The Marriage Matinee - Page 3

Since its debut, DEAR EVAN HANSEN has rocked the musical world with its impactful message and incredible score. We wanted to know more about its inner workings and how the latest cast for the national tour takes on this powerhouse show.

A huge draw of live theater is the touch of nostalgia, that craving for the classics and a different era. That is exactly what you can expect at HELLO, DOLLY!, now on the stage at Beef & Boards. This timeless musical brings you the heartwarming charm of years gone by, complete with swirling period costumes and jaunty tunes.

For me, musical adaptations of movies can be either a hit or miss with no in-between. I am happy to say that the musical version of Mean Girls, based on the cult classic 2004 movie, was maybe more fun than the movie itself.

We were lucky enough to be invited to the “cool kids table” to have a chat with the incomparable Janis Ian from MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL, played by Mary Kate Morrisey. It was a highly informative experience, and she gave us the inside scoop, even though we forgot to wear pink on Wednesday and don’t even go here. 

There is always an inherent risk to taking a classic movie and trying to redo it in some way. That risk pays off with PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL. This production has charm, humor, and that all-essential romance we love from the film. Missing out on this touring show would be a big mistake. Big. Huge.

It’s time for breaking barriers and discovering a modern fairy tale in PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL coming to Indianapolis the 15th through the 20th. Before this fabulous show hits the stage, we had a moment to talk to Jessica Crouch, who is playing Kit De Luca. She gave us some special peeks behind the magic and into the process that brought this beloved story to Broadway.

The 1970's rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR celebrated its 50th anniversary this year and the anniversary tour is currently at Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis. This iconic musical has always been one of our favorites, and we've have lost count of how many times we've seen it. This touring production exceeded every one of our very high expectations. While it remained true to the original version, some contemporary tweaks brought it to a new level of greatness.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is coming soon to Indianapolis, and we had the good fortune to talk to Jenna Rubaii, who plays Mary Magdalene in the latest Broadway touring production. She offered us keen insights into what makes this production different and gave us a glimpse behind the curtain to learn more about how the magic we see is created by the cast.

Comedy, crime, and quick wits describe every minute of SHEAR MADNESS. This piece is the longest running play in American theater for a reason. It combines a little of all your theatrical favorites with some location-specific additions and even audience participation.

It’s officially December, and the holiday season is upon us! Twinkle lights and vibrant colors are starting to fill up windows form stores to homes. Luckily, this holiday frenzy has spread to Beef & Boards. A BEEF & BOARDS CHRISTMAS is a winning tribute to the sounds, sights, and smells of this festive season.

Nothing compares to the joy and freedom of pure imagination, and that is what CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY brings to the stage. It is an unbridled celebration of the enduring power of the creative mind to make the world ever more expansive and astounding. And the greatest source of that power often is found in an unexpected place, like the mind of a child. You can never underestimate the value of a child’s ability to make things new.

Broadway Across America is coming back to life, and it’s ready to hit Indy with the fun and fantastical CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This musical brings to life the much-beloved classic children's book by Roald Dahl, also adapted for film twice. In anticipation of opening night, we were lucky enough to get to interview Audrey Belle Adams, who stars as Mrs. Gloop in the upcoming tour. Hear her reflections on what it means to be back and what makes this such a great show to launch the season.

If you’re a fan of musical theatre, then you have had some exposure to the deeply dark and moving tale of the Phantom who lived in the bowels of the Paris Opera House. However, you’re most likely thinking of the version by Andrew Lloyd Weber. While that musical is iconic in its own ways, there is another PHANTOM you can encounter in musical theatre. This version has music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit. This adaptation has been brought to life in Indianapolis by Beef & Boards, and it is a haunting yet exhilarating experience.

We were lucky enough recently to sit down and (virtually) chat with Leslie Broecker, President of Broadway Across America Midwest. She is a delightful and charismatic woman who brings an obvious enthusiasm to her role. As we spoke with her, we heard some poignant reminders about what makes live theater so special and also some tidbits about what’s next for Broadway’s return to stages across the U.S.

It’s official: Broadway soon to be back in Indianapolis. The 41 celebrated theaters from Midtown to Lincoln Center have been boarded up since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as across the entire nation.

Now's the time to seize some tickets for Beef & Board's showing of NEWSIES. This fun and high-energy show provokes a nice balance of laughter and thought, as the newsies of New York take on 'the big guys.'

After a long time away from live theater, “Smart People” was the perfect show to return to. As an artwork, it has a supreme blend of moments to make you laugh, cringe, and question. As a performance, it has the actors with the chops to make this daring piece come to life in riveting ways.

The premise is simple: a theatrical group who comes together in the hopes of producing their first a?oeprofessionala?? performance, a dramatic murder mystery. The action of it is far from simple as everyone's best intentions turns into everyone's worst nightmares. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is burgeoning with classic physical humor and over-the-top personalities that will consume your attention from start to finish.

We were lucky enough to get to speak with Chris French who plays Jonathan Harris in THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG opening at Clowes Memorial Hall February 25th. He had plenty to say about what makes this show something special and why it's a fun departure from the musicals most patrons are used to from Broadway Across America.

DUTCHMAN by Amiri Baraka has an essence all its own that is complicated, lyrical, and timeless. This production by Monument Theatre Company pushes at the edges of comfort and makes you as an audience member not only pay attention but also become a part of what is happening on the stage.