Stage Write

The Phoenix Theatre is excited to announce its 2018/19 season. This will be its first full season is its new home on Illinois Street.  Bright Star  Music, book, and story by Steve Martin and music, lyrics, and story by Edie Brickell Sept. 21-Oct. 7 Cabaret Poe by Ben Asaykwee (a co-production with Q Artistry)  Oct. 5-Nov. 4 A Very Phoenix Xmas 13: Merry Superstitious by Various Artists Nov. 23-Dec. 23 Apples in Winter by Jennifer Fawcett Jan. 11-Jan. 27 The Hotel Nepenthe by John Kuntz March 1-March 24 The Christians by Lucas Hnath March 29-April 14 The Children by Lucy Kirkwood April 26-May 19 White City Murder by Ben Asaykwee (a co-production with Q Artistry)  June 14-July 7 For more information about these shows or to purchase tickets, please visit PhoenixTheatre.org or call (317) 635-7529.  Photo courtesy of Zach Rosing. 

In May the Phoenix theater will hold its grand opening at its new location. That exciting fact makes this Xmas show particularly special. This year is the very last time audiences can see the holiday hit in the old church the Phoenix has called home for decades. There are years of new memories to be made on the new stage, but for those of us who have made A Very Phoenix Xmas part of our annual holiday tradition, there was something special about seeing this final show. The Phoenix decided to bring back some crowd favorites from the previous 11 iterations of the show. They let people vote and the winners included "Tacobel Canon" and "Don't Eat the Baby". My personal favorite, "Les Miserabelves", was just as fantastic the second time around. The mash up of the Rudolph Christmas special and Les Miserables is beyond hilarious. Paul Hansen’s rendition of "Hallelujah" backed by a chorus of hymn singing cast members was incredibly movin...

Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis is thrilled to announce the first three shows of its final season at 749 Park Avenue! The 2017-2018 Season will be split into two stages, facilitating and reflecting the transition of the Phoenix itself as it moves to a new home. ABOUT THE SHOWS Fun Home adapted by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori from Alison Bechdel's 2006 graphic memoir September 14-October 22, 2017 Directed by Phoenix Founder Suzanne Fleenor Winner of 5 2015 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical In this startlingly candid production, we meet Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of growing up in a uniquely twisted household centered around the family funeral home (or “fun home,” as she and her brothers have named it). Fun Home is a brilliant portrayal of seeing your parents through grown-up eyes, marked by love, grief, and, ultimately… acceptance. Halftime With Don by Ken Weitzman October 26-November 19, 2017 A National New Play Netwo...

  It’s that time of year again! Christmas shows are popping up all over town and whether you’re a fan of traditional or playful, there’s something for everyone. The Phoenix Theatre’s annual Xmas show is a mix of song, dance, parody, and poems. My favorite part about it is that it’s different every year. The content is fresh and ever-changing, so while you might not love every skit, at least it’s something new! The 11th annual show focused on celebrating the holidays internationally. A narrator shared bits about unique traditions around the globe between the scenes. The set utilized multimedia screens that showed song lyrics and photos throughout the show.   During a dance sequence I felt myself appreciating that the Phoenix never constrains itself with meeting every social norm. The dancers were not a uniform body type and it was beautiful. The theatre consistently tries to represents people from many walks of life, instead of just one traditional Midwestern one. ...

The Phoenix Theatre is thrilled to announce its 2016/17 season.  Peter and the Starcatcher  by Rick Elice September 22 – October 23, 2016 Based on the bestselling books by Dave Barry, this Tony Award-winning play tells the story of how a nameless orphan assumed his destiny as the beloved Peter Pan. Sailing towards an uncertain future in 1800's England, Peter encounters young, ambitious Molly on her mission to save the Queen's treasure from pirates. Taking charge and forging their own identities in an era when neither was a simple task, the duo paves the way for the legend to come.  Magic, adventure, and hijinks await in this heart-warming prequel to the classic story, sure to enchant and inspire all ages. Static  by Playwright-in-Residence Tom Horan October 27 – November 20, 2016 20 years after Walter and Millie have passed away, a young woman named Emma moves into their abandoned ho...

The show begins with a warning, "If you're looking for 'A Christmas Carol,' this isn't it." They aren't kidding. "A Very Phoenix Xmas" is on stage now at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis. The comedy show is presented annually, but with new sketches every year, written by Phoenix playwrights and submitted by audience members. Taking snatches from Christmas tales and holiday movies the writers have melding these elements together to make a completely original creation. Featuring skits about the island of recalled toys and the tragedy of a broken Christmas cookie the show is both entertaining and a little strange. Any Christmas show that includes a song called "Don't Eat the Baby" definitely falls into the "out of the ordinary" category. Everything from local fast food eateries to 'The Wizard of Oz' is fair game at the Phoenix. The six person cast does a great job bringing each story to life. Michael Shelton and Sa...