Stage Write

Every theatre is unique and the shows that they produce there reflect that diversity. I’m grateful Indy has so many great ones to choose from. There were some wonderful shows in 2018 and here’s a list of my personal favorites. Make sure you keep an eye on these theaters in 2019! 1) Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Zach & Zack: The year kicked off with a passionate performance in an intimate space. Hedwig set a high bar for the rest of the year. 2) And Then There Were None - Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre: A murder mystery with tight pacing and building tension, this one hit the spot.  3) A Raisin in the Sun - Indiana Repertory Theatre: Heartwrenching and beautifully acted, this classic came to life on the IRT's stage.  4) Silent Sky - Summit Performance Indianapolis: An incredible group of women told the story of Henrietta Leavitt, an astronomer in the early 1900s. The show is the first production of the new Indy theatre company.    5) Beautiful - Broadway Acro

Gavin Creel:   The Broadway Stuff - Vol. 1 Glick Philanthropies Broadway At The Cabaret Series   Friday, February 15 & Saturday, February 16:   8 pm The Cabaret kicks off its 2019 season with one of Broadway’s hottest stars.  Tony Award-winner Gavin Creel will perform his interpretations of Broadway classics and share stories from his prolific career during an intimate evening of music.  Creel most recently starred in the Bette Midler-led revival of Hello, Dolly!, for which he won the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.  He also earned Tony nominations for Thoroughly Modern Millie – where he played opposite Sutton Foster, the revival of Hair, and She Loves Me.     An Evening with Joshua Henry   Glick Philanthropies Broadway at The Cabaret Series   Saturday, February 23: 7:00 Pm & 9:30 pm Three-time Tony nominee and star of Hamilton and Carousel, Joshua Henry performs an intimate evening of Broadway and soul classics.  Henry will share “unplugged”

As one might be able to guess from the title, The Mutilated is not a holly jolly Christmas story. The Tennessee Williams play is set in New Orleans and follows two frenemies who cross paths on Christmas Eve. The pair, Trinket and Celeste, are both broken souls with their own secrets. Gigi Jennewein plays Trinket, a wealthy woman with an unknown mutilation. She's fragile and desperate for affection. Celeste is her polar opposite. Played by Beverly Roche, the shoplifting alcoholic is brash and constantly angling to manipulate those around her.  Originally written as a one-act comedy, the show plays more as an ode to loneliness. It’s split by a short intermission and the second act wraps up so quickly that it feels a bit abrupt. The characters feel similar to those found in many of Williams' plays, though the plot doesn't pack as big of a punch in comparison. It's fascinating to see the damaged people trying to find a way forward, but I wish I'd had more time to

Tucked away in the newly renovated space behind the 924 Gallery downtown is the new gorgeous Cabaret. The space, formerly a warehouse and then a roller skating rink, is now a beautiful gem. Intimate tables sit close to a stage that hosts stars straight from Broadway. The theatre moved into its new location in April and the result is unbelievable. The Jazz Kitchen designed a menu with cocktails, starters and entrees perfect for any evening. If you haven't been to the new Cabaret yet, what are you waiting for?  I attended Betsy Wolfe's show last week. Wolfe made waves on Broadway for her performances in The Last Five Years, Falsettos, and most recently in Waitress. This show, "All Bets Are Off" was a delightful combination of Broadway favorites and playful humor. Wolfe's rich vocals showcased fan favorites from Into the Woods and made me fall in love with the musical Waitress, even though I haven't seen it yet.  The beauty of the Cabaret lies in the sponta

Education and race: there aren't too many issues that are more divisive in our country at the moment. The Indiana Repertory Theatre's current Upperstage production, Pipeline, tackles them both. The 90 minute play keeps a frantic pace as Nya, a public school teacher, finds out her teenage son has gotten into a fight at his private school.   The show, written by Detroit-native Dominique Morisseau, brings to the stage the debate of public vs. private education and the role race plays in that conversation. In addition to being a playwright, Morisseau was a teacher for years and that experience comes through in her writing. She writes about the struggle from the point of view of both parent and teacher with equal weight.  One of the major strengths of the show is the character of Omari, played with compelling vulnerability by Cole Taylor.  In the hands of a less talented playwright he could easily have been a caricature of an angry young black man. Instead he is complex,

Don Quixote, the infamous errant knight questing to save those in need and fighting windmills because he sees giants in their frames. He is a familiar character to most of us. Man of La Mancha is a classic musical inspired by the Spanish story. Beef & Boards’ current production of the show features Disney royalty in the titular role. Richard White, famous for providing the voice of Gaston in Disney’s animated Beauty and the Beast, takes on the role. It is absolutely his show, featuring him first as the book’s author, Miguel de Cervantes, and then transforming into the knight. His deep baritone is perfect for the role. His Don Quixote is blundering, but sincere in his delusion and you can’t help but root for him.  The show features a untraditional love story. The elderly knight sees Aldonza, a kitchen maid and prostitute, and decides she is his glorious lady Dulcinea and he will do anything to win her favor. Aldonza is a fiery character full of scorn. Erica Hanrahan-B

Three men claiming to be Sherlock Holmes are being held in an asylum on an island. The famous detective's trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson, must make his way to the remote isle to identify the true Sherlock. The Indiana Repertory Theatre's season opener is a twisty mystery that keeps you guessing until the final moments. It takes a minute for the show to hit its rhythm, but it's worth settling in to wait and see how the identities are revealed.   The set is one of the most extraordinary the IRT has created. Its gothic design layers stairs and ledges deep into the stage. There is even an aperture that opens and closes to reveal different characters and gives the audience the feeling of being inside of a camera at times. Kudos to Robert Mark Morgan for its creation.  Each of the three Sherlocks have a unique take on the role. One is classically clever, two is grief-stricken and emotional, and the third is literally catatonic. The seven-person cast keeps the show humming

The Phoenix Theatre has gone through some huge changes in the past year. In addition to moving into a brand new state-of-the-art theater, it also has a new artistic director, Bill Simmons. With all of that in mind it’s not surprising that the theatre opened its new season with something a bit outside of its normal range. Known for producing plays that tackle tricky issues the theatre doesn’t often do musicals and when it does they tend to be edgy shows like Spring Awakening, American Idiot or Avenue Q. In contrast, Bright Star is a bluegrass musical with a big heart. Written by banjo-playing renaissance man Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, the show is set in the hills of North Carolina in the 1940s with flashbacks in the 1920s. It is at times playful and at others steeped in nostalgia. There’s a large ensemble cast with a full bluegrass band onstage providing live music. The set is simple, with movable pieces on wheels and straightforward staging. The result is an absolutely deli

The Lion King is one of the epic Broadway shows that everyone should see at least once in their life. It’s also one of the few stage productions based on a Disney movie that actually works. They never make the mistake of many movie-to-stage adaptations: sacrificing the heart of the story for the spectacle. It is a huge production. From Pride Rock to an elephant graveyard, the sets are so creative. I can’t think of a single show where the costumes even come close to the grandeur of The Lion King. The animal kingdom comes alive as giraffes, elephants, and birds take to the stage. The costumes are impeccable, and manage to show the movement of cheetahs and antelopes with grace and beauty. Even the jungle plants are brought to life, played by humans in elaborate outfits. Most kids are already familiar with the story from the movie, making this a very family-friendly show. It has that wow factor, and meshes a captivating plot, incredible sets, and an award-winning score together. There

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is thrilled to announce its 2019 season. They’re Playing Our Song (Jan. 4 – Feb. 3., 2019) The season opens Jan. 4, 2019 with Neil Simon and Marvin Hamlisch’s They’re Playing Our Song, a funny, romantic show about an established composer and his relationship with a quirky aspiring female lyricist. Profesionally, their relationship is in harmony, but personally their relationship is out of sync! Grease ( Feb. 7 – March 31, 2019) Grease is the word starting Feb. 7, as the popular movie-turned-musical cruises onto the Beef & Boards stage. It’s 1959 and Sandy’s the new girl at Rydell High School who happened to have a summer romance with the school’s coolest greaser, Danny. But the school’s social waters are tougher to navigate. The hit score includes “Greased Lightnin’,” “You’re The One That I Want,” and “Summer Nights.” 42nd Street (April 4 – May 19, 2019) Starting April 4, dance on over to spectacular 42nd Street, the Tony Award

Mark your calendars! The dates and locations of this year's Bard Fest have been announced. The annual festival brings together multiple theatre companies and this year, multiple locations, to present Shakespeare's work. This year's selection includes three popular plays produced by the founding companies, plus a new treat, a youth production. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet                     The Merchant of Venice Directed by Zach Stonerock                                Directed by Doug Powers Catalyst Repertory                                                First Folio Productions Much Ado About Nothing                                  A Midsummer Night's Dream Directed by Laura Kuhn                                        Youth Production Carmel Theater Company                                    Agape Performing Arts Company   You can find a complete list of locations and times for the schedule at this link. This is Indy's only Shakesp

Six week after giving birth I braved the outside world with my daughter for the first time completely on my own. We went to a breastfeeding support group at a local hospital. I was completely overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and somehow managed to get lost in the winding corridors. The adventure ended with me in tears in an elevator. I don’t often share personal details here, but the Phoenix Theatre’s production of Cry It Out hit close to home for me. Becoming a new parent is one of the most intense things you can experience. It is exhausting and beautiful and it brings you to your knees. It’s full of barely comprehensible paradoxes. You are immediately connected to generations of women who have done this incredible thing before you. You are also isolated as you try to learn how to survive while caring for a helpless newborn. The internet becomes a resource for tips and ideas while also becoming a place full of moms making different choices, ready to tell you how you’ve screwed up. I’ve

In 1956 Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins spent one evening jamming together at Sun Studios. The group was referred to as the "Million Dollar Quartet" and the recording became famous. Years later a musical was made to commemorate that famous night and the show is on stage now at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Each actor brings a unique vibe to the production. Brian Michael Henry's Lewis is petulant but buzzing with energy and ambition. Christopher Wren is an incredibly talented guitarist and plays the snarky Perkins as brimming with bitterness. Edward La Cardo embraces the extreme physicality of his role as Elvis and nails the vocals, but doesn't quite capture the inherent charm of the crooner. Last but not least, Justin Figueroa's performance as the quiet, smoldering Johnny Cash just makes the show. His baritone notes and calm demeanor make you lean in and really listen every time he approaches a microphone. Jill Kelly H

The Phoenix Theatre is excited to announce its 2018/19 season. This will be its first full season is its new home on Illinois Street.  Bright Star  Music, book, and story by Steve Martin and music, lyrics, and story by Edie Brickell Sept. 21-Oct. 7 Cabaret Poe by Ben Asaykwee (a co-production with Q Artistry)  Oct. 5-Nov. 4 A Very Phoenix Xmas 13: Merry Superstitious by Various Artists Nov. 23-Dec. 23 Apples in Winter by Jennifer Fawcett Jan. 11-Jan. 27 The Hotel Nepenthe by John Kuntz March 1-March 24 The Christians by Lucas Hnath March 29-April 14 The Children by Lucy Kirkwood April 26-May 19 White City Murder by Ben Asaykwee (a co-production with Q Artistry)  June 14-July 7 For more information about these shows or to purchase tickets, please visit PhoenixTheatre.org or call (317) 635-7529.  Photo courtesy of Zach Rosing.