Stage Write

 Sweeney Todd is a deliciously dark musical that tackles a revenge story worthy of The Count of Monte Cristo. The content is not for the faint of heart, but the Stephen Sondheim musical is a classic for a reason.  The famous score is brought to life in reverberating tones by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra in the first-ever collaboration between the group and the Actors Theatre of Indiana. The 32-piece orchestra is on stage, just behind the simple set. An 80-person choir provides the backdrop, rising above the action and adding a Greek chorus element to the tragedy. The unique set up adds gravitas to the big numbers, as does Erin Meyer's lighting design, filling the ample space with an eerie red glow. The whole production has an operatic feel that suits the material beautifully. Don Farrell plays the title character and the role allows him to showcase his incredible baritone voice. He is full of grief and a bloodthirsty rage. Judy Fitzgerald is Mrs. Lovett, his partner in...

  When the Theatre on the Square closed the Indy theatre community couldn't help but worry and speculate about what would happen next. It breathed a collective sigh of relief when the building was saved. Now named The District Theatre, the Mass Ave space opens its doors with the musical Forbidden Broadway. The show is a wink and an elbow to the ribs to all theatre lovers and provides a chance to laugh at campy renditions of well-known songs. No beloved musical is safe from skewering. From Les Misérables to Lion King, everything is fair game. The show is a production from the Actors Theatre of Indiana and stars all three co-founders (Don Farrell, Cynthia Collins and Judy Fitzgerald), plus a fourth performer, Logan Moore. The company usually performs in Carmel and so their southern migration is a treat for those who prefer Mass Ave to braving the world of roundabouts.    Throughout the show, Brent Marty provides piano accompaniment as the actors ham it up. His mu...

One bride, one mom, and three potential dads all on one Greek island; the premise of Mama Mia! might seem silly, but its playful absurdity provides the right framework for a musical built around ABBA songs. Beef & Board Dinner Theatre’s current production captures that spirit and runs with it. The 2007 Broadway Across America production felt much more like a concert. Beef & Boards’ show instead has a more intimate feel and it shines a light on the lovely mother/daughter relationship at the heart of the story. It also emphasizes the message that your identity is not created by your “family”, it’s something you must discover for yourself. Both Sophie (Rachelle Rose Clark) and her onstage mother Donna (Amy Bodnar) give enthusiastic performances. Bodnar is a Broadway veteran, who is new to the Beef & Boards stage. Her performance of “The Winner Takes It All” completely knocked it out of the park. Her vocal skills shine in those powerful solo moments. Tanya played...

Fairytales are familiar fare at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, but the darker stories in Into the Woods are not. The theatre is currently producing the Stephen Sondheim musical for the first time. The show explores the lives of Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel, etc. with a much more realistic twist. What happens after the happily ever after ?  Don Farrell and Meaghan Sands play the baker and his wife. The pair is the heart of the show. Their struggle with infidelity drives them into the woods to break a curse. The two work well as a married couple, frustrated with each other and loving in equal measure. Sands is particularly good, providing a grounded center in the midst of chaos. Her vocals are beautiful. Farrell finds his voice during the number “No More”. “Agony” sung by Cinderella’s Prince (Timothy Ford), and Rapunzel’s Prince (Mickey Rafalski), is one of the highlights of the show. For me it blends the production’s tongue-in-cheek humor, excellent singi...