Weekly View » IndyFringe

Theatre on the Square Space Gets New Name, Manager

Weekly View — Thu, 03 May 2018 05:09:54 +0000

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.

10 Years of IndyFringe Fest

Weekly View — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:11:33 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS —IndyFringe is a rollicking celebration of theatre old and new, edgy and not-so that happens over 11 days, August 14-24, in the Mass Ave Cultural District. It features eight stages presenting comedy, cabaret, dance, drama, magic, music and multi-media performances. The festival exploded in Indianapolis ten years ago and has grown into an annual cultural attraction that continues to draw in record audiences.
Every show is an hour long, with a half hour break so you have time to walk or take a shuttle to the next theatre or visit the Beer Tent, which is at the corner of Mass Ave. and St. Clair. Along the route, buskers (street performers) will keep people entertained (please tip generously). Most theatres are within walking distance of each other, and there is a shuttle to the Cook Theatre on 12th and Central. Parking is available in designated lots.
Pick up a program and pick out the shows you’d like to see. Many of them are for adults, but some are family friendly. Understand that there’s a lot of buzz generated by some shows and they may sell out early, so consider buying online in advance.
This year there will be some changes in the way IndyFringe runs. You don’t need to buy a Backer Button for the festival, although there are collectable 10th Anniversary buttons available for free. This year, prices for individual shows is $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors, and $5 for children under 12. IndyFringe will sell up to 100 percent of the available tickets for each show in advance. Purchase tickets up to 2 hours before each performance at indyfringe.org/fringe14/schedule. Purchase in advance by phone for will call pickup at (317) 869-6611 with credit card. (American Express not accepted, $1 service fee charged per ticket at time of payment). The most popular shows are likely to sell out quickly, so advance sales are encouraged. Venue box offices are CASH ONLY. On site sales for each performance will begin 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.
There is an Opening Night promotion — buy two tickets to one show for the price of one ticket via TicketWeb. Find your show on the website, then click the buy ticket link. Then just select the buy one get one adult offer for shows on Opening Night Thursday Aug. 14 and get two adult tickets for half price – two tickets for the price of one regular adult ticket! You must select the Buy One Get One option via TicketWeb for the offer to be valid. Only tickets purchased in advance, online with this method will qualify for the offer.
There are plenty of deals to save you money, including Fiver Passes. Fiver Passes give you 5 tickets for the price of 4! Available at any festival box office. Fiver passes can be redeemed for tickets at each venue box office, and can also be redeemed for advanced bookings only by visiting the main festival office in person located at 735 Massachusetts Ave.
There will also be an opening night party on Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Athenaeum, including a free performer showcase. Lots of the shows will put on a two minute “commercial” for their shows. This is also a great planning tool.
What to see? The staff at the Weekly View will be hitting a lot of the shows, but some already stand out:
• Ben Asaykwee’s one-man show My name is ____ tells the stories of seven extraordinary people through music, dance and humor. The show is based on actual events and people in Indianapolis. At the Fringe Basile Theatre
• Journey of the Kookaburra, a Q Artistry production, is an epic adventure of music spanning decades, telling the story of a simple Aussie girl and her pilgrimage. At the Phoenix Mainstage.
• The Great Bike Race by Zach Rosing Productions is based on true events of the disastrous running of the second Tour de France in 1904. At Theatre on the Square.
• Alice vs. Wonderland by NoExit Performance combines the story of Alice in Wonderland with a staged videogame. At the Cook Theatre.
• A Shame of Thrones, Unscripted is ComedySportz interactive take on Game of Thrones. At Comedy Sportz.
• Darwin vs. Rednecks with Stewart Huff. Huff’s show last year was hilarious, so expect great things again. At Comedy Sportz.
• New Voices by Dance Kaleidoscope gives the talented dancers of the group a change to create their own choreography. At Theatre on the Square Mainstage.
For a full listing of shows, times, and other information, visit www.indyfringe.org.

Theatre Review: On the Fringes

Ethel Winslow — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:09:11 +0000

This, the ninth year of IndyFringe, means that the festival is becoming better known (and attended). As each year passes, audiences set the bar a little higher for performances — which is great, because it keeps the folks who put on the show on their toes.
Of the shows I’ve seen so far (16), only two disappointed, and one was due to a technical problem more than anything else. The odds are good you’ll find something enjoyable/enlightening/funny/challenging to see any given night. Expect long lines at shows that have been getting good buzz, and you may not get in unless you pre-paid. Have a back-up show for that time slot if you encounter this problem.
Outstanding shows we’ve seen on the circuit include:
• Shakespeare Wrote What . . . ? — EclecticPond’s take on five of Shakespeare’s lesser-known works (Titus Andronicus, Troilus and Cressida, King John, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Cymbeline) is fast-paced and funny, giving you a taste of why these are the lesser-known works (where even English majors such as myself feared to tread). A great cast and script makes the hour fly by.
• De Sade — The Marquis de Sade’s depraved imagination and philosophy is the basis of this Q Artistry production. It starts out naughty and flirty, but takes a very dark turn at the end. The songs and costumes are a delight, and a strong cast makes the piece work. Be warned that this show is pretty graphic.
• The Beast, The Lady, and the Sanguine Man — NoExit uses 1920s silent film drama devices to tell a supernatural tale. The production is innovative and clever, with a cast that doesn’t overstate the case.
• Welcome to the Monkey House — Based on Kurt Vonnegut’s book of stories, ShadowApe takes the best of the stories and makes funny and touching theatre.
• Menagerie Macabre: A Theatre du Grand Guignol — Julie Lynn Barber’s singing is spectacular, and the Eastern European folk songs she sings weave three horror stories together. If you love gothic horror stories, this is your show.
• Electric Romeo — You will have to buy tickets in advance for this show, as the lines will be around the block. Dance Kaleidoscope’s interpretation of “Romeo in Juliet” through movement. Brilliant is the only word that comes to mind . . . just go see it.
• Underneath the Lintel — Pat O’Brien’s performance as the Librarian in Glen Berger’s play is riveting in this one-man show. Another one that you may need a pre-paid ticket for to get in.
• I Named My Penis Linda — Stewart Huff’s stand-up show last year was a sell-out at almost every performance, and it looks like this year will be no different. This year, he sets his sights on why he got pulled off the stage at the University of Kentucky, and stealing penguins. Hilarious.

Ethel Winslow/Weekly View
Street performers and IndyFringe performers drum up business along Mass Ave.

Buy a Backer Button for only $5 at the Art Bank on the corner of E. St. Clair and Mass Ave. and pick up a program. Pick your show(s), and make sure you have cash to pay for tickets ($10 per show) at the individual theaters. You can buy tickets in advance at the Art Bank (2 hours before the show). Fiver passes are a good deal; for $40 you can get into five shows (buy them at the Art Bank as well).
The best part of IndyFringe is seeing people from all walks of life enjoy real theater together. Old, young, rich, and not-so-rich, IndyFringe has something for everyone. Between shows, it makes for great people-watching as well.

Theatre Review: Abraham Lincoln at the Fringe

Steve Nicewanger — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:09:07 +0000

Indy Fringe is always a hectic time for the theater lover. So many wonderful performances, so little time, but this year there was an especially poignant performance that I will always remember. I was lucky enough to catch Abraham Lincoln at TOTS last weekend and it was a real treat to have a conversation with him and get to see his humor, compassion, and homespun wisdom on a personal level. That is to say, that I was able to enjoy Danny Russell’s on-stage creation of Ol’ Abe. Mr. Russell makes our sixteenth president come alive on the boards. Lincoln seems to be a role Danny Russell was born to play. He has been taking Mr. Lincoln and introducing him to audiences across the Midwest and has been honored by the Indiana Arts Commission for his work.
Abraham Lincoln takes the audience on a journey through the president’s life as he reminisces about his family, his Indiana childhood, the tragic loss of both his beloved mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and his dear sister and closest childhood companion Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, in childbirth. There was much tragedy and heartbreak in Lincoln’s life and Mr. Russell is able to demonstrate how these sorrows made Abraham Lincoln strong both morally, and spiritually. No matter if you are a history buff or just a fan of great theater, viewing Danny Russell’s characterization of Abraham Lincoln is a rewarding experience that you will long remember.
If you want to see Abraham Lincoln, there is still time. It will presented on both Friday August 23 at 6:00 p.m. and again on Saturday August 24 at 9:00 p.m. at Theatre on the Square -Stage II. Definitely a 4 star production.

IndyFringe, Milhaus Partner for Expansion

Weekly View — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 05:10:55 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — A partnership between neighbors — a developer and a nonprofit — will help build community in a rapidly changing downtown historic district while providing substantial savings to the nonprofit’s expansion. Milhaus Development, LLC has offered to assist IndyFringe with the upcoming expansion of its headquarters/performance space at 719 E. St. Clair St., “on the fringe” of the intersection of St. Clair, Massachusetts Ave., and College Ave.
Just south of this intersection in the Chatham Arch Historic District will be Circa, Milhaus’s most recent development project that begins construction in August. With Circa, Milhaus will blend modern and historic by renovating the historic Mitchel & Scott Machine Company building and add four new buildings to create a 235-unit community that will also include live-work spaces.
Milhaus and IndyFringe struck an agreement that would provide benefits to the nonprofit, as well as help provide an expanded attraction for those who will be renting the apartments in the nearby community. During the construction of the Circa property, Milhaus will lend its expertise to the construction of the 2,100-square-foot IndyFringe addition.
In return, Milhaus and one of its properties will be a lead sponsor of the IndyFringe Festival (August 15 – August 25 this year) for three years. Artistry, a Milhaus project at 451 E. Market St., is a sponsor this year, Circa will serve in that role for the 2014 festival, and a property to be named will be a sponsor in 2015.
Over the past eight years, IndyFringe has averaged 10 percent growth, 114,000 have attended shows at the festival and the IndyFringe Basile Theatre. IndyFringe purchased the property in 2012 and upgraded the alley and parking to ADA specifications. The second phase of the Capital Campaign is the Trailhead Community Centre. $100,000 remains to be raised and will be matched by the Herbert Simon Family Foundation.
The addition will include a 65-seat multi-purpose space for size-appropriate performances and an additional festival stage to complement the 100-seat Basile Theatre. Between the two performance spaces will be a central court, named the Trailhead to denote its proximity to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. It will contain an elevator, ticket office, foyer, restrooms, and green room for performers.