Stage Write

The Lion King is one of the epic Broadway shows that everyone should see at least once in their life. It’s also one of the few stage productions based on a Disney movie that actually works. They never make the mistake of many movie-to-stage adaptations: sacrificing the heart of the story for the spectacle. It is a huge production. From Pride Rock to an elephant graveyard, the sets are so creative. I can’t think of a single show where the costumes even come close to the grandeur of The Lion King. The animal kingdom comes alive as giraffes, elephants, and birds take to the stage. The costumes are impeccable, and manage to show the movement of cheetahs and antelopes with grace and beauty. Even the jungle plants are brought to life, played by humans in elaborate outfits. Most kids are already familiar with the story from the movie, making this a very family-friendly show. It has that wow factor, and meshes a captivating plot, incredible sets, and an award-winning score together. There...

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is thrilled to announce its 2019 season. They’re Playing Our Song (Jan. 4 – Feb. 3., 2019) The season opens Jan. 4, 2019 with Neil Simon and Marvin Hamlisch’s They’re Playing Our Song, a funny, romantic show about an established composer and his relationship with a quirky aspiring female lyricist. Profesionally, their relationship is in harmony, but personally their relationship is out of sync! Grease ( Feb. 7 – March 31, 2019) Grease is the word starting Feb. 7, as the popular movie-turned-musical cruises onto the Beef & Boards stage. It’s 1959 and Sandy’s the new girl at Rydell High School who happened to have a summer romance with the school’s coolest greaser, Danny. But the school’s social waters are tougher to navigate. The hit score includes “Greased Lightnin’,” “You’re The One That I Want,” and “Summer Nights.” 42nd Street (April 4 – May 19, 2019) Starting April 4, dance on over to spectacular 42nd Street, the Tony Award...

Mark your calendars! The dates and locations of this year's Bard Fest have been announced. The annual festival brings together multiple theatre companies and this year, multiple locations, to present Shakespeare's work. This year's selection includes three popular plays produced by the founding companies, plus a new treat, a youth production. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet                     The Merchant of Venice Directed by Zach Stonerock                                Directed by Doug Powers Catalyst Repertory                                                First Folio Productions Much Ado About Nothing                                ...

Six week after giving birth I braved the outside world with my daughter for the first time completely on my own. We went to a breastfeeding support group at a local hospital. I was completely overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and somehow managed to get lost in the winding corridors. The adventure ended with me in tears in an elevator. I don’t often share personal details here, but the Phoenix Theatre’s production of Cry It Out hit close to home for me. Becoming a new parent is one of the most intense things you can experience. It is exhausting and beautiful and it brings you to your knees. It’s full of barely comprehensible paradoxes. You are immediately connected to generations of women who have done this incredible thing before you. You are also isolated as you try to learn how to survive while caring for a helpless newborn. The internet becomes a resource for tips and ideas while also becoming a place full of moms making different choices, ready to tell you how you’ve screwed up. I’ve...

In 1956 Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins spent one evening jamming together at Sun Studios. The group was referred to as the "Million Dollar Quartet" and the recording became famous. Years later a musical was made to commemorate that famous night and the show is on stage now at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Each actor brings a unique vibe to the production. Brian Michael Henry's Lewis is petulant but buzzing with energy and ambition. Christopher Wren is an incredibly talented guitarist and plays the snarky Perkins as brimming with bitterness. Edward La Cardo embraces the extreme physicality of his role as Elvis and nails the vocals, but doesn't quite capture the inherent charm of the crooner. Last but not least, Justin Figueroa's performance as the quiet, smoldering Johnny Cash just makes the show. His baritone notes and calm demeanor make you lean in and really listen every time he approaches a microphone. Jill Kelly H...

The Phoenix Theatre is excited to announce its 2018/19 season. This will be its first full season is its new home on Illinois Street.  Bright Star  Music, book, and story by Steve Martin and music, lyrics, and story by Edie Brickell Sept. 21-Oct. 7 Cabaret Poe by Ben Asaykwee (a co-production with Q Artistry)  Oct. 5-Nov. 4 A Very Phoenix Xmas 13: Merry Superstitious by Various Artists Nov. 23-Dec. 23 Apples in Winter by Jennifer Fawcett Jan. 11-Jan. 27 The Hotel Nepenthe by John Kuntz March 1-March 24 The Christians by Lucas Hnath March 29-April 14 The Children by Lucy Kirkwood April 26-May 19 White City Murder by Ben Asaykwee (a co-production with Q Artistry)  June 14-July 7 For more information about these shows or to purchase tickets, please visit PhoenixTheatre.org or call (317) 635-7529.  Photo courtesy of Zach Rosing. 

  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...