Indianapolis Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 3

Review: Cheers to Singing Away at ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - August 23, 2022

Jimmy Buffet is a beloved part of the musical fabric of America, and so it makes complete sense that JIMMY BUFFET’S ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE is just as endearing and just plain fun. This musical is a great way to feel transported to the simplicity of a beach vacation and live awhile on “island time....

Review: HONKY TONK ANGELS Charms at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - July 18, 2022

The beat of the drum and the twang of the guitar are calling you to HONKY TONK ANGELS at Beef & Boards. When a band of three women are flung together by chance, the results are a series of both charming and hilarious antics strung together by some of country music’s greatest hits....

BWW Review: MARY POPPINS Delights Families at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
by Melissa Hall - May 24, 2022

Mary Poppins, the classic story of a practically-perfect nanny who comes to care for the neglected Banks children is on stage now at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. It’s a perfect show for families with young kids to enjoy. Statues come to life and kites are flown as the characters learn the timeles...

BWW Review: COPING WITH AUTUMN: A Hot Take on Mental Health at Arts For Lawrence
by The Marriage Matinee - May 15, 2022

Coping With Autumn considers the strength of human nature and is brutal challenged during the production. The question arises about what we will uncover after apprehension, violence, and hopelessness have taken their toll on Autumn....

BWW Review: DEAR EVAN HANSEN, We Applaud You at Murat Theatre
by The Marriage Matinee - April 28, 2022

As with any massively popular production, you have to wonder if the hype matches the reality. In the case of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, the reality more than exceeds the expectations. This production is full of not only exceptional musical moments but also an enthralling story. It holds you captivated from b...

BWW Review: DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Murat Theatre
by Melissa Hall - April 27, 2022

High school is a different world from what many of us experienced growing up. Now, social media is an integral part of life and that fact is evident from the scrolling feeds presented on the hanging panels of the Dear Evan Hansen set. The story of a community coping with the suicide of a teenage boy...

BWW Review: THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - April 24, 2022

Two years ago this play, The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin, was deep in rehearsals at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. It was set to open in March 2020… and then the world shut down. Miraculously, the entire original cast has returned for this production....

BWW Review: HELLO, DOLLY! Back Where She Belongs at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - April 04, 2022

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 c...

BWW Review: MEAN GIRLS isn't just a regular show, it's a cool show at the Murat Theatre
by The Marriage Matinee - March 31, 2022

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....

BWW Review: KINKY BOOTS at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
by Melissa Hall - March 01, 2022

If the name didn’t give it away, this is not your average Beef & Boards production. The Broadway hit roars onto the stage with drag queens in stiletto heels and a whole lot of sass. Based on a true story, the musical’s message of accepting people for who they are is more timely than ever....

BWW Review: Find Your Dream with PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL
by The Marriage Matinee - February 17, 2022

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....

BWW Review: FAHRENHEIT 451 at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - February 09, 2022

The Indianapolis Repertory Theatre is heating up these cold snowy days with a sci-fi classic. Fahrenheit 451 is on stage until Feb. 20 on the OneAmerica MainStage. One would hope that this play would become irrelevant in our world, but unfortunately, it’s more important than ever....

BWW Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Turns 50 at Clowes Memorial Hall
by The Marriage Matinee - January 21, 2022

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 prod...

BWW Review: SHEER MADNESS at Beef & Boards - A Cut Above the Rest
by The Marriage Matinee - January 02, 2022

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....

BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - December 05, 2021

Have we ever needed a return to this cozy tradition more? The familiar landscape of fake snow and glowing lanterns welcomes new and old audiences to the Indiana Repertory Theatre's A Christmas Carol. There are many new elements in the production this year giving it a fresh feel, full of hope and pro...

BWW Review: A BEEF & BOARDS CHRISTMAS is Merry and Bright at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - December 01, 2021

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 fest...

BWW Review: ELIZABETH REX at Theatre At The Fort
by Melissa Hall - November 06, 2021

The finale of this year’s bard fest is Elizabeth Rex, a play based on the true story of the execution of the Earl of Essex, the Queen’s lover, for treason. This fictionalized account takes us into a barn holding Shakespeare and his players on the eve of the execution. They receive a visit from the Q...

BWW Review: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Sweetens the Scene at Clowes Memorial Hall
by The Marriage Matinee - October 21, 2021

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 o...

BWW Review: THE BOOK CLUB PLAY at Indiana Repertory Theatre
by Melissa Hall - October 21, 2021

Add together one book club, six members, six meetings, and what do you get? The answer is a lot of drama with a big dose of farcical fun. The Book Club Play is a fast-paced look at one group’s love of reading and how it shapes their lives. From Moby Dick to Twilight, the club tackles reads that shin...

BWW Review: PHANTOM Haunts Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - October 11, 2021

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 an...

DEAR EVAN HANSEN, PRETTY WOMAN, MEAN GIRLS & More Will Bring Broadway To Indianapolis This Season
by The Marriage Matinee - September 10, 2021

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....

BWW Review: NEWSIES Makes Headlines at Beef & Boards
by The Marriage Matinee - August 23, 2021

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.'...

BWW Review: SMART PEOPLE at Monument Theatre Company
by The Marriage Matinee - August 09, 2021

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....

BWW Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Muny
by James Lindhorst - August 04, 2021

Tonight, the classic musical, The Sound of Music, opened as the second offering of The Muny’s 103rd season. According to the show’s director, Matt Kunkel, The Sound of Music, is a show about love of God, family, and country. Kunkel is helming his first full scale production after serving as a Muny d...