IndyFringe is always exhilarating, and exhausting, for performers and audiences alike. The staff and volunteers must be ready for a long relaxing visit to a beach by the end of the first week. If you hit any Fringe shows this year, please thank those hard-working and under-appreciated volunteers and staffers.
Creative Director Paula, columnist CJ, and I have been dashing up and down Mass Ave. with crumpled schedules in our hands trying to see shows our readers may enjoy. Here’s our “do not miss” list (so far):
• On the musical front, do not miss “Broadway’s Leading Ladies: A Tribute,” featuring some powerhouse local voices singing hits from classic Broadway shows like Hamilton, Dreamgirls, Wicked, and Into the Woods. (Next shows Sat. Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m. and Sun. Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.). Another show that will knock you out is “Queen Day” with the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus, featuring the songs of Queen, Green Day, and tunes from classic musical theatre. Their rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is dead-on! (Next shows Sat. Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. and Sun. Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m.)
• Sally Perkins’ “The Supersonic Suffrage Story You Never Heard in School” is an hour overview of the 80-plus years it took to get women the vote in the United States. Perkins is a gifted storyteller and the story she tells here is complex and sometimes sad. (Next shows Thurs. Aug. 23 at 9 p.m., Sat. Aug. 25 at 3 p.m.)
• Want the abbreviated version of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar? Tim Mooney’s hour of “Breakneck Julius Caesar” is like speed reading the Cliffs Notes for the play, but leaving in the most important speeches. (“I’ve come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,” etc., etc.) The beauty of the Bard’s language isn’t lost in the fast version of the play. (Next shows Thurs. Aug. 23 at 9 p.m., Sat., Aug. 25 at 6 p.m., Sun. Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.)
• Comic Stewart Huff returns to Indy with a finely honed act that includes everything from kids stealing penguins, the hypocrisy of Confederate flag waving “patriots,” and the pure joy of people helping others. Always a delight to see him on the stage. (Next shows are Fri. Aug. 24 at 10:30 p.m., Sat. Aug. 25 at 9 p.m., Sun. Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m.)
• Kevin Burke, who made a name for himself with the “Caveman” persona here in Indy, is back with an update with “Eat Your %#&%* Fish Sticks!” He’s been busy being a Dad for the past few years, staying home and taking notes on being present for his children without losing his mind. (Next shows are Thurs. Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. and Sat. Aug. 25 at 10:30 p.m.)
• “They Shall Take Up Serpents” was a surprisingly thoughtful mini-play about a young girl’s faith (or lack of) to handle venomous snakes in church. It is a mediation on trust and love, and how we need to follow our own path. (Next shows Fri. Aug. 24 at 6 p.m., Sat. Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m.)
• The dance programming at Fringe is always solid, with shows on the District Theatre Main Stage. Dance Kaleidoscope’s “Make ‘Em Laugh Workshop” is playful and loose, with outstanding choreography from the dancers. (Next shows are Thurs. Aug. 23 at 6 p.m., Fri. Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m., and Sat. Aug. 25 at 4:30 p.m.; get tickets online or at the box office early, as these shows sell out fast.) Classical ballet is beautifully represented by this year’s “Beyond Ballet” by the Indianapolis Ballet Company. They even throw in a tango-inspired piece just to mix it up! (Next show is Sat. Aug.25 at 3 p.m.) Nugent/Shea Dance Theatre’s “Present Memories” is a contemporary and abstract take on dance and movement that may not be for everyone, but is certainly thought-provoking. A video featuring Nugent’s daughter is stunning. (Next shows are Sat. Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.)
• Scientist comic Tim X Lee talks about the scientific evidence for climate change in “Taking Heat” — a provocatively funny show that reveals how much we know and how much we have not changed at all. (Next shows are Sat. Aug. 25 at 10:30 p.m. and Sun. Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m.)
If you have time, hit the Beer Tent for a beverage between shows. It is a great gathering place for fellow audience members, as well as performers! Individual tickets to IndyFringe shows are $15; go online to Indyfringe.org to order tickets in advance. Free parking is available at the former Coca-Cola plant; the lot is well marked on Mass Ave. just north of St. Clair across from the Art Bank.
