Editor’s Note: The paper edition of this article notes that IndyFringe is 16 years old. It is, in fact, only 12 years old. The information is corrected in here in the online edition. We regret the print error.
Twelve years ago, IndyFringe was born of a roundtable discussion among arts leaders who thought that bringing more performance into downtown Indianapolis was a great way to bring more people together. And they were right. Over the years, it has grown into an 11 day festival of theater, dance, music, comedy, and more performed on 8 stages by 64 groups and individuals. Tens of thousands of people attend IndyFringe — some seeing only a select few shows while others treat it like a marathon. IndyFringe 16 is coming Aug. 18-28, with theaters along Mass Ave. in downtown Indianapolis.
IndyFringe shows are only an hour long, and only $15 per show per person ($12 students, and children under 12 $8). You can buy a Fiver Pass — five shows for $50 to save money. The box office of each show is open 30 minutes before, and doors open promptly 10 minutes for general admission seating. You can buy tickets for a show 30 minutes in advance online at www.indyfringe.org or by calling 317-445-1458 or 317-459-4619 (prepaid only with Visa/MC); box offices only take cash. Do NOT be late — you will not be admitted after the show begins.
There are eight official venues for IndyFringe 16: ComedySport (721 E. Mass Ave.), Theatre on the Square upper and lower stages (627 E. Mass Ave.), the Phoenix Theater Main Stage and Underground (749 N. Park Ave.), the IndyFringe Basile Theatre and Indy Eleven Theatre (both at 719 E. St. Clair), and the Short Fringe Beer Tent Theatre (748 Mass Ave.) where you can see 15 minute performances where everything goes. In between, check out the street performers and buskers working for a living.
A whole new offering for families is at the SHORT FRINGE Theatre at the Outdoor Tent on the corner of St. Clair and Mass Ave. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. kids and Grown-ups can enjoy 15 minutes shows for $5 including magic, music, mime, puppetry, comedy, storytelling and more. Visit www.indyfringe.org for the shows and order tickets at the tent.
Local, national and international performers are on tap this year. Local EclecticPond will present “Drankspeare” at ComedySportz — it’s Romeo and Juliet in under an hour and under the influence. For the grown-ups, check out “Sexual Politics” by Fishers comedian Scott Long, “An Evening with the Authors” from a rotating cast presenting original literary nonsense every time, and “Clown Bar” by Funhouse Productions (all at ComedySportz).
Theatre on the Square Main Stage will be home to several dance performances. Dance Kaleidoscope’s “Divas Workshop,” “Beyond Ballet” by Indianapolis Ballet, Motus Dance and Orkestra Projekt’s “Carve,” Crossroads Dance Indy’s “Inspired Motion,” and BOBDIREX “I’d Like to See More of You: A Burlesque Review” will all take the big stage. The very promising looking “Calder: The Musical” will also be at ToTS — it’s a musical homage to the life of American mobile artist Calder.
The ToTS second stage has several impressive shows lined up, including Indy Magic Monthly’s presentation of magician Cody Clark, a great magician whose journey with autism was transformed by magic. Check out Sarsparilla Productions’ storytelling “By Design,” “Trojan Women: A New Adaptation” by Savage at Last, or “Barking Signals (badly) During Goldwater by Carmel native Garret Matthews.
The Phoenix Underground is home to several great shows this year. It’s exciting to see the eastside’s Khaos Company at IndyFringe this year with “A Third Live in the High Court Here,” a storytelling riddle. The ever-entertaining Stephen Vincent Giles will be performing “A Darkly Humorous Evening” featuring recitations of long-forgotten poems of the macabre. “Poems for the People” is a poetry slam of Indy’s best spoken word artists and stand-up comedians.
Upstairs at the Phoenix are some unique shows as well. The ever-popular Act A Foo’ improv group will be there, plus Circle City Tap Company will perform “The Rhythm Chronicles.” Indy Convergence and Pantea Productions puts on “Silken Veils,” a combination of poetry by Rumi, puppetry, and animation. Defiance Comedy’s “Haul & Oatz Time Traveling Detectives” and Wisdom Tooth Theater Project, Earlham College, Performing Arts of IUPUI, and Gentlemen Callers of Indiana round out a strong Phoenix Fringe line-up.
The IndyFring Basile Theatre’s eclectic line-up includes “Sleeping Beauty” by Zionsville-based 7th Artistry, “The Amish Project” by Carmel High School, “What Is This Place?” by Jan White, “Little Butchie Sings” by James Solomon Benn, and “The Comedy Magic Show” by the Magic Comic. A lot of buzz has been swirling around “Harrison,” an improvised hip-hop retelling of the history of Indiana’s William Henry Harrison.
There’s also been a lot of positive talk about “Kurt Vonnegut’s: God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian” by Old Dogs Production — a funny, provocative show where Kurt Vonnegut speaks from beyond the grave, interviewing historical figures. “The Indiana Squirrel Stampede” by Main Street Artists is a family-friendly musical, and the Adams and Beasley Institute am Clown’s “The Circus of Joy” performs an entire three ring circus with a minimal cast. All the shows will be in the Indy Eleven Theatre.
Get your Fringe on beginning Aug. 18. We’ll be giving quickie reviews of shows we see on the Weekly View’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Eastside-Voice-Community-News-Media on the first weekend!
