Help Indiana Drama Club students go to the Southeastern Theatre Conference in 2026!

In 2025, Indiana Drama Club took a huge risk, and it paid off. Now, they’ve been given a rare opportunity and they need your help. 

It began when co-director, Rai Ortman, wrote an original play, The Sandbox—a clever and nostalgic parody of the ’90s classic The Sandlot—and the students of IDC gave it it’s world premiere at the 2025 IndyFringe Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their run was such a hit that they took a leap and submitted the show to the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Youth Theatre Invitational in Chattanooga, Tennessee—one of the most respected and competitive theater conferences in the country.  

After hearing no news for months after submission, IDC finally got word that their show, The Sandbox, had officially been one of only four selected to perform at this coming year’s 2026 theatre conference! Now, all the dreaming and the “what if’s” have become a reality.

For many Indiana Drama Club students, SETC is more than a trip; this conference offers professional auditions, college connections, job fairs, workshops, and training that will influence their future in the arts and beyond. As educators, taking IDC students to this theater conference in Tennessee is one of those pivotal moments when they get to show students that a big, beautiful life exists beyond the sometimes very difficult moments right in front of them; it shows them how to hope for something and work hard towards a goal. Most importantly, it showcases the power of belonging and supporting each other along the way. 

The backbone of Indiana Drama Club is to make opportunities like these possible by ensuring these experiences are accessible to participants at little or no cost. When you join IDC, there is a one-time fee of $25, and that is it. Every single need is fundraised beyond that.

Our directors, Rai Ortman (writer and co-director of The Sandbox) and Amanda Gwin bring over 20 years of combined theater experience. Both directors volunteer their time and resources, receiving no financial gain of their own. Simply put, these directors believe in their students. Now, they need the support of their community. 

Will you help get The Sandbox cast and crew to Chattanooga?

About Indiana Drama Club (IDC)

Indiana Drama Club is an Indianapolis youth theater nonprofit focused on offering high-quality theater education and hands-on experiences to students in grades 6 through 12. We believe every student deserves access to high-quality arts education, no matter their family’s income. 

About Southeastern Theatre Company (SETC)

Southeastern Theatre Company is the strongest and broadest network of theatre practitioners in the United States. Their services, publications, and products contribute significantly to the careers of emerging artists, seasoned professionals and academicians. SETC energizes the practical, intellectual and creative profile of theatre in America.