IndyFringe to Host Largest Ever Theatre Festival

Indianapolis – The IndyFringe Theatre Festival, presented by Everwise Credit Union, is returning for the 18th time from August 17 – September 3, 2023. Over the course of three weekends, attendees will be treated to Indy’s largest and most vibrant performing arts event, spanning the length of Massachusetts Avenue at six different stages within walking distance of each other. A record 300 performances and 70 unique acts were sourced from 30 different cities, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Durango and New York. 

The first-ever IndyFringe Theatre began as a 10-day event with 30 acts. Since then, the celebration has hosted over 195,000 guests, establishing the festival as one of the Midwest’s most vibrant and vital arts events. 

“We are so excited to share this year’s jam-packed show schedule with the Indianapolis and greater Midwest community,” said IndyFringe Executive Director and CEO Jennifer Cooper. “The growth we’ve seen over the last few years is a testament to the importance and popularity of the performing arts. Whether you’re looking for an evening of stand-up comedy or burlesque, a riveting circus act, or a cutting-edge, world premiere drama… our lineup has it all!
Ticket Details and Pricing:

• • Adult Ticket: $20
  • Student/Child Ticket: $14
    
  • Same-day Rush Tickets for select shows: $12

• 6-Ticket Flex Pass: $99 

• • Use all six tickets for a single show or see six different performances

2023 IndyFringe Theatre Festival Fast Facts:

• 59% Indiana artists, 41% National artists.
• 20% of acts are created by an artist who identifies as BIPOC.
• 30% of acts are created by an artist who identifies as LGBTQ+.
• 29 different genres of performance are represented including tap dance, shadow puppetry, musical comedy, circus, and more! 
• 21% of acts include interactive elements to engage with the audience. 
• 42% of productions are considered suitable for audiences aged 12 or under and 9% were designed with children specifically in mind. 
• Find all content advisory info online under each show’s ticket listing, or contact [email protected] for details. 
  

What’s New in 2023?

• The IndyFringe Passport, sponsored by Bottleworks, will allow audiences to attend shows at multiple venues and visit IndyFringe’s Art Partner, The Harrison Center. Guests who see one performance at each venue and participate in the Harrison Center’s Art Adventure will be entered into a lottery for incredible prizes.
• IndyFringe is thrilled to feature visual arts at the 2023 festival through a collaboration with the Harrison Center. Explore the center’s curious and eclectic displays in their beautiful facility at 1505 North Delaware St., including an exclusive First Friday Fringe Feature on Friday, September 1, 2023. 
• The Faire-Share Market, a vendor fair that provides access and scholarship to creatives and business owners of marginalized genders, will be held at Venues 1 and 2 on Friday, September 1.
• The Family-Friendly Fringe Zone will feature selected kids activities and lawn games outside of Venues 1 and 2.
• Official 2023 Fringe Festival merchandise will be available at every show.
• Nearly half of this year’s acts will feature first-time producers at IndyFringe, including young local talent and new acts from out of state. 

The Fringe Theatre movement exists to provide equitable access to arts. The movement was born in 1947 when eight artists, who were excluded from the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, gathered to perform on the outskirts of the festival grounds. Today, dozens of Fringe Festivals around the world devote themselves to providing inclusive access for creatives of every genre, identity and status. This is accomplished through tiered lottery systems to provide additional opportunities for artists from under-represented communities or by returning 80% of ticket revenue to performers. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly magic experience, an evening of stand-up comedy or burlesque, a riveting circus act, an Art scavenger hunt, or a cutting-edge, world-premiere drama, Fringe arts are for every taste.  

For more information and to purchase tickets online, please visit indyfringe.org/festival. 

About IndyFringe

Founded in 2005, IndyFringe Theatre Festival enlivens downtown Indianapolis for 3-weeks every year, featuring more than 300 genre-defying local, national & international performances. By building a community of 15,000 adventurous theatre-goers, IndyFringe has returned $1.8 million in box office revenue to performing artists. To further invest in Midwest creative talent, IndyFringe expanded to include the IndyFringe Theatre, a multi-venue complex, and the new Fringe-on-Wheels mobile performance unit.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Cooper, Executive Director
IndyFringe Theatre Festival
(C) 606-207-1823 | (O) 317-449-9205
[email protected]