OUR STORY
2005
Lansing theatre artist Chad Swan-Badgero realized there was no festival where theatre makers could come together to share work outside the constraints of a traditional season. The Renegade Theatre Festival was born as a free, three-day celebration of theatrical creativity.
2022
After nearly 20 years, the festival closed.
2026
Reimagined as the Renegade Fringe Festival, we’re coming back in 2026 with a renewed focus on experimental, cross-disciplinary performance—and the same commitment to supporting artists and new ideas
Eight theatre companies transformed alleys, coffee shops, abandoned buildings, and art galleries in East Lansing into performance spaces—presenting shows they’d always wanted to produce but never had room for. Renegade quickly became a place to experiment, collaborate, and expand what local theatre could be.
After early years in downtown East Lansing and a brief pause, the festival found new life in Lansing’s Old Town Arts District with the help of artist Melissa Kaplan.