Indiana State University Newsroom

Crossroads Repertory Theatre is offering audiences a trip to another galaxy this summer with its production of "A Wrinkle in Time," opening June 26.

Before there was Harry Potter, there was "A Wrinkle in Time," a young adult novel by Madeline L'Engle and winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1963. Adapted for stage by John Glore, the play tells the story of two children who with a friend venture into the galaxy to find their scientist father who has gone missing while on a top-secret mission.

"It's a really wonderful, wonderful story," said director Bill Kincaid. "I loved Madeline L'Engle's books -- I read a lot of them after having read ‘A Wrinkle in Time' -- and this is a very exciting and very theatrical stage adaptation."

The production makes great use of audio/visual technology that fans of Indiana State University's recent production of "Richard III" saw this spring. Kincaid and his designers also have a few stage tricks up their sleeves.

"My philosophy is whether someone is a child now or because of the child inside them, we have the ability to engage, whether it's the scary monster that we don't see or whether it's something wonderful we don't see, that's the kind of thing that really gets our adrenaline going and gets our blood pumping," said Kincaid, professor of theater at Western Illinois University. However, "because of its basis in science fiction and some of the darker elements of it, it's not a show for little people or certainly not for little people exclusively," he said.

For inspiration, Kincaid has spent the past several months soaking in as much sci-fi as possible.

"I'm a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, so I've watched all the Tolkien movies that have come out recently and some other things, so I think I've got my finger on the pulse of what people are expecting," Kincaid said. "I hope we can find ways to get their imagination to fill in some of the gaps that are left by a theatrical production of a play about inter-dimensional space and time travel."

The book, published about 20 years after World War II, draws on the themes regarding the importance of looking past qualities that divide us as people to focus on our similarities.

"The story includes this giant brain called ‘It' that controls the planet Camazotz, and everyone on Camazotz has to do exactly the same thing. Everyone must behave in exactly the same manner and will be punished if they step out of line," Kincaid said. "Looking at everyone's desire to express their individuality and to be part of a greater whole -- not by walking in lockstep with everyone else - but by thinking for ourselves and having an imagination, that's an important theme, I think, of this play for anybody of any age."

Crossroads' staff is excited to have the opportunity to introduce theater to a new generation of audience members.

"It's not a kid's play, but so many of us know the book from our childhood," said Michael Jackson, Crossroads production manager and associate professor of theater at Indiana State. Those who enjoyed the book as a youth should bring their children, nieces and or nephews to the play - and expose them to a new medium of entertainment.

"It's different from staring at something on a screen or playing a video game," Jackson said. "Hopefully, it'll ignite some sort of passion in them that they want to keep coming back to the theater."

Kincaid agrees: "I loved this story when I first read it, some 35 or 40 years ago. I still love it. I think it's really an exciting way to introduce some people who don't know the story to the story through a theatrical production," he said. "I would also hope everybody who sees it would run out and read the book, whether it's for a third time or a first time, because both the book and the play based on it are really exciting. And I can't wait to share them with an audience."

"A Wrinkle in Time" runs at 7:30 p.m. June 26 and 27, July 15, 19 and 23 and 4 p.m. June 28 and July 19 in Indiana State's New Theater, 540 N. 7th St. Season tickets are available for $52 each, and single-production tickets are $15-20 for general admission.

To buy tickets or donate to Crossroads Repertory Theatre, go to crossroadsrep.com or call the box office, which opens June 15, at 812-237-3333.

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Contact: David Valdez, instructor, department of theater at Indiana State University, David.Valdez@indstate.edu or 812-237-3337

Writer: Libby Roerig, media relations assistant director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or libby.roerig@indstate.edu