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 ...

I think we all felt the earth move a little bit at Clowes Hall this week. Beautiful, the musical of Carol King‘s life, is on stage now. The singer/composer famous for hits like "It's Too Late" and "You've Got a Friend" had a incredible career and the musical chronicles her rise to stardom in the 1960s. I went into the show thinking I knew only two of King's songs, instead I was blown away by her body of work. Whether she sang the song originally or created it for another band like The Drifters or The Shirelles there were so many familiar oldies. I intentionally ignored the set list in the program until after the show because each new numbers provides a surprise as you hear her compose it with her lyricist husband. Those big reveals are half the fun of the show. In that way, the show is reminiscent of Jersey Boys. At times you hear a song in the early stages of creation and you get to watch its evolution as it moves from the songwriter...