Stage Write

  It’s raining on stage at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. The stage version of the 1952 musical is back, and many of the previous cast members are revising their roles. Kimberly Doreen Burns is back as Kathy Selden, and Sarah Hund returns as the glamorous and grating Lina Lamont. Joseph Rafael Davila is the new Don Lockwood and brings his exuberance and wonderful singing voice to the role. Choreographing is provided by Doug King, who previously played Cosmo Brown. He understands the intensity required for the dancing in this musical. He’s more than up for the job and keeps the actors flitting around the stage in one elaborate performance after another. The tap dancing is the highlight of the production. One of my personal favorites is “Moses Supposes,” a playful number that highlights the performers’ skills. Davila, Hill, and Kenny Shepard (Diction Teacher) never fail to stay in synch and hit their marks. Pacing in the show is tricky as the big “Singin’ in the Rain” number has t...

  A world premiere, a Hoosier playwright, and a little piece of fascinating but overlooked history. Borrowed Babies has all the makings of a great play. American Lives Theatre’s (ALT) current production is on stage at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre right now. ALT produced playwright Jennifer Blackmer’s Predictor in 2023. That show demonstrated Blackmer could highlight a piece of history while breathing life into it and developing rich characters. Borrowed Babies follows in the same vein. With stellar casting, including veteran actors Jen Johansen and Lauren Briggeman, as well as other supporting cast members, the plot delves into an unbelievably real program in the 1950s where women “borrowed” babies from orphanages and other organizations to practice homemaking skills. To be successful, a show like this has to do more than just relay the history. It has to pull the audience in and get them to care about what is happening. Between Bridget Haight’s direction, Blackmen’s writing...

  A remote country manor, a murderer on the loose, and a blizzard; put them together and you’ve got a classic Agatha Christie story. Beef & Boards opens its 2026 season with The Mousetrap and it is a delight. As the snowstorm worsens, the tension builds and the guests can’t help but question everyone’s alibi. Eddie Curry directs and the story clips along throwing red herrings in every scene. It’s perfectly paced, which should be no surprise as the world’s longest-running play has kept audiences entertained since premiering in 1952 in London. Audience members are famously asked to keep the big reveal a secret so every person who sees the shows gets to experience the twist themselves. The casting is wonderfully done. Newcomer Malia Munley nails the role of Mollie Ralston, the timid guest house owner who finds her inner steel as the danger draws closer. Crowd favorite Jonathan Cobrda was electric as Christopher Wren, a troubled young man who vacillates between whimsical and di...

  The show is brilliant, let’s start with that. If you haven’t seen it, go immediately. If you’ve seen it before, there’s so much packed into each scene that multiple viewings are essential. The Broadway Across America production is on stage now at the Old National Center (Murat Theatre). Each time I see “Hamilton” something new stands out to me. After a year marked by grief and heartache, the story of so many unexpected young deaths was painful to say the least. To have a show that is a pop sensation, still resonate such deep themes is shockingly rare in the Broadway world. Grief and legacy aren’t light topics, but the speed and humor in the show balance it nicely. Hoosier Michael Natt took the stage as Hamilton at the performance I attended. A.D. Weaver, another Hoosier in the cast, is the fearless leader, George Washinton. Jimmie “JJ” Jeter’s Aaron Burr feels a bit more sardonic than past versions.   Nathan Haydel (John Lawrence/Philip Hamilton) and Lauren Mariasoosay ...

  Hamilton’s “You’ll Be Back” might as well have been written about me and Les Misérables. There will never be a time I’m not drawn to this show. I think we often forget that musicals and plays that have become commonplace to us are still new to the next generation. Bringing my nine-year-old daughter to see the show for the first time was a beautiful experience. I remember seeing it in London for the first time at 21 and being blown away. The depth of the story, the beauty of the songs, the range of the vocals, it was a revelation. Seeing the same response from her made this production particularly special for me. Broadway Across America included this show in its season two years ago, and many of the lead actors, including Javert (Preston Truman Boyd), Valjean (Nick Cartell), the Bishop of Digne (Randy Jeter), and others, all remain the same. Their powerful performances could carry the show alone, but the large supporting cast is full of standouts. Alexa Lopez does a beautiful job ...

It’s not often you get a peek behind the curtain as an audience member in the theater. I was able to glimpse behind the scenes of the Indiana Repertory Theater’s latest production The 39 Steps. It’s impossible not to have a greater appreciation for a production when you see the actual hammering and sewing that it takes to make it happen. This particular show was done by the IRT in 2011 and many of the sets were saved. The theater-within-a-theater design and creative use of ladders and trunks made for a versatile set. It was easy to morph from a train to a plane with minimal shifts.   The show relies heavily on the gag of four people playing a huge cast of characters. Much of the heavy lifting lands on the shoulders of Ema Zivkovic and Michael Stewart Allen who each play a revolving cast of characters with enthusiasm. Often, they play multiple roles in the same scene, swapping wigs or jackets for a pipe and hat. The pair bring such energy to the play that you can’t help watching t...

  The IndyFringe Festival is back and it’s celebrating its 20th Anniversary! Attending for the first time can feel intimidating because there are six venues, 69 unique shows, and almost 250 ticketed performances from Aug. 14 th to the 24 th . But the team at Fringe has made it as user-friendly as possible. To start, there is a preview night TONIGHT! You can get a glimpse of shows and decide which ones interest you the most. Info here: WHAT :  IndyFringe Festival Preview Night WHEN : TONIGHT, Aug. 13,2025, Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Show starts at 6:00 p.m. WHERE : Then Athenaeum Basile Theatre, 401 E Michigan St., Indianapolis COST : Pay-what-you-can tickets can be purchased  online  or at the door.  For the actual festival, here are some helpful facts: Week-night shows typically run between 6:30PM & 10:30PM and weekend shows may run between 11:00AM – 11:00PM. Shows are all 45-60 minutes long and they all start on the same 90-minute intervals a...

  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...

Lovers facing an impossible obstacle, catchy pop song medleys, and epic Parisian sets, what more could you want? Moulin Rouge is the story of a courtesan with a secret and a young artist blinded by love. It’s a premise that’s hard to resist. Fans of the original movie (2001) will recognize many of the big numbers, but in this new iteration, the songs have been updated. Brittney, Beyoncé, and Adele’s work are all present, but lesser-known songs from artists like Regina Spektor make surprisingly delightful appearances. The unexpected pop hits could’ve been gimmicky, but it works because the performers nail their vocals and the audience cares deeply about the characters.   After a whirlwind opening in the nightclub, the show finds its footing as we slow down and meet our Bohemians. In the classic style of RENT, La Boheme, and Les Mis, we fall for the poverty-stricken artists with big dreams. There’s so much playful humor, even in their stark tawdry world that the overarching feeling i...

  I love a locked room mystery, but put that room on a train mired in a snowstorm and you’ve got a classic. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is the perfect mix of fascinating plot and exciting twists and turns. Even when you know the final reveal it still entertains. Ken Ludwig’s adaptation is particularly excellent; tightening the story, dropping clues in every scene, and pulling the audience in quickly. In the opening moments an eerie voice over adds a layer of creepy intimacy to the story. It sets the stage for the mystery that’s about to unfold. The real kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby provided the inspiration for this mystery, which gives it an added gravitas. Once we are on the train, the sets are beautiful. The bar car is particularly splendid and William Mohoney’s design uses space well with a turntable and an additional set on a balcony. The cast is full of Beef & Boards favorites like Eddie Curry, Suzanne Stark, Devan Mathias, Scott Greenwell, and Ben...

  The American Player Theatre is just a quick drive north to Wisconsin. For 45 seasons APT has produced a wide range of shows each summer in both their large outdoor theatre and smaller indoor location. It is always worth the drive. Much Ado About Nothing is the classic enemies-to-lovers story that set the standard for all the thousands that followed it. Merciless barbs are tossed back and forth between Beatrice and Benedick before the pair realize they’re actually in love. This production is set in a seaside town, complete with a maritime theme. Beatrice (Jessica Ko) and Benedick spark like wildfire. Their chemistry is essential for the show to work, and their verbal sparring is a joy to watch. Marcus Truschinski wears his full heart on his sleeve even when jesting as the loveable Benedick. The gentle deception of their friends pushes Beatrice and Benedick together despite their stubborn natures. Not since the film “It Happened One Night” has a sheet and a clothesline been u...

  There are a few Indy performers whose name alone is enough to get me to their show. Ben Asaykwee and Claire Wilcher are two of those actors. They’ve come together for “White City Murder”, an original musical Asaykwee created about the serial killer H.H. Holmes, who made his mark at the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893. To carry off a successful two-person musical conveying a massive amount of historical content, you need the most charismatic performers. I can’t imagine the show without Wilcher and Asaykwee. They swing from playful and campy to melancholy and disturbing in the span of a single song. They share props, trade accents, and use a simple red glove to play dozens of characters without ever making things confusing. The outrageous nature of the show keeps things moving at a brisk pace and it never lags. Most numbers use an audio looping machine to provide harmonies and backdrops. That, along with a piano built into a cabinet on the stage, is all they need to provide music in...