IndyFringe 2025

IndyFringe: Grad School Sucks!

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This is part of the 20th Anniversary Indy Fringe Festival, Aug. 14-24, 2025, in downtown Indianapolis. For information and tickets, see indyfringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

Fact may sometimes be stranger than fiction, but can it be made more funny? This is the experiment Dr. Rob Pyatt, PhD, conducted three times in the Vision Loft venue during the 2025 Indy Fringe Festival.

In his show, “Grad School Sucks!” the master of Weird Science told, with projected illustrations, about various real scientific studies and experiments. During the performance I attended, he told of research on rhinotillexomania (nose-picking) in adolescents; a Japanese experiment in improving rest by laying where the cat sleeps; an actual 1948 Idaho Fish & Game program of “Transplanting Beavers by Airplane and Parachute” (one critter was named “Geronimo”); and the eternal question of how often and why one washes their denim jeans.

After each mini-lecture, the stage was given to three improvisors – Bill Hale, Tim Harrison, and Kayla Tennessen – all from ComedySportz, with two also working in scientific fields. The made-on-the-spot skits (they had not been told about the topics beforehand) would lead to judging by the audience of who would pass this course in comedy.  

The trio proved to be very inventive and consistently funny, even when getting outrageous or spun off something Dr. Pyatt said that seemed off-topic. This made for a doubly entertaining hour between the weird things our lecturer found, and the goofy things the comics did with the information.

Being a Purdue alum and friend to many in central Indiana (including John and Wendy), Rob comes back to Indy from his home in New Jersey at least once a year, so hopefully another round of experiments will be arranged.

IndyFringe: El Traje Nuevo Del Emperador

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This is part of the 20th Anniversary Indy Fringe Festival, Aug. 14-24, 2025, in downtown Indianapolis. For information and tickets, see indyfringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

Now that it has completed its three-day visit to the Vision Loft space at IndyFringe, a few words – in English, please excuse me – about this wonderful piece of Teatro Juvenile:

Presented by Juan Francisco Ramos Aguilar of El Salvador, you are treated to a mask-and-puppet production of the fairy tale fable also known as “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” This story was popularized by Hans Christian Andersen, though its source can be traced back to Spain. Still, its familiarity helps us who don’t speak Spanish as our jester narrator/puppeteer does the show entirely en español, full speed, as though entertaining children in his own country.

That’s right, no English. Not a word. You must pay close attention to the flow and the words that sound familiar, as well as the broad hand gestures and other cues that young listeners rely on as they learn more of their own tongue. For me, this enriched the experience, pulling it out of literary cliché so that I can experience it like its intended audience. I welcomed the chance to stretch my poquito “Sesame Street” understanding of Spanish. The colorful masks, costumes, puppets, and décor further enhance the scene.

Aguilar is the parable-teaching Jester, as well as the Conman seeking oro (gold), as well as the old Prima Ministro who takes El Rey (the King) to see the alleged miracle fabric. At points, His Majesty approaches the audience, asking our opinions. It’s best – no matter what he says or how little you understand – to respond with an emphatic “Si” lest you arouse his royal bluster.

Around the midpoint of the story, the narrator also gives us a quick hand-puppet skit with Punch-and-Judy style characters.

The overall experience was fascinating, and for someone like me an immersive opportunity to follow another language. For those in the audience who could speak Spanish, it was good to have a live performance that appealed directly to them.

Hopefully, this show or something like it can make its way to our city again.

IndyFringe: Beyond Ballet

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This is part of the 20th Anniversary Indy Fringe Festival, Aug. 14-24, 2025, in downtown Indianapolis. For information and tickets, see indyfringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

You have one chance left to see “Beyond Ballet,” presented by Indianapolis Ballet, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at The District Theatre. Given the rarity of seeing this professional company for such an affordable price, this is likely sold out. Still, check and see if you’re lucky.

What you will see (or miss) is an extraordinary display of beautiful, disciplined artistry in motion, showcasing the physical strength, stamina and control of the dancers. The style mostly exemplifies traditional ballet, even the woman in the pas de deux with a slow-tango feel works in toe-shoes. In a more modern mode is a piece choreographed by local legend David Hochoy, a trio (pas de trois, I believe is the term) to lyrical guitar and aria.

Further, it seems they brought the entire company to this exhibition. You rarely see the same person in two dances, giving us a sampling of Indianapolis Ballet’s varied and diverse talents. In the final curtain call, they overwhelm the District mainstage.

Information on their upcoming season is at IndianapolisBallet.org.

IndyFringe: The Estate Sale

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This is part of the 20th Anniversary Indy Fringe Festival, Aug. 14-24, 2025, in downtown Indianapolis. For information and tickets, see indyfringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

When you enter “The Estate Sale,” the one-woman show by Kelly Dee with Stew Jamesson, there are tables set up with various random and old items, which you can peruse before and after Dee’s performance. Name any price for something, and it’s yours – really!

“Why am I doing this?” she says, “I’m clearing out, letting go.” This applies to the clutter acquired by the estate sale company she runs with her mother in Melbourne, Fla., and that which she has no more room for “up here,” she adds, pointing at her head.

We get more than a sales pitch – the kitsch on the tables largely speaks for itself, though a few items she will show off for their novelty, like the political toilet paper or the rather sinful “statue” of Jesus (if they haven’t been sold yet). We also get the story of her life, from Queens, N.Y., to Florida – which she can’t stand, though she keeps finding herself back there. We learn about her parents, maybe not the best at nurturing, but they have a talent for flipping merchandise that may or may not have “fallen off a truck.” This naturally leads to dealing the estates of the many retirees in her city as they pass on.

She tells of how she always had the “urge to go” somewhere, anywhere. Her life’s baggage, literal and mental, she notes, still stays on her like a backpack. The head-stuff you will get free with your ticket; everything else, make an offer.

Fascinating and funny with the opportunity to get your own odd souvenir, the show has closed its three-show run at The District Theatre. However, Dee said she plans on pulling her sale wagon around Indy Fringe through its closing weekend before moving on to another city.

Fringe alert: Get real weird with a real scientist

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By John Lyle Belden

Some scientific studies sound too bizarre or silly but do have real-world applications. Other times, you hear “according to this study,” yet on a closer look you have to say, “Really?!”

Dr. Rob Pyatt, PhD., tackles both kinds of actual research in his lectures. A self-proclaimed “stand-up scientist” (we’d say this is backwards: he’s fact-based first, with a wild sense of humor), he has hosted a popular real-world Weird Science program (no relation to the film or song) at sci-fi conventions and other events for 20-plus years, plus other STEM education programs and initiatives in several states. An Indiana University graduate with Masters from Purdue and Doctorate from Ohio State, he has also worked at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls; and Kean University, Union, N.J.

Aside from serious credentials, Rob is seriously entertaining, whether elaborating on a rather deviant duck, the importance of what bathroom stall you use is to facility planning, or discussing anything Godzilla. He lets audiences know how the science is made, often involving us in quirky surveys which can be mined for data, both accurate and misleading.

Our research shows that he loves Indianapolis.

He will appear live at his regular haunt, InConJunction Sci-Fi Convention, July 4-6, with his Weird Science on the evening of Saturday, July 5, at the Wyndham Indianapolis Airport, 2544 Executive Drive. He presents real, published case studies, research, and incidents explored for – if not useful information – at least, a lot of laughs. And be ready to do an offbeat questionnaire – past surveys include the above restroom preference, or if you can tell a “pit bull” from other breeds by sight (harder than you think!). Part of a big nerd-tastic experience on Indy’s west side, get info (including Saturday-only tickets, if you prefer) at inconjunction.org.

Also, a new show, “Grad School Sucks,” featuring Rob Pyatt, will premiere at the 20th Annual IndyFringe Festival, in which, he declares, “Comedy meets science in this show exploring strange scientific studies.” The festival runs Aug. 14-24 on and around Mass Avenue in downtown Indianapolis. See IndyFringe.org in the coming weeks for details on specific showtimes and venues.

In the meantime, you can also find him hosting the “Weird Science with Rob Pyatt” group on Facebook.