Indiana Repertory Theatre

The IRT is one of the best professional stages I’ve been to. The inside of the building is absolutely gorgeous. Not only is the stage large and auditorium beautiful, the foyer is greatly decorated unlike any modern architecture today. One can see ornate staircases and a ceiling which could entertain the eyes for an afternoon. The building alone is worth a visit.
The play quality is fantastic as well, pertaining to acting, production, and set design. I have seen several productions and have been very impressed each time. There is a main stage on the first floor where the big productions take place. There is also a small stage upstairs which hosts smaller productions. I have been to both stages, and both a been impressive and memorable experiences. One can also order drinks, including alcohol, to enjoy during the show.
Support the arts, and instead of a movie, check out a play next time.

Great venue for good quality theater. We saw the Agatha Christie thriller, Mousetrap. As always, the acting, direction, sets, period costuming and writing tweaks were perfectly blended into a superb performance. We are longtime season ticket holders and marvel at the consistent quality presented on this jewel of a stage. No, it’s not Broadway and Indy has no Times Square, but the theater building itself is a work of art and the staff and performers, top to bottom, are first rate. As a bit of a oenophile, I’d prefer to see an upgrade to the wine selections. Gassing the bottles with inert gasses would prolong the shelf life to keep it affordable. That said, if what I drink is the only drawback I can cite… well, you get the picture.

Not sure why I’ve never reviewed this place before.
The IRT delivers some of the top-​notch classics in the theatre scene in Indy. Ranging from everything to «The Great Gatsby» to Tony award winners, the IRT knows how to deliver high quality theatre.
The venues are great, so be sure to check out the upstairs areas during intermissions to review the costume designs and other fun facts about the shows (when a show is on the main stage).
Yes, it is a bit pricy, but there are student discounts and if you sit on the side, it’s also a bit more affordable as well! Be sure to check out all of the events they have to offer as well (i.e. happy hours, post-​show discussions… things of that sort).
Great staff. Great productions. Great venue. Great live theatre!

I’ve been to the IRT three times, and have loved each show I’ve been to. The theatre is really ornate and beautiful, and there really isn’t a bad seat for any of the stages. IRT offers a wide variety of shows, from plays to dance. Cannot recommend enough! It’s a great way to switch up the pace of a standard date night.

We absolutely love this theatre! We went to see, «To Kill A Mockingbird.» And it was 5 stars! The actors were phenomenal. The younger ‘Scout’ character was a little difficult to understand however, she embodied a southern little girl from her appearance to accent… I could appreciate that. As always the IRT is stunning and quaint. I was drawn into this play and even shed a few tears. Please experience Indy’s gem.

Lovely local theatre with great performances. This evening we saw «To Kill A Mockingbird» and enjoyed main level seats where we could see and hear well. I will definitely be back!
Note: if it’s a busy night and parking is not easy to find, spring for the $ 15 valet and save yourself some time aimlessly driving around.

I was lucky enough to win a VIP experience for the opening night of To Kill a Mockingbird. This was my first chance to visit the IRT, and what a treat!
We used the valet and entered the theatre. The staff seemed a bit confused about where to direct us when we asked, as there were apparently a few different events going on. However, when we got inside the main area (after showing our ticket), we were surprised by how beautiful it was! The treats (cheeses and veggies, a few hot appetizers, tiny adorable desserts) and open bar at the VIP reception were perfect to tide us over during the show, and we appreciated having a place to hang out during the intermission (and get another glass of wine, of course). The actual theatre area itself seems very intimate, with the first row practically on the stage. For this particular production, the actors came into the seating area multiple times, which was really neat. The set and costumes were intricately detailed and showcased by excellent lighting.
My only real complaint was about the acoustics. The music sounded great (including live guitar and banjo), but there was some kind of rumbling coming from upstairs (?) that was significantly distracting. They may want to consider not having an event upstairs (or wherever the noise was coming from!) at the same time as a production downstairs.
A final note… my friend’s car apparently died while in the possession of the valets. They let us know they had to jump it before they handed it off to us! We were pretty embarrassed (and bemused), but they were very gracious about it.

I’ve been seeing shows at the IRT for close to 20 years. I have a lot of nostalgic feelings about this venue/​organization, and it’s the reason I enjoy live theatre. Each season has about 10 plays, ranging from total classics (A Christmas Carol, Shakespeare) to contemporary American (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Giver) to unique/​less common choices. I’m always impressed at the quality of the productions, particularly the set design. Other things I like:
–Always a great playbill that’s worth reading cover to cover
–Affordable tickets for single shows or season ticket holders
–Special events like discussions for school groups, happy hours, and community days with discounted tickets
–Cool, well-​tended, historic interior décor, and always clean too!
–Really not a bad seat in the house
Now that I’m a full-​fledged adult, I want to be a season ticket holder so I can enjoy the IRT all the time!

Went to see «A Christmas Carol» last night (for several years in a rows now). Think I’m going to have to take a break for a year or two.
Personally, this Scrooge’s excessive and giddy laughter in the last act makes me uncomfortable. Just too unreal for my taste. Also, after watching the children in front of me squirm and look quizzically at their mothers, I’m guessing I’m not the only one uncomfortable. Went with a group of acquaintances and the one lament they had was the same as mine.
Love the IRT, and this production is very good, just would appreciate a less giddy, high-​pitched Scrooge.

What a great local arts and historical location. I have been to ballet, a children’s show, events in the roof ballroom and an event in the lobby! All have been absolutely gorgeous.
The stunning architecture and embellishments create the most lovely environment for every event. Their staff that puts on the children’s programs is fantastic, and I loved seeing the talented young actors perform as well.
I don’t know if they offer them regularly, but it was amazing to see all of the venues this location has to offer. All beautiful and accommodating to the arts they support!
Always fun, and always stunning!

I visited the IRT with the little Unilocaler’s club to see Peter Rabbit! I wasn’t sure how a toddler would do with a 55 minute performance, but he loved it!
We had floor seats which meant we literally sat on the floor. (Dress accordingly!) We participated in some interactive singing and heard about guest expectations — all using kiddie terminology! The show kept my sons attention for all 55 minutes, I was impressed.
The interior of the IRT is stunning! I highly encourage all Indy residents to see a show there. I know we’ll be heading back again soon — though it may be once my son is part to 3. He did great, but I was definitely restraining him (lovingly, of course) for the duration.
Also at this event were treats for little Unilocaler’s & their grown ups provided by Market District in Carmel, IN. The oj was FRESH squeezed that morning!
Thanks again Britt for a fun outing w/​the Unilocal crew! Always an absolute blast! I’ve already raved about the play to a few mommy & daddy friends!

Great show at the beautiful, historic, iconic Indiana Repertory Theater. We loved Peter Rabbit! What great actors. I love that my daughter sees other young folks performing and doing wonderful and fun things! Great interaction before and after the show involving the kids. Thanks IRT!
And thank you Market District for the wonderful healthy themed snacks, delicious! I could have eaten so much more fruits and veggies if I had the space. And yummy fresh squeezed orange or apple juice.
And Thanks Brittany for all your hard work! FANTASTIC way to start our day!
On the way home My daughter was resting and told me «I’m dreaming about how much fun I had!» She has been talking about scenes from the show ever since!
Thanks! Can’t wait for the next show to plan for!
#IRTLive #MarketDistrict #Yelp #LittleYelersClub

What a beautiful theater in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. I am not sure what the IRT was before it was the IRT but the architecture on the inside made me feel like I was not in Indianapolis anymore. Plenty of seating for a pre-​show beverage found at either the front entrance or off by the women’s restrooms to take all the building before the show.
I saw the Great Gatsby. What a wonderful production with a small cast and minimalist props. Having minimal props made for smooth transitions between scenes and allowed the audience to really focus on the characters. Costume design was great as well and made me remember why I wish I lived in the 20’s.
All seats cost 65 each I believe but there really is not a bad view in the house.
Definitely come here for a night of entertainment.

I’ve seen two shows here now: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes) and The Great Gatsby.
They were both extremely well done! The tickets were very reasonably priced for the time and effort that goes into putting these productions on. The sets are all creative and the actors are both local and aspiring actors from various locations around the country. They are typically 2 hour productions where the intermission comes after about 75 minutes. The remaining 45 minutes are then completed after the intermission. At least, that is how the two plays I’ve attended were scheduled.
I will definitely be on the lookout for other productions here in the future!

I had the absolutely wonderful experience watching the great gatsby with my parents. I was very impressed by the beautiful and elegant interior. Met by a very courteous staff, it’s easy to book online and collect tickets prior to the show. As an IU trainee I got the student tickets for $ 20 while my parents got the senior tickets for $ 37.
The show was wonderful and I highly recommend it. The costumes and décor of the sets was very accurately representative of 1920s and all the effort was very impressive. Actors were very talented making the whole experience enjoyable and memorable. I’m looking forward to watch other productions here as well.

Going to a play is such a fun experience for me. I’ve enjoyed a few here, the most recent being The Great Gatsby. Each one has been exciting.
The main hallway of the IRT is beautiful and the second floor features props and costumes from previous shows. The stage is modest, but can pull off some exciting tricks that will make you laugh or smile at the creativity.
Also… Did you know there is another stage on the fourth floor? Surprise! I had no idea. This is a smaller stage, but the crowd wraps around it on three sides.
Don’t doubt the professionalism of the IRT for being a smaller venue than something like Clowes or Old National. I’ve left each show inspired.

If you like beautiful things, you’ll like the IRT. The interior is gorgeously elaborate and is packed full of history. You could stare at the décor for hours. It’s a grand place and therefore makes for a fun and regal evening.
There’s a full bar and they sell The Best Chocolate in Town truffles as well (holy yum). The staff is very kind and accommodating. I had a bad cough and several staff members gave me cough drops when I asked around. Very sweet!
I saw the Great Gatsby and it was an incredible show. The IRT makes their own costumes and props in house. I got the pleasure to go on a tour and saw where they create everything. Very cool that they truly create the entire production. Great experience.

For some reason I mistakenly thought the IRT was located further north, like up by the Murat. How did I not know there’s a great theater in the heart of downtown?
I checked out the IRT for its production of The Great Gatsby. I was impressed with the actors, though it’s a small cast of characters. I read the book in high school and have seen both movie adaptations, so it was easy to follow along since I’m familiar with the plot line. While it’s not an extravagant production by any means, I like how the IRT provides a more intimate setting — most of the seats are on the main floor and you’re fairly close to the performers.
They make up for their lack of large scenery by projecting backdrops onto the back wall onstage to make you feel like the actors are «outside,» «at a party,» etc. They easily switch out props with a cool moving floorboard — so no stagehands running across with props to distract the audience.
Other notes:
–kind staff members!
–bathrooms are large and clean (men’s on the left side of the main floor, women’s on the right)
–sell Best Chocolate in Town truffles
–coffee bar area back by the women’s restrooms
–just 2 – 3 blocks from Monument Circle, so plenty of parking available (I recommend Circle Centre mall or meters) and lots of restaurants to make it a dinner + show evening
I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the INCREDIBLE architecture of this place — feels very Middle Eastern with a painting of the Taj Mahal and Moroccan-​like influences on the second level.
Fun fact: did you know they make all the costumes IN HOUSE for shows? What incredible craftsmanship! Bravo, IRT!

I say old sport, if you don’t get yourself to IRT for ‘The Great Gatsby’, well they you’re just ‘a beautiful little fool’. The lights, the costumes, the set, all were so innovative, creative and engaging. The playwright took some loose creative liberties, but stayed true to the greatest of Fitzgerald’s Gatsby.
The show runs for 2 hours with a 15 min intermission. IRT often hosts discussions related to performances or playwrights so be sure to check and see if there is an opportunity before or after the show for further engagement into the performing arts.
This was my first weekday (Wednesday 6:30 curtain) rendezvous with IRT and I have to say I plan to stick to weekday shows. Parking was a breeze at a meter and lines were more than manageable (even the dreaded women’s restroom intermission line which all ladies fear!).
I was super impressed with all the staff and volunteers on their enthusiasm and professionalism throughout the show. When exiting, they even offered complementary coffee to guests which was very considerate.
Indy is much more than a sports city, and the IRT consistently proves this time and time again.

I didn’t go to the show tonight, but I did get a cool backstage tour of the IRT at a Unilocal party. Our guide, Brian, is the production manager. Really nice and happy to show us everything. He was knowledgable about the day to day operations at IRT as well as its history.
I have been to several shows here before. Some are great, some are just okay, but this is a wonderful, historic gem in our city. Everyone should experience at least one performance at the IRT. The setting takes you through a time portal into the past, though you still have all the modern conveniences (and booze) you could want. The staff has always been friendly and helpful, and I feel like the prices are a great value considering what a good experience it is to take your family or a date to the theatre.