Broad Ripple, one of Indianapolis' eclectic arts districts, is known by its villagers and by most Indianapolis residents as a wonderful place to broadcast one's creativity. From the numerous music venues to the renowned Art Center, Broad Ripple is open to many imaginative artists and original minds.

"Why then, isn't there a community theater or somewhere within the village where aspiring actors and theater technicians can go to practice their art?" "Wouldn't Broad Ripple be a perfect place for a theater?" "Doesn't this idea fit in with the place, the atmosphere?"

Questions like these undoubtedly have crossed the minds of several Broad Ripple citizens and the fact still remains - there are no theatrical venues in Broad Ripple.

John Kastner, president and artistic director of StageWorthy Productions, has fought with these kinds of questions for ten years. He has been interested in the theater since he was very young. From high school through college and into his recent career as a devoted actor, director and all around thespian, he has participated in dozens of performances throughout central Indiana.

With StageWorthy Productions (SWP), he hopes to give to Broad Ripple something that could only help the Village's cultural image.

StageWorthy Productions, a fresh and new institution that is an offshoot from a previous theatre, has just finished its first season in Indiana. As a member of the Encore Association - a partnership of 11 non profit theatres in central Indiana - SWP proudly took home an award for Best Director, as well as one for Best Actor at Encore's 2006 awards ceremony.

With such a remarkable highlight for only their first season, Kastner is looking forward to their second season. Besides the great excitement that may come with further award-winning plays, Kastner hopes to take SWP to different levels.

A resident of Broad Ripple for 10 years, Kastner has seen Broad Ripple as an obvious district in need of a performance space for the area's thespians. His first glimpse of a possible venue happened as he was sitting in the auditorium of the Art Center.

Even though much has been troubled over about this space in particular, especially concerning the financial aspects of manipulating such a space for theatrical purposes, Kastner has not lost hope. What he wishes to convey to his proprietors, as well as to his audience, is that, in his own words, "Art is what you make it."

Recently, he has gone to the director of the arts and humanities magnet at Broad Ripple High School, Sandra Reiberg, and asked if it was possible to utilize the school's newly renovated black-box theatre. Despite the numerous factors that the business world might unleash, Kastner shows diligence by saying and meaning that he's "very serious in making this go." He is holding firm to SWP's hope of, "Bringing a bit of Broadway back to Broad Ripple."

With a new season coming up at the end of February, Kastner and his fellow associates at SWP (such as Lori Raffel, Diane Hayes and Tom Creviston) hope to gain a foot hold in Broad Ripple that could in some definite way profit the Village. With such a prominent voice in musical concerts and visual art exhibitions, it is only natural that there should be an outstanding presence for the performing arts in Broad Ripple.

Receiving many acknowledgments from the Broad Ripple Village Association, SWP has become more than a possibility. It is only a matter of time until theatre finds its place in Broad Ripple and until that time, what the thespians of the village need most is inspiration and encouragement.