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‘Kinky Boots’ Opens @BeefandBoards Feb. 10
By Patricia Rettig
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
INDIANAPOLIS – Kinky Boots, the Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, struts onto the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre stage for the first time in 2022, featuring music by Cyndi Lauper and a heartwarming tale that’s based on a true story. Opening Feb. 10, 2022, this high-heeled hit will bring plenty of sparkle to Beef & Boards’ 49th Season!
Charlie is a factory owner struggling to save his family business. Lola is a fabulous entertainer with a wildly exciting idea.
With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair learns to embrace their differences and creates a line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen. Their most remarkable achievement, however, is their friendship.
This sparkling musical not only won the Best Musical Tony, but also Best Original Score for the talented music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, along with four additional Tony Awards, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Jacob Butler, most recently seen as Jean-Claude in Phantom and Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, stars as Charlie Price. Making his Beef & Boards debut as Lola is Jonathan Studdard. Peter Scharbrough (A Beef & Boards Christmas, Newsies) plays Don; Sarah Daniels (Newsies, Hairspray, The Little Mermaid) plays Lauren; Devan Mathias (Oklahoma!) plays Nicola; and Eddie Curry (Phantom, The Sound of Music) plays George.
Kinky Boots is on stage for 47 performances through March 27 in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets range from $51 to $76 and include the Beef & Boards dinner buffet and select beverages. Parking is always free.
For tickets, visit beefandboards.com or call the box office at 317.872.9664.
For more information, including complete performance schedule, visit beefandboards.com. Kinky Boots is sponsored in part by Current Publishing.
This show is rated PG-13 for some adult content.
Five Fort Wayne Tips for January 2022 @visitfortwayne
By Emily Hill
Visit Fort Wayne
Five tips for things to do in Fort Wayne in January 2022
- All American Outdoor Expo at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
January 7-9, 2022 - “Under The Big Top” Circus Garden at the Botanical Conservatory
January 8 to April 17, 2022 - Savor Fort Wayne Dinner Specials at Participating Restaurants
January 12-23, 2022 - Broadway at the Embassy Theatre: Cats
January 24-25, 2022 - Winterval winterfest in downtown Fort Wayne
January 29, 2022
For more information about lots more upcoming events and things to do in Fort Wayne and Allen County, visit https://www.visitfortwayne.com or stop by the Visitor Center at 927 South Harrison Street in downtown Fort Wayne.
Allen County Event Listings on AroundIndy.com: https://aroundindy.com/Allenco.php
“Saturday Night Fever” at Beef and Boards @beefandboards, Feb. 6 to Mar. 29, 2020
“Saturday Night Fever” at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.
Photo provided by the theatre and used with written permission.
By Patricia Rettig
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
INDIANAPOLIS – The fun flavor of the 1970s is “Stayin’ Alive” at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre with its premiere production of Saturday Night Fever, now on stage from Feb. 6 to Mar. 29, 2020.
Capturing the historic flavor of disco-mania in New York City, this energetic musical is based on Nik Cohn’s 1975 New York Magazine article “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night” and Norman Wexler’s 1977 film. Told through the eyes of a talented, streetwise kid from Brooklyn who attempts to escape his dead-end life through dancing, Saturday Night Fever explores relationships on and off the dance floor with humor, conflict, style and unforgettable swagger.
Powered by the chart-breaking hits of the Bee Gees, the pulsating score includes “Stayin’ Alive,” “If I Can’t Have You,” “How Deep is Your Love,” “Boogie Shoes,” and “Disco Inferno.”
Jeremy Sartin, last seen at Beef & Boards as Pablo in the 2016 production of Sister Act, and also in Les Misérables, 9 to 5, Chicago, and Legally Blonde, stars as Tony Manero. Amanda (Downey) Tong, last seen in Man of La Mancha in 2018, plays Stephanie Mangano. Also returning to the Beef & Boards stage are Peter Scharbrough (Monty), Michael Davis (Frank Manero), Susan Smith (Flo Manero), Jeff Stockberger (Mr. Fuso), and Lauren Morgan (Doreen).
Making their Beef & Boards debut in this production are Kyra Leeds (Annette), Joshua J. Schwartz (Bobby C), Damian Shembel (Frank Manero Jr.), Megan Callahan (Linda Manero), Alex Domini (Gus), Benjamin Henley (Double J), Marc Pavan (Joey), Mike D’Amico (Ceasar), Priscilla Greco (Maria), Megan Hasse (Pauline), and Megan Flynn (Candy).
Saturday Night Fever is rated PG-13 for adult language and sexual innuendo, and is on stage for 59 performances through March 29. Tickets range from $47.50 to $72.50 and include Chef Odell Ward’s buffet, fruit & salad bar, unlimited coffee, tea, and lemonade.
For tickets visit beefandboards.com, or call the box office at 317-872-9664 any time between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. For complete show schedule, visit https://beefandboards.com. Saturday Night Fever is sponsored in part by Current Publishing.
“A Doll’s House, Part 2” at Indiana Repertory Theatre Opens Mar. 12, 2019 @irtlive
Indiana Repertory Theatre in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2018, all rights reserved.
By Kerry Barmann
Indiana Repertory Theatre
Indianapolis, Ind.—This spring, the Indiana Repertory Theatre will produce the Indiana premiere of one of the most produced shows across the country, Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2. Straight from Broadway, this scaldingly funny and deadly serious exploration of divorce, family and lost love will be directed by IRT’s playwright-in-residence James Still and run March 12 to April 7, 2019 on the OneAmerica Mainstage.
The inspiration for playwright Lucas Hnath’s work is Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 A Doll’s House, a revered, controversial and groundbreaking play focused on feminism, marriage, and societal expectations—themes which continue in Part 2 and are still relevant today, 140 years after the original was written.
“The reason A Doll’s House, Part 2 is one of the most produced shows this year and in the coming years is because of what it has to say about gender, human rights, about families, about expectations of marriage, about freedom or lack thereof,” IRT’s Executive Artistic Director Janet Allen said. “Those are the things that make the story so important both today and in 1870s with Ibsen’s original work.”
Ibsen’s version ends with the “slam heard around the world” as the main character Nora leaves behind her domestic life in pursuit of identity and independence, and A Doll’s House, Part 2 starts with a knock at that same door 15 years later. What happens throughout the play is a fierce and funny five-round boxing match as the characters explore and engage their feelings and each other during an unexpected reunion.
“The fuel of this play is engagement against all odds. These characters are using whatever works to figure out what’s next for them, and they do it without self-reverence, with humor and modern-day vernaculars,” Director James Still said. “Hnath doesn’t shy away from the thorny connection between choices and consequences, but somehow he manages to tinge his play with infectious glee.”
An expertly crafted production that does not require its original to exist wholly on its own, A Doll’s House, Part 2 weaves together humor, modern language, conflict, and social issues for a theatrical experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Come see what Nora needs after 15 years of living independently from her family in A Doll’s House, Part 2. Tickets now available!
DETAILS
WHERE:
Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W Washington Street, OneAmerica Mainstage
RUN DATES:
March 12 – April 7, 2019, various times. A Doll’s House, Part 2 is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets and performance schedule available at IRTlive.com.
TICKETS:
Tickets start at $25. Click to buy.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM:
TRACY MICHELLE ARNOLD | Nora
BECCA BROWN | Emmy
NATHAN HOSNER | Torvald
KIM STAUNTON | Anne Marie
JAMES STILL | Director
ANN SHEFFIELD | Scenic Design
ALEX JAEGER | Costume Design
MICHELLE HABECK | Lighting Design
TOM HORAN | Sound Design
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Friday, March 15, 2019 | Performance at 7:30 PM | Opening Night
Raise a glass and salute the cast at IRT’s Opening Night! After the show, the marquee lights shine bright as you’re treated to a champagne toast and hors d’oeuvres, and invited to a one-time-only chance to explore the set with IRT Artisans.
Thursday, March 21, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM | Cookies & Coffee
Cookies and coffee will satisfy your sweet tooth, and our production will leave you wanting more! Luckily, you can have a sweet experience at the IRT’s Cookie and Coffee matinee where cookies, coffee and tea can be enjoyed before the 2 PM performance.
Sunday, March 24, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM | IRTea Talk
After the performance enjoy tea, cookies and coffee while engaging in a post-show discussion with IRT actors, cast and guests.
Sunday, March 24, 2019 | Performance at 2 PM | ASL/AD
The IRT offers ASL/AD services to our patrons with vision and hearing needs. Patrons with hearing needs are encouraged to sit in the interpretation zone and meet with the interpreter before the show. We also offer Assisted Listening Devices free of charge at each performance. To learn more visit irtlive.com/accessibility.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 | Following the 7:30 PM performance | Backstage Tour
Immediately following this performance, join IRT staff for an explorative and informative backstage tour. Tours typically last 30 minutes.
Saturday, March 30, 2019 | Performance at 4 PM | Post-Show Discussion
Join IRT staff and cast immediately after the performance for a post-show discussion that covers a variety of interesting topics related to the show. Post-show discussions typically last for 20 minutes.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 | Happy Hour starts at 5:30 PM | Performance at 6:30 PM | Happy Hour
Imbibe like a local at IRT’s Happy Hour! Happy Hour starts at 5:30 PM, an hour before the performance. Sip on local libations and then nosh on mouth-watering nibbles.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 | Performance at 7:30 PM | Post-Show Discussion
Join IRT staff and cast immediately after the performance for a post-show discussion that covers a variety of interesting topics related to the show. Post-show discussions typically last for 20 minutes.
For more information, visit irtlive.com or call 317-635-5252.
“Singin’ in the Rain” at Beef & Boards, Apr. 12 to May 26, 2018 @beefandboards
“Singin’ in the Rain” at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.
Photo provided by the theatre and used with written permission.
By Patricia Rettig
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
INDIANAPOLIS – April showers are guaranteed this April at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. But the rain isn’t going to be falling on the roof – it’s on the stage!
The refreshing romantic comedy Singin’ in the Rain – the stage version of one of MGM’s most celebrated films – pours onto the Beef & Boards stage starting April 12, 2018.
Set in 1920s Hollywood, this classic is the story of Don Lockwood, a famous actor in silent films. His success is shared by his co-star, Lina Lamont, but – at least for Don — their romance is only for the screen. When they star in their first talking movie, Lina’s grating voice causes studio executives to arrange for the voice of the beautiful young actress, Kathy Selden, to be used instead. When Lina finds out, she is furious. While Don has eyes for the lovely Kathy, Lina isn’t about to be pushed aside – on screen, or off.
Memorable songs include “Good Morning,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” and the title tune.
Timothy Ford returns to Beef & Boards to reprise his 2011 role as Don Lockwood. Kimberly Doreen Burns, who made her Beef & Boards debut last season as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, plays his love interest, Kathy Selden. Sarah Hund reprises her hilarious portrayal of Lina Lamont and Buddy Reeder (Mary Poppins, CATS) returns to play Cosmo Brown, Don Lockwood’s zany friend and sidekick.
There are 48 performances of Singin’ in the Rain scheduled in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre from April 12 to May 26, 2018.
Tickets range from $44 to $69, and include Chef Odell Ward’s dinner buffet, fruit & salad bar, unlimited coffee, tea and lemonade.
For reservations, call the box office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. For complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.
Singin’ In The Rain is sponsored in part by the National Bank of Indianapolis.
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