Stage Write

Broadway Across America is thrilled to announce the 2010/11 Indianapolis season. Season tickets are now on sale. MARY POPPINS kicks off the season and the world’s most famous nanny will arrive at the Murat Theatre in September. Combining the best of the original stories by P.L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS is a perfectly magical musical the entire family will enjoy. The show includes favorite songs such as “A Spoonful Of Sugar,” “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. DREAMGIRLS, starring Indianapolis’ very own Moya Angela as Effie, will play the Murat Theatre in November. Direct from Harlem’s world famous Apollo Theater in New York City, this Tony® and Academy® Award-winning musical tells the rags-to-riches story of a 1960’s Motown group and features the unforgettable hits “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “One Night Only” and “Listen”. 9 To 5 The Musical will make its Indianapolis premiere at Clowes Memorial Hall in January. ...

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's "Footloose" is fun with a capital F. It's filled with 1980s power ballads, big hair and teen angst. For the few people who have never seen the movie, a high school boy, Ren, and his mother move to the tiny town of Bomont, where dancing is illegal. Unfortunately, Ren just loves to dance, so this poses a problem and he's quickly labeled a "troublemaker." The best parts of the show are the big '80s dance numbers. Erin P. West shines as the wild preacher's daughter, Ariel, especially in "Holding Out For a Hero." With the help of her girls she belts out the song with such gusto you can't help but love it. The show was packed with great performance by the supporting cast. Eddie Curry's portrayal as a grieving, controlling preacher was a wonderful dramatic performance. Megan McKinney pulls double duty in her Beef & Boards' debut as both Ren's mom and a country singer. Amanda Lawson plays...

The Indianapolis Civic Theatre's current production is "Bus Stop." The play was made into a film in 1956, starring Marilyn Monroe, but it isn't one that pops up frequently on midwestern stages. It's a strange little story. A bus headed to Topeka, Kan. is stranded overnight at a diner when a snowstorm blocks the roads. As the travelers make their way off the bus we meet a nightclub singer, Cherie, a hotheaded cowboy, Bo, and his sidekick Virgil, and a strange professor with a penchant for booze and young girls. Paul Hansen plays Dr. Lyman, the Shakespeare quoting drunk. He does a wonderful job portraying the tragic character, but it's painful to watch his scenes. You can't help feeling uncomfortable as he sweet talks a naive, young waitress. He's a man filled with remorse and disgust for himself and his lack of self-control. The set was excellently done. The '50s diner provided a simple set up with good details. The waitresses costumes were particul...