Phoenix Theatre

Detail: Founded in 1982 by a core group of artists, The Phoenix Theatre attained professional status through its association with the Actors' Equity Association in January of 1993. It is located in downtown Indianapolis in the historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, bordering the Massachusetts Avenue corridor - an area that has enjoyed a robust renewal in housing, restaurants, and retail concerns. The theatre owns its space: a turn-of-the-century church donated by J. Scott Keller in 1988, which has been renovated to house a 130-seat Mainstage auditorium, an additional cabaret-style stage venue: the Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre, and the theatre offices.

The Phoenix Theatre was established in 1983 through a collaborative effort of local theatre artists. The mission was to fill a niche in the Indianapolis theatre community with issue-oriented plays and professional production values in an intimate setting.

In the fall of 1983, the Phoenix presented its first show, Warp, a science-fiction/fantasy trilogy. This choice of material clearly established the Phoenix as a theatre with no boundaries; a theatre with a conscience and a witty sense of style that focuses on fun.

Since then, the Phoenix has produced 24 consecutive seasons of shows diverse in style, concepts, and issues... shows as multifaceted as the artists whose collective vision defines the theatre… 24 seasons rising from the ashes of those seasons past.

Professional Status
The Phoenix Theatre joined the Actors’ Equity Association in 1993, the national union which governs professional stage actors and stage managers. Since that time, Phoenix productions have featured professional casts. By becoming an Equity theatre, the theatre has made a commitment to the highest artistic standards. The Phoenix is one of only three theatres in central Indiana with Equity status.

The Building
The Phoenix Theatre is housed in a renovated turn-of-the-century church at St. Clair Street and Park Avenue. The building was donated in 1988 by arts patron Scott Keller.