“Please join us. Be here. You are welcome.”
That’s the heartbeat of Constellation Stage & Screen, Bloomington’s professional theater and film company — a creative force that’s reimagining what access to the arts can look like.
At Constellation, innovation starts with the stories themselves.
“We’re committed to producing plays that haven’t been seen elsewhere,” said Cassie Hacken, Marketing Director. “Half of our season is dedicated to new works — unpublished plays that are finding their first life here in Bloomington. We want to help those stories travel beyond us and become part of the American theater canon.”
Through initiatives like the McCarty New Works Program, Constellation champions emerging playwrights and fresh ideas. Each new production helps expand the American theater landscape — and gives local audiences a front-row seat to artistic discovery.
Constellation’s impact reaches beyond the stage. As Hacken explained, their education programs help build pathways for young creatives to explore theater from every angle — a true investment in the next generation of artists.
That future takes shape at Constellation Academy, where hundreds of students attend classes, camps, and matinees each year. From their first stage cue to their first standing ovation, young artists learn that creativity and community go hand in hand.
At Constellation, accessibility isn’t an afterthought — it’s the mission.
Every Thursday night is Pay What You Will, where audience members choose their own ticket price. The organization also offers sensory-friendly performances, student matinees, and a Community Access Ticket Program, funded by local donors Jessica and Brian Hain, providing free or reduced-cost tickets for anyone who needs them.
“Art is for everyone,” said Audience Services Manager Jordan Stephens. “It’s not meant to be something exclusive or elite. If you want to experience it, there’s a seat waiting for you.”
Constellation also manages the Waldron Art Center, ensuring that its stages and galleries remain open to local artists and organizations. Through the Open Stages Program, groups can rent space at a fraction of the cost — an essential boost for small troupes and first-time creators.
Innovation shines not only through new scripts but through new tools. This winter, Constellation is bringing projection design to the forefront with The Da Vinci Code, one of the first fully projection-based shows in the Waldron Auditorium.
“I think technology is inherently a part of art. As we develop more stage technology abilities, our sets, our projections, our lighting design becomes cooler, better, basically.” Hacken said.
Even smaller upgrades, like modular seating and assisted listening devices that sync directly with patrons’ hearing aids, show how technology can deepen inclusion and transform the theater experience from the ground up.
This December, Constellation is going big for the holidays — and welcoming everyone to join in.
The organization will stage two shows under one roof: A Christmas Story: The Musical, a joyful family favorite, and An Act of God, a clever comedy for adult audiences. Beyond the stage, the Waldron Arts Center will transform into a festive experience complete with themed cocktails, free hot chocolate, and a holiday market featuring local artists curated by gallery manager Sarah Nichols.
“When you step inside, it’s going to feel different,” Hakken said.
Tickets are available now at seeconstellation.org. Pay What You Will Thursdays and community access options make it easy for everyone to join in the celebration.