Jennifer Ladner News

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 undeniable.

It's the story that takes one girl from pauper to princess and captivated little girls everywhere for generations. Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's Pyramid Players present the classic fairy tale Cinderella live on stage select dates starting Feb. 17.

It takes magic to bring a wooden puppet to life, but the Beef & Boards Pyramid Players will know just what to do this fall in their production of Pinocchio.

Now on stage at Beef and Boards is the ogre-sized, greatest fairy tale never told: the breathtaking Broadway musical adaptation of the hit movie Shrek. On one level, SHREK THE MUSICAL is silly family fun, but digging deeper into the story, there are messages that are crucial in life. The Princess, Fiona, never loses her faith in her fairytales. She is trapped in a tower, surrounded by boiling lava, with a fire-breathing dragon Hell-bent on keeping any interloper at bay. I greatly admire her character; how many people would give up on their dreams and just off themselves? I wanted to escape the cornfields of the Amish countryside desperately when I was young, and the odds were greatly against me. I never gave up on my dreams, and today I own a house by the ocean in Hawaii, and have my own knight in shining armor. Theatre gives you the chance to dream about how life can be, should be, or will be. It's like a seed that gets planted in your mind and one day can grow into a mighty oak.

Audience is enthralled with BSO again featuring the musical HAIRSPRAY

The first musical of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's 2015 Season is a fun-filled, energetic production by the Gershwin brothers, with rhythm that comes straight from the heart of musical theatre. Opening tonight, Feb. 12 is Crazy for You, the three-time Tony Award winning show that features spectacular songs, exhilirating dancing and a sweet story - who could ask for anything more?

The first musical of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's 2015 Season is a fun-filled, energetic production by the Gershwin brothers, with rhythm that comes straight from the heart of musical theatre. Opening Feb. 12 is Crazy for You, the three-time Tony Award winning show that features spectacular songs, exhilirating dancing and a sweet story - who could ask for anything more?

A classic comes to the stage when Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's Pyramid Players present a one-hour musical version of Sleeping Beauty this fall. Based on the favorite childhood fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, this final production in the 2014 Live Theatre for Kids series is now on stage through Nov. 15 for kids of all ages.

Since its highly successful Broadway debut 80 years ago, Anything Goes has been revived multiple times and now receives a world premiere symphonic version with Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) and an all-star Broadway cast, tonight, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, as part of the ISO's Printing Partners Pops Series at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Since its highly successful Broadway debut 80 years ago, Anything Goes has been revived multiple times and now receives a world premiere symphonic version with Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) and an all-star Broadway cast, Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, as part of the ISO's Printing Partners Pops Series at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Since its highly successful Broadway debut 80 years ago, Anything Goes has been revived multiple times and now receives a world premiere symphonic version with Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) and an all-star Broadway cast, Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, as part of the ISO's Printing Partners Pops Series at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra today announced the cast for On Broadway with Kander & Ebb: Celebrating Chicago, Cabaret and All That Jazz, a world premiere pops production of music from legendary and award-winning composers, John Kander (b. 1927) and Fred Ebb (1928-2004). Created by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, On Broadway with Kander & Ebb opens the Indianapolis Symphony's Printing Partners Pops Series for the 2013-2014 season on Friday andSaturday, Oct. 4 and 5, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Check out a sneak peek at the cast below!

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra today announced the cast for On Broadway with Kander & Ebb: Celebrating Chicago, Cabaret and All That Jazz, a world premiere pops production of music from legendary and award-winning composers, John Kander (b. 1927) and Fred Ebb (1928-2004). Created by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, On Broadway with Kander & Ebb opens the Indianapolis Symphony's Printing Partners Pops Series for the 2013-2014 season on Friday andSaturday, Oct. 4 and 5, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis.

It was a night to remember when John Waters narrated the story of Hairspray to a sold-out crowd at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore.

At a rehearsal this week, the media were treated to four impressive numbers from the show: 'Good Morning Baltimore', 'That's Where It's At', 'Big Blonde and Beautiful', and 'Your Timeless to Me'. Check out the photos below!

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brought together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! premiered with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Jan. 11-13, 2013, and will premiere with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra tonight, Jan. 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Jan. 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013.