IRT and Playwright Jessica Huang Announce Commission, Celebrate New Projects

Indianapolis, Ind.—The Indiana Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce its commission from current James Still Playwright-in-Residence Jessica Huang. As a part of her three-year residency, the award-winning playwright will develop a new play for the Theatre: an adaptation of H. G. Wells’ science fiction survival story The War of the Worlds.

Taking place during a Martian attack and subsequent invasion, The War of the Worlds was written in the late 1800s and has been interpreted as a warning about imperialism, colonization and rampant anti-immigration rhetoric. The story has also been adapted by Orson Welles as a radio play in 1938—amid the global rise of fascism—and into the action film by Steven Spielberg in 2005.

“While working with IRT on the idea for this commission, our thought was to figure out a known title that could withstand a creative reimagining and would benefit from an exploration of themes and characters that are important to me,” Huang said. “As global unrest, natural catastrophes, and other almost otherworldly dystopic events are making headlines, I became more and more excited about this title. My adaptation will touch on themes of individualism and community, survival, and what it means to stay human in a moment of full-blown disaster. It’ll also be eerie, thrilling, and hopefully inspiring, life affirming, and fun!”

Huang will participate in The New Harmony Project’s 2025 Annual Writers’ Residency later this month to begin working on the adaptation, and the IRT plans to host a public reading during the 2026-2027 Season to share the progress.

“Jessica is a remarkable writer who I have admired for over a decade. Being a small part of her career blossoming is a true honor,” IRT’s Margot Lacy Eccles Artistic Director Benjamin Hanna said. “Our hope for this commission is that the play resonates across the American Theatre and brings new life to an important piece of classical literature. I look forward to audiences witnessing Jessica’s poetic and imaginative adaptation and sharing the world premiere with audiences in Indianapolis.”

Announced recently, Huang is a co-writer for 10 Things I Hate About You, a stage musical adaptation of the popular 1999 film, which is a retelling of Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew. She will work with Lena Dunham on the book, and Carly Rae Jepsen and Ethan Gruska will collaborate on the score.

In addition to the news of the commission and Broadway musical development, plus the creation of an original television show with WBTV shared last fall, Huang’s play Mother of Exiles will have its world premiere at Berkely Repertory Theatre in the upcoming 2025-2026 Season.

Huang is a graduate of Juilliard’s Playwrights Program, a playwright, and a librettist. She is a Venturous Playwright Fellow at the Playwrights’ Center, a MacDowell Fellow, Hermitage Fellow and four-time Playwrights’ Center fellow, and has been a member of Ars Nova Play Group, Civilians R&D Group, and Page 73’s Interstate 73. As IRT’S Playwright-in-Residence, Huang is a part of the Artistic Team, advises on new play development, leads the Young Playwrights in Process (YPiP) program, and represents IRT at various festivals across the country.

For more information about the IRT, contact Kerry Barmann, Associate Director of Marketing, at kbarmann@irtlive.com or 317.916.4824.

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ABOUT THE IRT
Founded in 1971, the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is the largest professional not-for-profit theatre in the state and one of the leading regional theatres in the country. The mission of the Indiana Repertory Theatre is to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that will engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, helping us build a vital and vibrant community.

Inclusion & Belonging: The IRT strives to celebrate and serve the diverse people and cultures that make up our whole community. The IRT is committed to providing access for all; to creating and maintaining a theatre that is inclusive, safe, and respectful.