Stage Write

  Waitress is one of the rare non-musical movies that transitions to the stage with ease. The show is currently on stage at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and features a score by Sara Bareilles, filled with heart. It tells the story of a woman, trapped by her circumstances, who longs for another life. Keirsten Hodgens plays the lead, Jenna, with a palpable sense of loneliness. The show takes off with the song, “What Baking Can Do”. Just like her pies, Jenna’s life can be sweet or tart, and that song shows us the daily hustle she handles and the sadness that sits just below the surface. But in the midst of her pain is the life-giving force of female friendship. Chanel Edwards-Frederick (Becky) and Grace Atherholt (Dawn) play Jenna’s two best friends and fellow waitresses at the pie diner. They are polar opposites and a perfect sweet and sour balance. Becky is full of sass and fierce loyalty. Dawn is all encouragement and smiles. The women provide the found family that Jenna so...

At this point in Indy, there are those who haven’t seen Wicked and are dying to experience it, and those who can’t wait to see it again. It has stood the test of time since its 2003 premiere more than 20 years ago. With the release of the first half of the film version, there are whole new legions of Wicked fans excited to see it live. Two different women take on the role of Elphaba during the Indianapolis run of the show. The performance I attended featured Olivia Valli as the rebellious witch. Valli is an incredible singer, which should come as no surprise considering her past Broadway performances and her lineage (granddaughter of Frankie Valli). She demonstrates how painful it can be to go against the grain when you stand up for what is right instead of fitting in. She's vulnerable and broken in equal measures when she discovers unexpected love and then loses the dreams and family she held so dear.   The effervescent Zoe Jensen as Glinda is the perfect counterweight to Elphaba’...

 The Beef & Boards annual family show is the perfect way to kick off the summer. There are a few big moments in the production with the wow factor, including an aerial ribbon dancer and a mermaid soaring through the sea. Beef & Boards nails both and it’s a treat to watch jaws drop on tiny faces in the audience. MSTS Costumes took it to the next level with this show. Sea creatures of every variety are on full display with shimmering scales and flowing skirts. Those new to the show will recognize numbers from the original Disney movie, but there are also added songs created just for the musical, and some work better than others. “If Only” is a lovely addition, while Positoovity” is completely unnecessary. Scuttle is just a tough character to translate to the stage. Sarah Daniels plays Ariel, and infuses a big personality into the role. Prince Eric’s role is limited, but Josh Alvarez does as much as he can with it. He is earnest and enthusiastic. Michael Ray Fisher’s Sebasti...

Sometimes you don’t realize how badly you needed to laugh until your sides are aching, and your face hurts. The Indiana Repertory Theatre is certainly ending its season with a bang, in the form of a collapsing set and an abundance of laughs. The Play That Goes Wrong is known for inducing fits of hilarity in the audience. The plot follows a local community group putting on a murder mystery, but nothing seems to go as planned. Even before the show starts cast members dressed as stagehands frantically scramble to put things right. And it doesn’t stop there, things just snowball as the production progresses. For anyone who is used to attending theater, there’s an added layer of humor, if you understand the behind-the-scenes efforts that are cleverly portrayed with lighting and sound mishaps.  One of the most impressive aspects of the show is the elaborate set. It has to appear defective while remaining safe for all the performers. Christopher and Justin Swader are the scenic designer...

Six the Musical does not disappoint! The 90-minute, no-intermission show is a pop concert mashup with Tudor history. The women are the six wives of Henry VIII and are competing to see who has had the worst life. Their stories are no joke. Despite the humor that’s dominant, there are elements of sorrow woven throughout. Many of these women lived lives dictated by greedy men and their fates made that clear. That said, this show is blistering with energy and sass. It kicks off with attitude and passion, swinging seamlessly from power ballads to a German rave while keeping the audience engaged. Each solo number gives a queen a chance to shine while a completely female band provides live backup. The lyrics pack centuries-old history into each song, conveying the women’s stories with eloquence. The costumes, designed by Gabriella Slade, are a true work of art. Each queen has a distinct color, gold, green, black, red, pink, and blue. Their outfits are gorgeous creations, bedazzled, and stud...

  Nina Simone was one of the most impactful voices of the Civil Rights movements. This play gives audiences a glimpse at her struggle to use her lyrics to fight during that horrific time. Her story is woven in with the 16th St. Baptist Church bombing in 1963. The set is built around a piano which provides live music throughout the show. There are stained glass windows, burned carpet, and collapsed pews, immediately pulling the audience into the tragedy. The success of this production rests on the voices of the actresses and what a success it is! Without incredible singers, the rest falls flat. Each of the four give beautiful performances, but it was the voices of Akili Ni Mali as Nina Simone and Jamecia Bennett as Sarah that brought the house down. Packed with such passion and incredible skill, they make the show pulse with righteous anger and sorrow. Bennett’s rendition of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” feels like a portal into a church service. Akili’s fury is a sight to behold as...