the profile of dance in Indy and the surrounding region. @indydancecouncil | indydancecouncil.org
Laura Glover (Lighting Design) (she/her) is the Resident Lighting Designer for Dance Kaleidoscope and a company member of the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company. She is honored to have designed Silent Sky, Mary Jane, Be Here Now, Skeleton Crew and The Convent for Summit Performance Indianapolis. Ms. Glover has also designed lighting for the Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indiana Repertory Theatre and Butler University. She is a Creative Renewal Arts Fellow with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and holds an M.F.A. in Lighting Design from SUNY Purchase.
Olivia Lawson (Sound Design) (she/her) is a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Audio Engineering and Sound Production. After completing an internship in South Carolina and moving back to her hometown, she has been involved in many productions in the Indianapolis area. When she’s not involved in a production, Olivia works as a stagehand for 317 Productions. She is glad to have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful cast and crew for this production.
Dr. Sally Wasmuth (Researcher) (she/her) has a background in African-American studies, philosophical studies of biology, and occupational therapy. Her research focuses on translational and implementation science, particularly in the areas of occupation-based intervention for addictive disorders and dual-diagnosis. She is involved in several arts-based recovery initiatives, including the use of theatre as both a therapeutic intervention and a means of stimulating community conversations on critical topics including the opioid crisis and health-care inequities related to race.
Without the bravery and generosity of the twenty individuals who shared their stories with us, the creation of THIS IS DIFFERENT would not have been possible. Our deepest thanks to them.
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to our panelists! And thank you to the life-saving organizations in Indianapolis who support addiction treatment, education and recovery.
Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre
Chelsea Reynowsky
IUI School of Health and Human Sciences, Occupational Therapy Program
THIS IS DIFFERENT is made possible by the City of Indianapolis and the Opioid Settlement Funds through the Indy Arts Council.
RESOURCES
For support, education, or volunteer opportunities, check out these Indianapolis organizations.
Camp Mariposa Aaron’s Place:
Addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth affected by the substance use disorder of a family member
Dove Recovery House:
Women-Centered Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Fairbanks Recovery:
SUD Treatment and Recovery
Hope Academy High School:
Recovery High School with a focus on sobriety and academic success for students
Overdose Lifeline:
SUD Advocacy, Education & Support, Anonymous Chat, Naloxone resource
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