Priority List includes IndyFringe Festival, a ‘Silence of the Lambs’ musical, more

It's a good week to have no idea what you are in for. Consider visiting the following:

IndyFringe Festival

It’s back, with 78 different shows offering 384 performances at eight venues. Returnees note that there have been some changes include venue shifting (Goodbye, Phoenix Theatre; hello, Firefighters Union Hall) turning it into an all-Mass Ave. affair, some past favorite companies not in the mix (No show from $3 Bill Comedy), and perhaps most significantly of all—more spacious restrooms in the Indy Fringe Building. Top of my to-see list this year: “Holy Ficus” from Zach Rosing Productions, the crew that brought last year’s standout “The Great Bike Race.”

Various Mass Ave. locations  Aug. 13-23 Details

“Silence! The Musical”

If you read the above item and wondered what the Phoenix Theatre will be doing in lieu of renting its stages to Indy Fringe, here’s your answer. It’s a musical parody of “Silence of the Lambs,” which actually got its start at the 2005 Fringe NYC Festival. The full-length, decidedly adult show features such songs as, well, there are at least three songs whose titles alone would get me in deep trouble for posting.

Phoenix Theatre    Aug. 13-Sept. 13   Details

IndyProv Sketch Comedy/Noises! Cabaret

The White Rabbit Cabaret, a haven for recurring performance events, offers two chance for fun on Friday night. First, the local sketch comedy group IndyProv takes the stage. Next, local performers (and perhaps you) participate in a karaoke variation with live keyboard accompaniment…and an emphasis on showtunes. The latter has become a go-to place for performers after finishing up their shows elsewhere, so expect an influx of Fringers after their Mass Ave. gigs. Each show has a mere $5 cover charge.

White Rabbit Cabaret    Aug. 14  Details

Also this week

Bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley plays the Palladium Aug. 14 with Boz Scaggs following on Aug. 16.

Jazz singer Carol Welsman sings at the Cabaret at the Columbia Club Aug. 14-15

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy returns to Conner Prairie Amphitheatre Aug. 14-15.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art screens “The Big Lebowski” Aug. 14, while Garfield Park Arts Center runs “The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad” Aug. 15.

Chris Brown headlines Aug. 15 at Klipsch Music Center.

Footlite Musicals offers its production of “Urinetown: The Musical” Aug. 14-23.

10@10 Comedy Open Mic brings a new crop of performers to ComedySportz Theatre Aug. 13.

Indiana State Fair performers this week include Garrison Keillor, Aug. 12, Gabriel Iglesias, Aug. 13, Jake Owen, Aug. 14, and the 93.9 Summer Jam, Aug. 15.