Stage Write

There’s nothing quite like a child’s first experience with live theater. Although it has been two decades I still remember my first show clearly; it was Brigadoon at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. So it was especially meaningful to get to take my nephew to his first show at the same theatre this past weekend and The Wizard of Oz provided the perfect introduction to world of musicals.   Fans of the Church Basement Ladies shows will recognize Dorothy, played by Lisa Bark. Her fresh-faced innocence is just right for the role and kids will love the fact that she’s accompanied throughout the show by a real dog playing Toto.   The rest of her gang is made up of B&B favorites like Doug King as the rubber-bodied Scarecrow, Jeff Stockberger as the cardiac-challenged Tin Man and Jayson Elliott as a Lion that’s all roar and no bite. Young audience members can’t help being delighted by the trio as they help Dorothy on her way.     Lynne Perkins clearly ...

The Indiana Repertory Theatre has announced its 2012-2013 One America Season Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, by Jeffrey Hatcher, adapted from the book by Robert Louis Stevenson
 Sept. 5 - 30  What is the nature of the beast that lives in all of us? This deliciously provocative re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic digs deep to answer the question. Smart, sexy and suspensful, Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation takes us from Victorian drawing rooms to the grim alleyways of London as it examines the inner workings of two very different personalities and the ties that bind them dangerously close. The Going Solo Festival:     The Night Watcher, by Charlayne Woodard Sept. 18 - Oct. 14  Family ties reach beyond blood in this moving, one-woman piece by acclaimed playwright Charlayne Woodard. Investigating the social and cultural challenges that come with raising kids, Woodard's tales of her "children" are transfixing and tragic. Millicent Wright returns to ch...

The Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre closes its first season in its new Carmel location with the classic musical Guys and Dolls. Men strut their stuff in zoot suits as they juggle their dames and crap games in this fun production. Sky Masterson (Nathanael Welch), is a gambler set in his bachelor ways when his path crosses with Sarah, a beautiful woman set on saving sinners. Welch does a wonderful job playing the smooth-talking Sky. He really has a chance to show off his vocal skills in “Luck Be a Lady."   Laura Lockwood embodies the role of Miss Adelaide, the long-suffering fiancé of Nathan Detroit (J.D. Walls). She steals the show with her hilarious and nasally renditions of “Take Back Your Mink” and “Adelaide’s Lament.” Nicely-Nicely Johnson, played by Craig Underwood, lit the audience up with his performance of “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” He plays the good-natured character with gusto and has wonderful buddy comedy chemistry with Benny (Troy Johnson). T...

Brought back for the second year in a row due to popular demand, the Phoenix Theatre is once again producing the smash hit Avenue Q. This twisted version of Sesame Street is an adult comedy with puppets and very grown-up problems. The show is perfect for anyone who has graduated from college in the past decade. Filled with ambition and ideals, Princeton graduates from college and heads out in the real world to find his purpose. He quickly realizes that he has no place to live, no job and no way to pay his bills; a common problem for recent grads in this struggling economy. He moves to Avenue Q, an odd street where Gary Coleman becomes his superintendent and monsters live in the building.   It’s no wonder Phoenix’ audiences flipped for this musical last summer. Director Bryan Fonseca has pulled together an amazing cast that is clearly having fun with the show. Claire Wilcher pulls double-duty as Trekkie Monster and Lucy the Slut. She’s brilliant...

The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s 40th season closes with the classic drama, The Miracle Worker. The inspirational play is based on the true story of the blind and deaf girl Helen Keller and her sign language teacher, Annie Sullivan.     The success of the show depends on the performances of its two main characters: Nora Fiffer as Annie Sullivan and Ciarra Krohne as Helen Keller. Both actors are incredible. Krohne is only 12 years old and yet she embraces her role with such abandon that it’s easy to forget you aren’t really watching Keller herself. Fiffer does a wonderful job portraying the young, formerly blind teacher who is haunted by her own demons. She’s rough around the edges, but she’s tenacious and that’s exactly what Helen needs. Their stubborn natures clash as they test each others’ wills. Keller’s parents love her, but their tender care and coddling is more harmful than they realize. It takes Sullivan’s brassy impertinence to stand up to them before things ...

The Music Man has been a nostalgic classic for decades. It captures small-town life in a way that few other musical have been able to. This show, which includes Broadway standards like, “Trouble,” “Seventy-six Trombones,” and “Til There Was You” is on stage now at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. A smooth-talking salesman, Professor Harold Hill, rolls into town with the single goal of riling people up to get them to buy his wares. His scam is a simple one: convince the townspeople that their city is in headed into dangerous territory and the only solution is to give the troubled youth something to do with their time. He then suggests they start a band for the boys and conveniently, he sells musical instruments and uniforms. He offers them both the problem and solution and makes a bundle in each city he stops in. The town’s librarian/music teacher is the only obstacle in his way. Considered an old maid by the village’s nosy biddies, Marian, played by Katie Sina, is suspicio...

It’s a rare treat in the world of theater to find a show that blends an incredible story, a breathtakingly beautiful score and superb characters. Les Misérables is one of the few musicals that has it all. It’s easy to understand why the show is celebrating its 25th anniversary tour. It’s a show that has endured through decades, touching new generations with its power and is on stage now at Clowes Memorial Hall. One thing I’ve always loved about Les Misérables is its ability to balance big cast numbers and intense solos. The combination of the two creates a powerful story of forgiveness, grace and redemption. The quiet solos, like Javert's "Stars" are just as moving as the big finale songs. Peter Lockyer stars as Jean Valjean, a man who has spent 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Lockyer's voice has incredible range and depth and his astounding performance makes the production worth seeing all on it's own. Luckily the rest of the cast is excel...