IF Theatre & Betty Rage Productions Announce FemmeFest 2026 Lineup
- Joey Amato
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
In a new partnership with Betty Rage Productions, theatre-makers will see a version of their “dream projects” come to fruition in FemmeFest, a festival of theatrical works this March. The event is an evolution of IF Theatre’s DivaFest program. Founded in 2011, DivaFest sought to reduce the barriers for women playwrights to see their work performed in the city. While the name of the program has changed, the spirit remains the same as an effort to empower women and femme theatre makers in Indianapolis as a vital piece of leadership in the city’s arts economy.
In FemmeFest’s first year, four projects have been selected to showcase a rich variety of theatrical work, from a musical comedy cabaret to a community practice centering emerging women directors. Projects were selected by a committee of staff and board members from IF Theatre and Betty Rage Productions. “I am excited that there were so many women that wanted to be a part of this project,” says Betty Rage artistic director Callie Burk-Hartz about parsing through the dozens of applications for the event. “All four shows that we selected tell very different and interesting stories in terms of content, structure, and social location. All in all, there are over 40 femme artists helping to make this happen and that is pretty wonderful.”
Selected projects include a mix of IF Theatre staples and artists who are new not only to IF Theatre, but to Indianapolis theatre at large. Each of the selected works receive hands-on mentorship from professional theatremakers, Callie Burk-Hartz, Max A. McCreary, and Paul Daily as they learn how to produce their dream projects including casting, marketing, budgeting, and up to $1000 in financial support from IF Theatre.
The projects for FemmeFest 2026 are as follows:
BS CONVERSATIONS - produced by “The Uncut Diamond.”
When a bus breaks down outside of a rural community recently devastated by an explosion at a nearby chemical plant, the passengers must reconcile all manner of BS both personal and political in this engaging new monodrama set at the Bus Stop. BS Conversations is written and performed by Alicia Sims, “The Uncut Diamond.”
FEMALE TROUBLES - Composed by Elle Tyler with additional contributions from the ensemble.
Recent Indiana transplant Elle Tyler will present a musical comedy cabaret inspired by the underrepresented experiences of those who have lived in female bodies. Through storytelling and music, this laugh out loud hour of deeply relatable humor is directed by Ana Hammersley and features the collaborative contributions of the entire ensemble: Maria Meschi, Abby Morris, Elle Tyler, Skye Walker, and Anna Zimmerman.
OUT OF YARD SIGNS - Written by Jaqueline Ridberg Larabee and directed by Ebony Chappel.
In a mid-sized city, not unlike Indianapolis, the community’s first black woman mayor is preparing for yet another race… but when an opposing candidate receives a surprising endorsement, it throws her and her team into disarray, it’s up to her campaign manager and event organizer to get things back on track… whatever it takes. This brand new political dark comedy stars Gabrielle Patterson, Andrea “Sapphyre” White, Ezri Braid-Grizzel, and Erin Moore.
SHARED STAGE - Led by Robin Kildall
This community practice gives six emerging women theatremakers the opportunity to direct a short-form play focusing on skills they want to build as directors. It is led by Robin Kildall, who is guiding the directors through the process of script analysis, rehearsal preparation, and the production of their short plays, which will be presented as a single event as part of FemmeFest. The cohort also includes: Kait Burch, Anna Himes, Rachelle Martin, Brandi Metzger, and Karin Stratton. Directors are presenting a wide range of theatrical genres including brand new plays from Kait Burch (American Gurl) and Lori Hermann (Still Life in Zombie).
TICKET INFO
Individual Tickets are $15
Or buy a festival pass and see all 4 shows for $50.
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