The Marriage Matinee - Page 2

There can be no doubt that there is a great weight to any role in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It is a classic novel, but it is so much more to those of us who have read it and absorbed its intensity, integrity, and challenge to evaluate our own biases. As it finds new life as a play, we had the privilege of speaking with Justin Mark who plays Jem in the current touring production. He gave us insight into his process and the ways this story still resonates with a modern audience.

Any show that calls itself 'Something - the Musical' is unabashedly announcing to its audience: 'We're goofy, and we know it.' This production unabashedly embraces its cheesiness from the start. Any critic versed in this theatrical tradition wouldn't have anticipated Menopause the Musical to be a highbrow experience. Those who dismiss the show based on reviews might miss a unique chance to witness older female actors taking center stage and openly discussing menopause.

There are many films that can be considered iconic, and that is especially true of holiday films. However, there is a special place in so many hearts for Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS. Its staying power has held true since its premiere in 1954, and there can be no doubt as to why. Every scene is full of charm, a dash of humor, and of course singing and dancing. Throw in Beef & Boards, and you’re guaranteed to have a truly festive feast!

FROZEN the film has captivated audiences with its magic, charm, and music since its release in 2013, and FROZEN the musical is all the same elements with some important and impactful twists. It’s a true spectacular and engaging for audience members young, old, and everything in between. So if you have any reservations about seeing this production on stage, let it go!

For the first time in forever, you’ll be able to watch FROZEN not on your television screen but live on stage at the Murat Theatre as a full-fledged musical. In anticipation of this fantastical experience, we were lucky enough to speak with Preston Perez who is starring as Hans in the touring production. We got to hear about his journey to the stage and also about his unique take on what makes Hans such an intriguing character. 

Originally created by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber more than 50 years ago, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is gracing the stage of Beef & Boards. Fun fact that this show was what launched Rice and Lloyd Webber’s illustrious careers, continuing with more musical collaborations including Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

GRUMPY OLD MEN split guts and warmed hearts when it first hit theaters as a movie in 1993, and its musical adaptation is no different. The musical on stage now at Beef & Boards maintains all of the charms and chortles of the original and incorporates new, reimagined moments for many of the characters. The musical provides an extra dose of reflection on the importance of living in the moment and recognizing the relationships you have, the relationships you neglect, and the relationships you may be missing out on.

Looking for twentieth-century aesthetics (think an Art Deco club) and swingin’ music, making your heart sing, you’re in luck. Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Ladies” is a 1981 musical revue of the back of Duke’s celebrated history. From early songs like “The Mooche” and “Mood Indigo” to later hits “I’m Beginning to See the Light” and “Satin Doll,” this vogueish revue taps (literally) the Duke’s music back on the stage where it rightfully belongs.

Only a couple of shows recent have received as much interest and praise as HAMILTON. A historical drama, HAMILTON is the creation of Lin-Manuel Miranda that comes with with a dash of comedy and a history lesson presented by outstanding lyrics and exciting music that switches seamlessly from a melody to a rap and back.

Les Miserables returned to Indianapolis, again, in excellent fasion, propagating its underlying message that theater can suppress the multitudes. It can be ambitious and weighty, thematically sacred, and blatantly tear-jerking.

There’s a reason that Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time: she sure knows how to write a story. Her works have been immortalized in many ways, and the stage production of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS adapted by Ken Ludwig is another great example of her storytelling prowess come to life. Audience members get to gasp, laugh, and analyze in their turn as Poirot works his mystery-solving magic.

The time has finally come, and the embargo has lifted! We can officially share the upcoming Broadway in Indianapolis season, and it sure is destined to pack a lot of punches.

FOOTLOOSE is a musical born of the beloved film from 1984 starring Kevin Bacon. It made a natural adaptation with its sensational soundtrack and heartfelt message. There is of course the titular song, FOOTLOOSE, but there are also gems like “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Let’s Hear It For the Boy.” But this musical has more to offer than exceptional music. It also explores important themes around family relationships and how to decipher between what’s protection and what’s control. Beef & Boards brings it all to life with their staging of FOOTLOOSE. You will kick up your heels, tap your toes, and go home to find your dancing shoes. 

What did our critic think of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre? The story of Anne Frank has been immortalized in her own words for decades. Her writings range from the amusing to the dramatic to the tragic, but in their essence, they capture something so fleeting: a girl struggling to become a woman in unspeakable circumstances. Her firsthand account of hiding from Nazis shows us a different side of history, one that can't be summed up in a chapter in a textbook. The Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre has brought her story to life on stage in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, a play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman, and their retelling brings out new sides to Anne's story and pushes you to see this time period from new viewpoints.

We had the pleasure of speaking to Charlie Bryant III who plays Seaweed J. Stubbs in the current tour of HAIRSPRAY. He shared his thoughts and insights about the current tour and his personal take on what makes this show so special. 

A Christmas Story, the Musical reimagines the 1983 holiday movie masterpiece with boisterous songs and dance that brought new life and excellent vocals to the season. Loving fans, rest easy. Joseph Robinette’s adaption, directed by Emily Rogge Tzucker, brightens iconic scenes and characters and enhances the humor. The lamp, the flag pole, and the turkey-mad Bumpus Hounds are all there.

It’s the holiday season and all reviewers are going to their required holiday shows... You know... Elf, A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol. It's the same stuff, different year. Not this show. This is a brand new show by a unique writers' room collaboration called A (Happy) Holiday. Feeling down or out by the holidays while everyone one else around you has holiday cheer? This is the show for you. It's got everything -- singing, dancing, a unique story, and a drag queen. Who could honestly want more?

The holiday season brings with it many familiar sights, sounds, smells, and of course, beloved cinematic and stage treasures like IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Beef & Boards chose a true gem to get every audience member into the right spirit while always recalling what’s truly important and truly worth fighting for: each other.

For all those growing up watching Disney movies, and for the kids who absolutely loved Aladdin, the Genie and Princess Jasmine or even Abu, this is a must-watch! Big band, big sound, big show — with enough energy to light up a few thousand lamps.

The rumors are true: ANASTASIA has finally made its way to Indianapolis. You may be thinking it’s just another movie turned musical, but there are new twists and turns to this rendition of the beloved animated film. There’s the romance, the legend of Anastasia, the glittering costumes and crowns, but there’s also battles with personal principles and a sense of national pride that leaves people emotionally and morally torn. In short, it has it all.