BACK IN THE DAY....
Founder Chad Badgero had been involved in the local Lansing theatre community his entire life. Then, one fateful day in 2005, he looked around and realized that Lansing boasted a thriving festival scene, but nothing that offered a chance for theatre artists to celebrate together. So Badgero set out to bring as many theatres in the area together to present a free festival of plays over a three day weekend.
That first year, 8 theatres gathered in East Lansing in alleys, old coffee shops, abandoned buildings, and in art galleries to perform plays that they had always wanted to produce during their regular season, but couldn't seem to find a slot. Renegade provided the opportunity for theatre companies in the region to explore, expand, and explode their typical programming, and to try out new stuff they weren't sure could survive (or bring in a profit) during their regular season.
The Renegade Theatre Festival grew up for two summers in downtown East Lansing (2005 & 2006), and then took a hiatus for a year when finding performance venues became difficult. Then, the clairvoyant and exceedingly creative Melissa Kaplan approached Badgero with the idea of bringing Renegade to the Old Town Lansing district. The two took an informal walking tour of the vibrant and welcoming arts district nestled next to the Grand River in North Lansing, and suddenly the festival came to life again! The Festival made Old Town its home for the next nine years.
In 2017, with Old Town at capacity for open performance spaces, Renegade took the next step in growth and expanded its footprint out in to five Lansing neighborhoods: East Lansing, REO Town, Eastside, Downtown, and Old Town. This new model gives the festival a chance to impact more audiences throughout the region, and to grow in new and exciting ways!
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Performances at the Renegade Festival include comedy, drama, musicals, children’s theatre, performance art, puppet theatre, readings of new works by local playwrights and improv, all presented by some of Lansing’s most prominent theatres, as well as by independent producers.
On WEEKEND ONE, Renegade features the New Original Works (N.O.W.) portion of the festival, three days of new plays that have never been seen on stage, sent from all over the world! In 2017, the festival received 400+ submissions.
On WEEKEND TWO, visitors can choose from different shows in traditional performance spaces and some unique locations all over Lansing. Throughout, Renegade programs live music of many genres on the Turner Park stage, with a few other surprises thrown in to keep patrons on their toes.
WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS
In 2017, Renegade spread its wings to five different neighborhoods in Lansing: East Lansing, REO Town, Eastside, Downtown, and Old Town. Expanding the footprint of the festival, and partnering with prominent and exciting venues across town gives the festival a chance to grow and increase exposure to theatre to all of Lansing!
Founder Chad Badgero had been involved in the local Lansing theatre community his entire life. Then, one fateful day in 2005, he looked around and realized that Lansing boasted a thriving festival scene, but nothing that offered a chance for theatre artists to celebrate together. So Badgero set out to bring as many theatres in the area together to present a free festival of plays over a three day weekend.
That first year, 8 theatres gathered in East Lansing in alleys, old coffee shops, abandoned buildings, and in art galleries to perform plays that they had always wanted to produce during their regular season, but couldn't seem to find a slot. Renegade provided the opportunity for theatre companies in the region to explore, expand, and explode their typical programming, and to try out new stuff they weren't sure could survive (or bring in a profit) during their regular season.
The Renegade Theatre Festival grew up for two summers in downtown East Lansing (2005 & 2006), and then took a hiatus for a year when finding performance venues became difficult. Then, the clairvoyant and exceedingly creative Melissa Kaplan approached Badgero with the idea of bringing Renegade to the Old Town Lansing district. The two took an informal walking tour of the vibrant and welcoming arts district nestled next to the Grand River in North Lansing, and suddenly the festival came to life again! The Festival made Old Town its home for the next nine years.
In 2017, with Old Town at capacity for open performance spaces, Renegade took the next step in growth and expanded its footprint out in to five Lansing neighborhoods: East Lansing, REO Town, Eastside, Downtown, and Old Town. This new model gives the festival a chance to impact more audiences throughout the region, and to grow in new and exciting ways!
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Performances at the Renegade Festival include comedy, drama, musicals, children’s theatre, performance art, puppet theatre, readings of new works by local playwrights and improv, all presented by some of Lansing’s most prominent theatres, as well as by independent producers.
On WEEKEND ONE, Renegade features the New Original Works (N.O.W.) portion of the festival, three days of new plays that have never been seen on stage, sent from all over the world! In 2017, the festival received 400+ submissions.
On WEEKEND TWO, visitors can choose from different shows in traditional performance spaces and some unique locations all over Lansing. Throughout, Renegade programs live music of many genres on the Turner Park stage, with a few other surprises thrown in to keep patrons on their toes.
WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS
In 2017, Renegade spread its wings to five different neighborhoods in Lansing: East Lansing, REO Town, Eastside, Downtown, and Old Town. Expanding the footprint of the festival, and partnering with prominent and exciting venues across town gives the festival a chance to grow and increase exposure to theatre to all of Lansing!
