INDIANAPOLIS — The building formerly known as Theatre on the Square has a new name and a new theater operations manager. After a competitive proposal period, IndyFringe has been selected to serve as the theater operations manager for a minimum of two years at the newly named, The District Theatre. The announcement comes after Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) took the lead in reviving the space in 2017 — creating a new not-for-profit and assuming ownership of the building — in a bid to preserve arts and culture in one of Indianapolis’ most important cultural districts.
IndyFringe has 14 years of theater management experience plus a history of creating space for diverse audiences and performers. It is best known for its annual IndyFringe Festival, which has returned $1.4 million back to area artists since 2005 through a portion of its box office sales. The organization will maintain its current location on the “fringe” of Mass Ave. in addition to operating the space at The District Theatre.
After nearly 30 years as a mainstay in the Indianapolis arts community, Theatre on the Square faced costly building repairs and other issues that threatened the survival of the space. In August 2017, it announced a temporary closure and teamed with CICF to create a plan for long-term sustainability, including funding for several repairs. The District Theatre board of directors will now focus on creating a long-term strategic and sustainability plan, as well as additional facility upgrades, while IndyFringe manages the day-to-day programming and operations. For more information about The District Theatre, watch IndyDistrictTheatre.org.