Our Directors
Indiana Drama Club was first started as a passion project between long-time theater gurus, Amanda Gwin and Rai Ortman. Professionally, Amanda and Rai combined have 24 years of theater experience, ranging from on/off Broadway productions in NYC, to touring performances across the US, to local theater, and regional TV commercials. Between their skill, time and attention dedicated to the development of their students, they are a dynamic team whose talent speaks for itself through the successes at the regional and state level of competition, and the growth of IDC since it’s founding in 2021.
Amanda Gwin
Amanda started teaching theater as a senior in high school. After high school, she helped start a drama camp at Fort Ben YMCA where she began working with her co director, Rai Ortman in 2002. She went to UIndy where she majored in Theatre focusing on directing and stage management. In 2008, Amanda moved to New York City where she worked as stage manager for shows such as, Forbidden Broadway (Off Broadway), Avenue Q (OffBroadway), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Broadway), and many more. Amanda joined Artspower National Touring Theatre and toured the United States as stage manager for Madeline and the Bad Hat and Rainbow Fish. She has taught at numerous performing arts centers across the Midwest, including Tennessee and New York. Amanda is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Amanda believes skills learned in theater arts can enrich a child’s life and prepare them for the future—even if it does not become their career path—and hopes to give her students an experience that will make a positive, lasting impact on their lives.
She loves traveling to new places with her husband and spending any and all free time she has with her two fur babies.
Rai Ortman
Rai has been a part of the theater community since she was 6yrs old, performing on stage at Footlite Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana. Throughout high school and into her college years, Rai worked as a performer and house manager for the Indianapolis Children’s Museum’s, Lilly Theater. Rai then went on to study theater and mass communications at Indiana State University. Since then, Rai and her co director Amanda, have co-directed shows together for 22 years. Together, they directed at a local middle school where they chartered an award winning Jr. Thespian Troupe. As a performer, Rai is a member of the CrazyLake Acting Company, and is also represented by the talent agency, Talent Fusion. She has been a part of many productions at various local theaters and can be seen in several local and regional commercials.
Growing up in a tough inner-city neighborhood, and enduring her own childhood trauma, the theater quickly became Rai’s escape and safe haven. As a biracial woman, and a person with a disability, Rai is passionate about providing quality theater education and opportunities to youth of all abilities and ethnic backgrounds. Rai desires to produce shows that accurately represents the world we live in and hopes to empower her students to project their voice both on and off the stage.
Rai lives on the east side of Indianapolis with her husband, their three children, and two dogs.
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