he Beckmann Theatre, named for the arts and civic leader Robert Beckmann, Jr., is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Indianapolis by presenting quality theater employing Indiana artists and providing arts education. Founded in 2002, the Beckmann Theatre presented its first production, the play American Buffalo, at the Phoenix Theatre in 2003, and a series of readings of new plays in 2004. In 2005 the Beckmann Theatre was granted temporary occupancy of the 1895 Laundry Building on the grounds of the former Central State Hospital where it staged its critically acclaimed production of "Asylum." In 2006, "Give The Dog A Bone, " was presented by the Beckmann Theatre at American Cabaret Theatre.
The Beckmann Theatre has received support from the Eli Lilly Company, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the Indiana Arts Commission.
The Beckmann Theatre is run by its Board of Directors and by a group of dedicated volunteers. Our managing director, Maria Matters, is a member of the board, and has the responsibility of supervising and assembling the personnel to mount the theater's productions.