Indianapolis Theater Reviews

Review: THE KING AND I at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
by Melissa Hall - April 11, 2024

Thirty years ago I saw my very first professional musical. I was just a kid, and I was in awe of the performance at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. That very same show, The King and I, is on stage now and the magic is still there. It may be tinged with nostalgia for me, but the talent on stage is unde...

Review: The Train to Pain Rolls Through Indy: HADESTOWN at Clowes Memorial Hall
by The Marriage Matinee - April 05, 2024

Hadestown, the Tony Award-winning musical, has continued to enchant audiences with its unique blend of myth, music, and storytelling. Recently, a performance at Clowes Memorial Hall offered a glimpse into this underworld tale, showcasing both the production's prowess and the talent of its cast....

Review: Honey, Honey Get to MAMMA MIA! at Clowes Memorial Hall
by The Marriage Matinee - February 29, 2024

MAMMA MIA! is an electrifying and heartwarming musical that never fails to delight audiences, and the national tour I experienced last night was no exception. From start to finish, the production was filled with infectious energy, stunning choreography, and, most importantly, incredible vocal perfor...

Review: A Beautiful Tribute: Reflecting on BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - February 11, 2024

Last night, I had the pleasure of immersing myself in the timeless melodies and poignant story of 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' at Beef & Boards. From start to finish, the production radiated charm, nostalgia, and heartfelt emotion, leaving the audience entranced and uplifted. As I reflect on...

Review: THE MINUTES at American Lives Theatre
by Melissa Hall - January 29, 2024

The stodgy claustrophobic feel of the first half of the show is intentional and director Christ Saunders handles it beautifully. We are meant to be just as frustrated as Mr. Peel at the red tape and wheel spinning of the committee....

Review: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Clowes Memorial Hall
by The Marriage Matinee - January 25, 2024

'To Kill a Mockingbird' remains relevant and poignant, addressing themes that resonate across generations. The play's success lies not only in its compelling source material but also in the exceptional talent of the cast, particularly the nuanced portrayal of Atticus Finch and the authentic depictio...

Review: MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL Perfect Parodies and Loads of Laughs at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - January 08, 2024

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 hi...

Review: MATILDA at Buskirk-Chumley Theater
by Melissa Hall - December 19, 2023

Matilda is an entertaining show, but the message at its heart is the transformative power of finding love and connection. And that's just about perfect for the holiday season.  ...

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - December 06, 2023

A Christmas Carol is back at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. This holiday tradition is an audience favorite for a reason. New this year, Priscilla Lindsay directs and brings so much humor into the show with playful moments between the cast members. ...

Review: I'm Dreaming of a Beef & Boards WHITE CHRISTMAS
by The Marriage Matinee - November 26, 2023

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 f...

Review: FROZEN at Murat Theatre Is Mystical, Magical, Fractal Fun
by The Marriage Matinee - November 19, 2023

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 ha...

Review: FROZEN with Broadway Across America
by Melissa Hall - November 22, 2023

The mega-hit musical Frozen is on stage now at the Old National Centre. I can’t think of many shows that would be a better fit for a child’s first Broadway experience. These characters are so beloved and watching the show was like leaning into one of Olaf’s warm hugs....

Review: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - October 13, 2023

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 includ...

Review: MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - September 24, 2023

Do you think you know the story of Frankenstein? Do you picture a green-skinned creature with bolts in his neck? The true story is less about the monster than it is about its creator and this adaptation looks closely at the writer behind the story. It's a tale of man's hubris and catastrophic guilt ...

Review: GRUMPY OLD MEN Reels in the Laughs at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - August 29, 2023

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 character...

Review: Tap, Snap, and Sway at SOPHISTICATED LADIES at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - July 18, 2023

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 “...

Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
by Melissa Hall - May 22, 2023

If you want to be reminded of the magic of theater, take a young child to see their first show. It’s nothing short of exhilarating to see their face light up when a story comes alive in front of them. Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s current production of Beauty and the Beast pulls out all the stops. ...

Review: PREDICTOR at American Lives Theatre
by Melissa Hall - May 17, 2023

American Lives Theatre (ALT) closes its strong season with Predictor at the Phoenix Theatre. On the surface, it’s the story of one woman’s fight, but underneath that, the heart of the play lies in the friendship, determination, generational legacy, and so much more that help drive Meg Crane. In the ...

Review: HAMILTON Rises Up at Murat Theatre
by The Marriage Matinee - May 03, 2023

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...

Review: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
by Melissa Hall - April 05, 2023

If you love dancing, have I got a show for you! An American in Paris is on stage for the first time at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Many will recognize the story from the Oscar-winning 1951 film of the same name. The familiar Gershwin score and songs are lovely and “They Can’t Take That Away From M...

Review: SHAKESPEARE'S WILL at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - March 31, 2023

Shakespeare's Will is a one-woman show about the Bard's wife. At a brisk 90 minutes, the show covers a lot of ground. The famous playwright leaves grief in his wake, but Anne Hathaway was a woman with her own story....

Review: LES MISERABLES Returns to Clowes Memorial Hall
by The Marriage Matinee - March 19, 2023

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....

Review: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Brings A Tantalizing Whodunnit To Civic Theatre
by The Marriage Matinee - March 14, 2023

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...

Review: FOOTLOOSE Cuts Loose at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - February 14, 2023

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.” B...