IndyFringe Festival turns 21 with free shows and a roadmap for first-timers
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
11 days of unpredictable performances start Thursday in Indy. Photo: Courtesy of IF Theatre
The IndyFringe Festival returns this week with a bigger push to make the Circle City’s most unpredictable annual gathering easier to explore.
Why it matters: More than an arts event celebrating its 21st year, IndyFringe stands as one of Indianapolis’ clearest examples of a shared cultural space — one where artists can experiment and audiences can discover something they didn't know they needed.
What they're saying: "Everybody has the right to tell their story, and being at a place where you can see everyone's stories and expand your experience of the world simply through their stories ... that is the beauty of a fringe festival and this kind of experience," IF Theatre executive director Paul Daily told Axios.
Driving the news: This year’s festival starts Thursday and runs through Aug. 23.
- It’ll deliver 63 shows by more than 500 artists across six stages in a three-block radius of the Mass Ave Cultural Arts District.
- The represented genres include drama, comedy, dance, puppetry, music, poetry, storytelling, magic, drag and LGBTQ+ theater.
By the numbers: 60% of this year's acts are Indiana-based.
- One-third are produced by creatives who are Black, Indigenous Americans or people of color; and about half come from first-time producers.
- Since launching in 2005, the festival has drawn more than 234,000 visitors and returned over $2.6 million to artists. That makes it the fourth-most-attended fringe festival in the United States.
- Support from Everwise Credit Union allows IndyFringe to return 70% of all box office revenue to the creators.
Zoom in: Daily says accessibility is a larger focus this year. A busking site across from the festival district will feature free performances throughout the festival, while a KidZone outside IF Theatre will offer free performances for children.
- With dozens of shows to choose from, the festival can be overwhelming for first-timers.
- The new Curated Adventures option groups performances into collections of six shows based on genre or theme, giving newcomers an easier way to decide what to see.
Plus: IndyGo is partnering with IF Theatre this year to teach people how to use the city's buses to get to the festival. Those who participate can receive a free bus pass for the day.
State of play: Daily describes the relationships with artists, funders, city agencies and other organizations that make the festival possible as partnerships rather than transactions.
- “And I am amazed at how many times people come up to me and go, ‘I love IF Theatre. I love the IndyFringe Festival. What if you tried this?’” he said. “Everybody is invested and wants us to do better, and that's just a partnership with the community.”
If you go: Tickets range from $12-$22. Discounts and pay-what-you-can shows are available.
- Six ticket flex passes that can be used for a single show or up to six different shows cost $99. They can be shared with friends.
- Anyone who buys a flex pass will also be able to give a free flex pass to first-time festival attendees.
- Check out the full schedule here.