This year a Christmas presentation, instead of a play, was a outstanding musical. Much like Yuletide Celebration, this was a fast moving, well preformed, one Christmas act after another. The voices of the starring performers were professional level An acrobatic scarf performer showed the beauty and her athletic ability during several different Christmas acts Upon entering the theatre, Santa greeted all with a harp ensemble. I saw several children on Santa's lap We have attended Yule tide celebration for years but this performance rivaled it. With ticket prices under $50. Put this performance on your Christmas list, you won't be sorry you did. read more

See all

You just gotta love the enthusiasm fo the actors and all the supporting crews. You can tell everybody is working out of love for the plays and not for the love of money. The plays are generally well done, fun and entertaining. The small venue guarantees a good view and accustic from any seat in the house. I suggest getting season tickets, they are such a bargain and give you entertainment year round. Snacks and drinks are also available here. Street parking may seem limited, however, there is a large private parking lot behind the building. read more

We'll Yo hoho and a bottle of FUN! SpongeBob Square Pants: The Musical. A youth production at Footlight and budding actors, dancers, singers, stage crew and the like are earning their chops! Maybe the best entertainment value in the Indy city awaits at The Hedback Theater on N Alabama. Miss it and your pants will definitely be square! read more

Footlite Musicals - The Book of the season - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I so enjoyed seeing their young adults production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! The performers were exceedingly talented, not just the leads but truly everyone. I got the impression from the program that a lot of the cast members are undergrad musical theater students who come home for the summer and get to perform with old friends at Footlite. I laughed out loud a lot. It was a great experience as my first live theater viewing since December 2019 because of the pandemic. There was a standard concession stand, clean bathrooms, generous intermission. Seats are comfortable, plenty of leg room. Parking was easy and free along Alabama Street. I think Indy is very lucky to have this stellar community theater, especially so close to downtown, and I hope others consider checking it out if they've never been. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with various productions for a much more affordable price than Broadway but not sacrificing much in the way of quality. read more

We went to see Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella! This place is so cozy and comfy and everyone is so nice! I really like the smaller size of the theater, it makes it so intimate... and you can see all the characters so well, even from the back! We had a Girl Scout group who were granted back stage access afterward and were SO grateful! These girls were in awe and had so many curious questions. It was so special for them to get to see things that most don't get to see, and meet the characters of the show. They have a rather small bathroom... but there was plenty of time for everyone to get through it during intermission. And they also had a small concession stand. Best of all, meet and greet of characters after the show, especially Cinderella and the Prince.. that kids are elated! Thank you for the super special experience! read more

See all

Wow! We came here to see the musical Something Rotten! And I will tell you one thing that is NOT rotten--the performance! My husband and I have both seen this before in professional settings with him seeing it in New York on Broadway. And this cast here at Footlite Musicals did not disappoint! The performance was top notch. The only thing that detracted from it was the sound system was having issues. But a.great musical carried out by great performers. read more

Footlite Musicals - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Footlite is THE place for reasonably priced tickets at an intimate theater setting with great entertaining performances. The staff and volunteers are incredibly polite and dedicated too. They have popcorn, soda, and some candy snacks for sale before and after the show, and during intermission. There's a 21+ area where you can purchase beer and wine as well. The building itself is modest and unassuming. But just because there aren't a lot of frills doesn't mean that the stage area doesn't get the job done, because it does. The lighting is top notch, and the sound is crisp and clear. And there's not a bad seat in the house. Entire seating area is clear. No poles in the way like some theaters. So far, I've seen Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Bring It On, both because I had friends who were part of the casts. The talent they are able to secure is amazing. The staff really fosters the talent to ensure incredible performances. This is community theater at its best! read more

Footlite Musicals - See this show! - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Great performance. But they must improve the sound system. The cast were amazing, better than we expected. But they were hampered by scratchy mics and poor speakers. read more

Footlite Musicals - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I had heard of Footlite on several occasions but never made time to buy tickets to a performance. I was not disappointed. First, ticket prices are very reasonable. My husband and I went to a Thursday evening performance and each ticket was $10. I believe tickets are $25/person on weekends. Either way, very affordable for great community theater. Our seats were towards the back on the theater, however, we could see everything. I'm unsure if there are bad seats. The entire building is well maintained. The lobby is very spacious and allows for mingling before doors open. There is a small concession stand and a bar, which serves Sun King beer and Barefoot Wine. Again, prices are very affordable and cards are accepted. I have been to other community theaters where cash is the only form of payment accepted. This is definitely a place to check out! read more

Footlite Musicals - Bar menu - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Confession time, I didn't know this place existed. Randomly got invited to a show by some friends and was happy for a new place to check out, and see a stage show! Located just outside of the Herron Morton neighborhood, it is a larger building, that is maintained beautifully. You also can't beat the ticket prices here, for only paying 23 dollars I was very impressed with the overall quality of my experience. The lobby area allows you to hang out before the show, and see what upcoming productions they have, there is also a cash bar with local beers and barefoot wine. Pricilla queen of the desert was amazing! All of the singers where so talented and I loved all the covers! The stage was created by some very talented people and all of the costumes were beautiful! I'll be back to check out some other shows just for variety! But I think the group does amazing work, I'm happy I discovered this location as another way to support the theater scene in Indianapolis read more

Footlite Musicals - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Impressing! I'd visited Indianapolis due to my training. I didn't want to sit at the hotel so I decided to explore the city. Although it was a storm day, I still bought the tickets to the show in this theater. I was impressed that the play was not canceled thought the weather was horrible. The tables were set on the stage, where the viewers could see all the action. The name of musical was "Murder Ballad" about love triangle in NY city. The performers were amazing and sang all hour long. I felt the emotions and feelings that the actors went through. In the end, I was impressed and happy that I decided to see it despite the weather conditions. Highly suggesting to visit this friendly and uniques theater. Parking was easy- I parked in front of the place. read more

See all

This place is amazing!!! I've seen every show for this season starting with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. My mom and I were absolutely blown away by the level of talent on the stage. Not to mention the costumes, stage props...LOVED. IT. I cannot believe the quality of theater offered for such a nominal price. We just saw Holiday Inn!!! It was perfection. I bought tickets to see it again this coming Saturday with my husband! So excited! What a gem of a little community theater!!! Must go! read more

Have been to a couple of productions at this theater (Mame and Westside Story) and really enjoyed both experiences. The casts and staff are exceptionally dedicated, enthusiastic, and professional. This is where I throw in that old adage "don't judge a book by its cover". If you were in the neighborhood and came across this place inadvertently, you might not realize what it is and blow right past it. The outside is very inconspicuous and a little tired looking. Once you pass through the entrance, the charm eases over you, and the realization hits you that you are a guest of a nicely preserved piece of history. The ticket prices are reasonable, so if you fancy musicals, treat yourself to a nice evening of entertainment. read more

This is such a great opportunity to see wonderful community theatre in downtown Indianapolis! They perform outstanding productions of Broadway musical favorites with some incredible local talent! The house seats are comfy and every seat is a great one! Lite snacks and beverages (and a small bar!) are available prior to the show and during intermission! Also be sure to check out discount Thursday!! There's street parking and a parking lot behind the theare! It is a little hidden because it appears in a row of houses, but rest assured you're in the right place and you'll have a great time! :) read more

Footlite Musicals - Little Shop of Horrors at Footlite! January 2017! - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Started in 1955, Footlite Musicals put on over 50 shows in area high school auditoriums and theaters until landing in the former Civic Theatre in 1974. In 1976, the space, known as Hedback Theatre, was donated to Footlite by Mr. and Mrs. Phil Hedback along with surrounding space that allows for growth, expansion and ample parking. While I have a theatre background, I've never been much involved in Footlite Musicals over the years since musicals have never really been my strength. Tonight, I was invited to check out a Footlite production of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and took the opportunity to re-familiarize myself with the theatre that has now existed as an all-volunteer, non-profit theatre in this neighborhood for over 40 years. Footlite prepares 4 full musicals annually along with a winter cabaret show, two summer Young Artists Productions and a children's workshop also during the summer. Footlite participates in the Encore Association, which helps recognize and bring awareness to Central Indiana non-profit, all-volunteer theaters that hold open auditions. They hand out annual awards and generally provide an opportunity for these theatres to work together when possible as a way to promote community theatre. The Footlite theatre is, I believe, a 210-seat theatre. It's well known for its Page Theatre pipe organ that is played before every show. If you've ever driven by the theatre on Alabama Street, you know that they've made the front of the building quite nice with a beautiful deck and lots of clear signage. If you're in a wheelchair, however, please note that the front of the building is not wheelchair friendly. If you take the alley to the back of the building, where all the off-street parking exists, you'll find about 4 accessible parking spots that are not ADA compliant. They have a level curb cut that takes you onto the deck and you then can enter the theatre via the front entrance. The theatre offers a couple of wheelchair accessible seats actually mixed in with the auditorium, though they also have the back two rows that are designated as accessible seating. They use Vendini for ticketing and Vendini has these clearly marked. I will admit Footlite violated one of my huge pet peeves - if I order a specific seat, as I did, I expect to get that seat if it's advertised as accessible. Instead, I was directed to the center of the row where they had removed chairs for wheelchair access. If I'd wanted middle of the row, I would have bought middle of the row. I wanted end of the row so I'd have something to lean on during the show. I've had this issue before, even when I was a season ticketholder for Indiana Fever, and I find it hugely irritating. It's also abundantly clear that it would be very difficult for a performer with a disability to participate in a show at Footlite. While there's a backstage door that's accessible, the backstage itself is definitely not and dressing rooms are down a flight of stairs. While this isn't exactly uncommon in theatre, it's still disappointing. On the flip side, participating on the front end would be a breeze. Concession areas and ticketing are pretty easily accessible and the front room is quite nice. It's clear that Footlite has really emphasized creating a welcoming lobby area. I didn't use the restrooms, but really liked what they'd done with this section. I also appreciated that accessible seating was not so slanted that a wheelchair would slide down it - this is an issue in a couple Indy auditorium spaces. It's important to remember that Footlite is a community theatre. With a cast and crew that is entirely volunteer, you're simply not going to always get professional level shows despite Footlite's long history of award-winning shows. The sound design will always depend on the show, though with community theatre you can always tell the performers who are from the old school of being taught to project voices to the back of the auditorium. Footlite offers $10 shows on Thursdays and the first Sunday of every show is also $10 (Sunday shows are a matinee - 2:30pm; the other shows are evening shows). They offer reasonably priced refreshments (candy/drinks/popcorn), though popcorn is not allowed in the auditorium. They also do have beer. While violation of my pet peeve and lack of access for disabled performers means that I'm not willing to go with a 5-star review, this visit reminded me how much I do love local community theatre in Indy and Footlite has been doing it for quite some time with an abundance of volunteers and dedicated actors and crew who give their time, talent and energy to the theatre. I definitely look forward to going back. read more

What an amazing little theater! I was introduced to Footlite when a friend of mine invited me see 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch.' Loving Hedwig, and the works of John Cameron Mitchell, I jumped at the opportunity. To be honest, I was a bit trepidatious of this theater. I was expecting a rinky-dink production. Shame on me. Footlite is an intimate setting, with cast, crew, and volunteers who obviously love what they do. The energy was amazing - from the ticket window, to the bar, to the usher, to the stage. This is a theater for people who love theater. And they more than did justice to poor, misunderstood, fabulous Hedwig. I cannot wait to return for another show! read more

What a funny little place. I will agree to the hidden gem. It truly is charming, not at all what I would have expected. I think that if you read the reviews and know what kind of place you are going to before the show you might not be as surprised Mrs. F and I. The facility could use a little work, but you know it's a community theater. Part of the fun is raising money to put on more fabulous shows! My original Mrs. F. (my mother) booked the tickets for us for White Christmas. It was a truly amazing show. Though, it is hard to fill the shoes of a Crooner like Bing once we got past that the troop of actors truly did an outstanding job. Bravo! Come out and support the local arts! read more

I can't believe Footlight only has 10 reviews on Yelp! A wonderful little local theatre tucked into basically a residential area, this place deserves some more attention. My friend recently asked me if this theatre was new and that's when I realized I needed to write a review. More people should support local theatre! I have been to a handful of shows here throughout the years due to having many talented friends who got cast. They definitely put on quite a variety from the classics [think The King & I] to the more obscure [BatBoy the musical - yes, you read that right]. Personally, I enjoy this, helps you get a good variety and something for everyone or to simply get you to think outside of the box. In the years past, I would have used this review to complain about the theater's condition, BUT not anymore! They overhauled their seating and their lobby and it all looks wonderful!!! So glad they were able to make those improvements. I recently saw Avenue Q and it was excellent, the cast was well done and very talented. I was reminded that it is pretty small and intimate theatre so there aren't too many bad seats in the house. However, there isn't much of a gradient to the seating levels, so a tall person in front of you can be a bit annoying. There are nights for each show that are discounted, we saw Avenue Q for only $10! Definitely check that out if you are looking for a deal, but ticket prices are very reasonable. They may have a parking lot but I always find street parking here to be very easy! They do many shows each season so go check one out this year and support your local actors and actresses! read more

As the reviews before me stated, this is absolutely a hidden gem. What a great fixture to have in Indy! I just wish more people knew about it. The location is a bit odd, right in the middle of houses, but a very short drive from downtown and ample amount of parking. The building consisted of a ticket counter, small walk up bar, a snack counter, and a lobby to wait for the doors to the theater to open. The theater itself seats about 220 and reminds me of a high school auditorium with seats that haven't been updated since the 1970's. Nothing was fancy about this room, but it didn't need to be. What was important was the musical itself. Which they knocked out of the park. Great set designs, great acting and great singing too. If Footlite is putting on a musical that is one of your favorites, know that you will enjoy their rendition and go see it! read more

Footlight Musicals is a community theater organization producing around 4-5 main stage productions, a smaller cabaret show and a couple youth productions each year in the Hedback Theater. They have a real commitment to American musical theater and present mostly well-known classics along with a few recent surprises. read more

This place is an hidden gem! I live in the vicinity and never even knew of it until a friend invited me to one of the musicals. It is an old but nice theatre with a character. The tickets are really cheap and the casts are awesome for the price paid to see them perform. My favorite musicals there so far for this year is Little Shop of Horrors and Dreamgirls. It is nice to know there are talented local actors. I can't wait for the remaining production this year! read more

There is so much talent in every show here. I was also in their production of Singin' in the Rain, and had a blast. The people of this community are amazing and took me in as a newbie with open arms. Don't sleep on any of their shows, they're all wonderful! read more

Footlite is a hidden gem in Indy. I live about a mile away and didn't even know the theater was there until a friend invited me to a show. Mind you, this is community theater, so don't expect Broadway Across America or anything. I've always been entertained, however. Thursday performances are only $10. This year, my friend and I wised up and paid $25 each to become members. Now we save $5 off any performance. Considering that we go on Thursdays; we could see the entire 7-show season for a total of $60 each. You can't top that. The shows within a season are varied; the first one was a musical version of "Young Frankenstein," the current one is the youth production of "Xanadu" (yes, the Olivia Newton John movie) and the next is "Sunset Boulevard." There is plenty of street parking near and around the theater and, if you plan ahead, you can grab dinner at nearby Foundry Provisions or Goose the Market. read more

Sweet neighborhood theater in Herron Morton. Great variety of community shows and the ticket prices are so affordable! Where else can you see a live production for the cost of a movie ticket? The staff is friendly, the casts are dedicated and fun. The building doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't judge a book by its cover. read more

One of the best gifts I ever received I think was from my mom for my birthday this year. Season tickets to footnote musicals with a great season. (Jekyll and Hyde, anything goes, dream girls... and more). Not only did we get a great deal on season tickets, the staff has been so accommodating. We had never stepped foot in this venue before, so imagine our surprise when the first row wasn't where you wanted to be. (It's not where you want to be, try row 3). The staff was more than accommodating in moving our seats for the remainder of the shows back just a couple of rows. (We even said it was ok if they couldn't, we would know better next time). They do teen shows where everyone is under 18 or 19, that was really good. Jekyll and Hyde was amazing and I so enjoyed Adams family. The volunteers are great and I would highly recommend this theatre to anyone who enjoys this type of thing. And make sure to visit the concession stand, those guys are the sweetest and the selection, while not super extensive has some great options and the popcorns really good. read more

This is my second year as a season ticket holder & the first time where I wanted to leave. I get the context of the play (Best Little Whore House In Texas) & the "F" bombs & the references to the "religious" folk was, in just & in context. Where you crossed the line was 30+ G-D's, seriously? 30+?? "damn it" would have sufficed. This was uncalled for & quite honestly, insulting. read more

This theater has dished out 5 star plays every time I be been . From last year, The rocky picture horror show. From this year, la cage aux folles. For being a small budget theater the cast is outstanding, the direction superb and the sets great. I have seen every version of La cage there is and this production blew my mind. Keep up the great work " the little theater that could". read more

Footlite is a great theatre located in the Indy area. They are one of a few theatres in the area that accommodate hearing impaired patrons by providing American Sign Language Interpreted Performances every second Saturday performance. The faculty and actors are soo pleasant to be around. Ticket prices are definitely well priced and worth the price. Footlite has never ceased to amaze me. I'll go there before I go to Beef and Boards for sure. read more

A hidden gem for sure! What an amazingly dedicated group of very talented individuals that put blood, sweat and tears into every performance. The staff and cast are all volunteers who are deeply committed to the arts. I encourage you to support this theater. I believe you will find your toe tapping and the performances to be worthy of a standing ovation. Bravo!!! Hairspray was amazing!! read more

If you want a great date night that's a little different that the same old thing, head to the Hedback and check out a live production. Tickets are very reasonable ($10 on Thursdays!) and can be ordered online or at the box office. I've seen several productions here, and the quality of show is very high. Always a wonderful time! read more

My husband and I visited Foot lite and seen The Full Monty (03/17/12). The play was directed well and was both funny, entertaining and very interactive with the audience. My favorite scene was in Act I where the men hold the auditions for the male strippers (Reg was the best), we were laughing the whole time. The singing , dancing and acting was done well. The show is great for all ages and was a wonderful way to spend St. Patrick's day!!! read more

I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels this past weekend and it was so funny and professionally done! The crowd did not seem to get a lot of the humor and I cannot understand why except the majority of them were seniors It is definitely pg13! Very funny. I saw Rent there which was also wonderful. If you want to laugh your behind off , go see this show. read more

My partner and I went to Footlite last night to see "Mame". Such an amazing performance on all levels: musicality, costumes, and choreography. I always enjoy the shows at Footlite, so we are going to look into getting season tickets. Keep up the great work! read more

I went to see a show on Thursday evening call Avenue Q. It was on broadway for quite some time, not sure if it is still playing. I will say that as tired as I was that evening, I did enjoy myself. My friend Ervin Gainer (who played Gary Coleman) invited me out. He was a hoot throughout the show. There were several highlights. It was pretty good. Me being as musically and theater savvy, I can say that you deal with issues with your cast and pit in terms of tempo/pitch/diction/cues unless you hire absolute professionals. These individuals are doing this because they have such a passion for it, and it shows through their performance on stage. I can always appreciate that. I always miss out on the shows because I'm so busy working, so I promised my friend that will come to a show, but once it was over, I left. I didn't get to stay around and congratulate him like I wanted. These individuals have normal daily lives working full or part time jobs, then come to numerous rehearsals night after night and practice their tales off to give the Indianapolis area a broadway production without the price. Support these individuals, they've worked tirelessly and continue to do great. I will do my best to make it to more shows. It was worth it and took my mind off of life for a couple of hours. Great Job Footlite!!! Keep moving forward and shoot for the moon! read more

Nice community theater. Horribly unappealing exterior, but the theater itself is quite nice. Their productions are wildly uneven. Almost all the youth productions are excellent. Their current production of "Follies" is a really, really nice attempt at a huge, complicated show. read more

I just saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Footlite Theatre. It was wonderful. I was worried about the neighborhood, but its in a very nice refurbished district of Indy. The place was clean. The neighborhood was great. We parked easily. Tickets were waiting for us. Sat right down and enjoyed a VERY, VERY entertaining play. The sets were great. The costumes and singers did a great job. It was delightful and professional start to finish. If one enjoys theatre, you have to make a point to catch a few musicals that they put on. read more

not a fancy venue but Adams Family was wonderfully performed and all participants came out after the performance and were delightful to talk to with the patrons ... just a wonderful experience .... total volunteers staffing and everyone was great!! Convenient parking is a plus. read more