BWW Review: WICKED Flies Into the Old National CentreApril 27, 2018If you don't know the "Mean Girls" meets "Harry Potter" story line, WICKED is a remixed version of the goings-on before the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" and the majority of the story takes place prior to Dorothy's arrival. The story is told as a flashback by Glinda as Ozians celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda then reveals that no only did they know each other in college, they actually friends.
BWW Review: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN a Delightful Downpour at Beef And BoardsApril 17, 2018If you enjoy the old Hollywood, the one full of glamour and beautiful people and genuinely great dancing, then SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is all of that-plus a healthy dose of humor! SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is a musical theater classic and therefore a mite intimidating to take on because expectations will be so high. But at Beef & Boards, they do not shy away from that challenge and instead meet it head on.
BWW Review: Looking Down on LES MISERABLES at Old National CentreMarch 15, 2018It is a simple act to overlook those beneath you as you go about your daily life, eager to get to the next appointment or entertainment. All of this hubbub is a distraction from what goes on in the alleys and dark areas where you'd rather not look. But if you manage to 'look down,' you'll see and meet the indomitable spirit that is LES MISERABLES.
BWW Review: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST at The Belfry TheatreFebruary 7, 2018In the world of healthcare, the topic of insanity is often pushed into a corner and left to fester on its own. This sometimes sinister area of medicine can show both how much humanity we have and how little is left in us when confronted with the frailty of others. These deep and dark subjects permeate The Belfry Theatre's production of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST.
BWW Review: SENSE & SENSIBILITY (Sense & Some Hilarity) at Civic TheatreFebruary 5, 2018When the name Jane Austen is bandied about, one does not necessarily think slapstick comedy. However, somehow Kate Hamill has adapted SENSE AND SENSIBILITY to be a vehicle for uproarious laughter, to the delight of the audiences at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre in Carmel.
BWW Review: JANE LYNCH, A SWINGIN' LITTLE CHRISTMAS at The CabaretDecember 9, 2017 'Tis the season for merriment and general jollity, and both are guaranteed when you take your seat for JANE LYNCH, A SWINGIN' LITTLE CHRISTMAS at The Cabaret, housed in Cook Theater at the Indiana Landmarks building. And both the setting and the art form lent themselves to an evening of food, music, and genuine laughter.
BWW Review: FINDING NEVERLAND Takes Off at Clowes Memorial HallOctober 20, 2017Based on the 2004 movie and the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan, the musical Finding Neverland is definitely not without charm and some stage magic. The story at its core centers around the friendship of JM Barrie and a widowed mother of four boys.
BWW Review: GHOST Wonderfully Haunts at Beef And BoardsOctober 14, 2017If you are a fan of the cult classic film Ghost, you will enter the musical with high expectations. Luckily, you will not be disappointed because the musical includes the presence of all your favorite lines and the requisite sounds of Unchained Melody underlying some of the most tender moments of this love story. What I found surprising was the ease with which the stars of this cast took on the larger-than-life roles first portrayed by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg.
BWW Review: DREAMGIRLS Dazzles and Shines at Footlite MusicalsMay 10, 2017From the swish of the golden dresses to the silver zoot suits to the huge smiles of the Dreamettes, DREAMGIRLS at Footlite Musicals sure brought it last Friday night. DREAMGIRLS is a musical documenting the blood, sweat, and tears of a struggling girls group rise to the top of the charts and the positive/negative effects of showbiz mixed with some brilliant vocals.
BWW Review: 'Dancing in the Street' with MOTOWN THE MUSICAL at Old National CentreMarch 30, 2017Imagine an era full of raw energy, vivid passion, and a thirst, drive, and talent that is unparalleled in American musical history. This vibrant scene is revived in MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, an embodiment of a people's voice that speaks to the soul of America. It evokes its dreams and its drive, and the audience is not only a witness but a participant in this remembrance of a time when the sounds of pure talent were teeming from every radio.