Stage Write

  The IndyFringe Festival is back and it’s celebrating its 20th Anniversary! Attending for the first time can feel intimidating because there are six venues, 69 unique shows, and almost 250 ticketed performances from Aug. 14 th to the 24 th . But the team at Fringe has made it as user-friendly as possible. To start, there is a preview night TONIGHT! You can get a glimpse of shows and decide which ones interest you the most. Info here: WHAT :  IndyFringe Festival Preview Night WHEN : TONIGHT, Aug. 13,2025, Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Show starts at 6:00 p.m. WHERE : Then Athenaeum Basile Theatre, 401 E Michigan St., Indianapolis COST : Pay-what-you-can tickets can be purchased  online  or at the door.  For the actual festival, here are some helpful facts: Week-night shows typically run between 6:30PM & 10:30PM and weekend shows may run between 11:00AM – 11:00PM. Shows are all 45-60 minutes long and they all start on the same 90-minute intervals a...

The mega-hit musical Frozen is on stage now at the Old National Centre. I can’t think of many shows that would be a better fit for a child’s first Broadway experience. These characters are so beloved and watching the show was like leaning into one of Olaf’s warm hugs. From the magical costume change in “Let It Go” to the ice bridges and castle sets, the musical brings the movie to life in a way that expands the story. There are added scenes with the parents and other major characters that allow for more time to explore their connection, which felt rushed in the original story. There are obvious changes that must be made when translating a movie like this to the stage. Two of the main characters are a reindeer and a snowman. I loved the way the ensemble was used to enhance the shipwreck and snowstorm. Their fluid moments were more beautiful than any light elements to demonstrate snow and ice. Anna, played by Lauren Nicole Chapman, leaned more into the comedy side of the character. She h...

Hamilton is back in town! The Broadway Across America production is currently at the Old National Center. At this point most people who have been dying to see Hamilton have made it happen in Chicago, New York, or with one of the touring productions. The real question is: is this production as excellent as the others and is it worth seeing multiple times? The obvious answer is yes. Whether it’s your first time seeing the show or your fifth, it’s no less intoxicating. The musical is so layered and filled to the brim with moving parts that there will always be something new to discover. Many are familiar with the addictive soundtrack and 2020 film version with the original cast, but there’s a contagious energy that can’t be captured without a live performance. With a cast of more than 20 people, the choreography is astonishing. Every motion is smooth and perfectly timed, and the supporting cast moves as one unit. In one scene a dancer uses a single book as a prop in a gorgeous dance, in a...

  The finale of this year’s bard fest is Elizabeth Rex, a play based on the true story of the execution of the Earl of Essex, the Queen’s lover, for treason. This fictionalized account takes us into a barn holding Shakespeare and his players on the eve of the execution. They receive a visit from the Queen on this pivotal night in her rule. It’s a regional premiere production and an absolute coup for the Bard Fest and a testament to how the event has grown over the years. The scale of the production reaches new heights on every level. This is also the first time they have produced in the Theater at the Fort in Lawrence. It’s a beautiful space, and the set includes a two-tiered barn with lanterns and candles setting the mood. The story explores the delicate balance Shakespeare had to find between writing powerful stories and not offending the Queen. It also debates the societal expectations placed on a ruler who was a woman in a traditionally male position of leadership. Glenn Dobbs’...

Much has been said about this smash hit musical Hamilton. It seems universally beloved by all audiences and seeing it in person you'll understand why. In the midst of the warp-speed raps and deep dive into history, there's a passion that gets to the core of what America is truly about. It's the story of an immigrant, a story of someone who overcomes every obstacle, hauling themselves up from the bottom with pure ambition and drive. It's the story of a broken man and the people his decisions affected in both good ways and bad. It’s also a love story, filled with heartache and the relatable position of being lost and searching for your way home to the one you miss. It’s the story of jealousy and what happens when you can’t let go of injured pride. It is tragedy on a Greek scale. And all of that is rolled into one show that clocks in just under 3 hours. It’s pretty epic. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the music, lyrics, and book and his brilliance is woven into each song....

It's no secret that the Phoenix Theatre, which has called Mass Ave home for the past 30 years, is moving into a new space this month. The gorgeous new facility is located at the corner of Illinois and Walnut, right on the Cultural Trail. The building that formerly occupied that space was demolished and the 21,000-square-foot new Phoenix literally rose from its ashes over the past few months. The design of the entire building has been done with the utmost thoughtfulness. The main theatre has maple siding designed by acoustics expert Gavin Haverstick. The gender-neutral bathrooms have two entrances to keep things moving quickly at intermissions. The bar and other areas of the theatre are painted in a brilliant red, perfect for the vibrant atmosphere.  Despite the fancy new digs, not everything is changing for the theatre. It will still focus on cutting edge productions that deal with important issues. The two stages are both intimate settings, so that there is no pressure ...

It’s fitting that the last main stage play at the current Phoenix Theatre was the Pulitzer-Prize-winning “Sweat”. It was full of gritty dialogue, realistic portrayals of regular life, a diverse cast, and had an ending that left you reeling long after the final bow. The show closed this past weekend but as the Phoenix wraps up its time at the old church theater and prepares for its move to its new home on Illinois, you have one more chance to see a play in a building that has held 30 years of great performances.  “Fairfield” opens this weekend on the intimate Basile stage. A grade school is thrown into chaos when a young white teacher decides use role playing to celebrate Black history month with her first grade class. Emotions run high and prejudices are revealed as the parents and superintendent get involved. The script is full of dark humor and is reminiscent of “Gods of Carnage”. The play’s conversations are all too familiar, but they’re approached in a way that uses humo...

There are many wonderful theaters in Indianapolis, but I want to spotlight one that is responsible for reaching a unique group of performers. The Biz, located on the west side of Indianapolis, has a program called My Time to Shine . My step-brother is part of the program and I've seen firsthand the great work that they do. Here's their mission in their own words: "The Biz believes that theatre is for ALL. In 2014, we introduced the summer My Time to Shine Program, a class for performers with special needs. The experience pairs these performers with experienced Biz Kid mentors to help them through the process. It all culminates with a performance."   The last two years have included performances of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Peter Pan. The program wouldn't be possible without the hard work of volunteers and of director Julie Kays. I hope this is a program they will continue and that the community will continue to support!  You can make a ...

Kinky Boots is the story of Charlie, a young man who inherits his father’s failing shoe factory in England. In a last ditch effort to keep the business going, he joins forces with a drag queen named Lola to create a line of high-heeled boots. The story, based on real events, is fun but it also carries a serious message about accepting those who are different.  In the second act Charlie says something that sums up the entire production. He tells Lola that when she’s not there, there’s a big gaping gap. This is so true of the show. It's not that the scenes without Lola are bad; they just don't have the same magnetic energy. Timothy Ware’s electric performance as the sassy cabaret performer carries the show. He has an energy that steals every scene. During the number “Not My Father’s Son” he also shows a tender vulnerability that gives an added heft to the shows message. His performance is just as powerful when all the sequins are stripped away. Charlie, played by Cu...