The Marriage Matinee - Page 6

We had the honor to speak recently with one of the stars of the upcoming production of THE LION KING that is coming through Indianapolis shortly for Broadway Across America. Gerald Ramsey is portraying the iconic character of Mufasa and has done so for a few years now.

A period of intense drought hardly seems the breeding ground for either hilarity or romance, but RAINMAKER somehow manages to make a drought the perfect setting for both. Its fast-paced dialogue and intense characters help it strike a balance of fun and thought-provoking moments.

Our subject today is pretty simple… newspapers and the people who sell 'em. We are going to start this review by asking you to try to picture a special kind of super-tabloid. This Fort Wayne Civic Theatre adaptation of the 1992 Disney movie musical - itself inspired by the New York newsboy strike of 1899 comes roaring to life on stage, and this show certainly takes it to you. Seriously though… You don't hear lines like "We've got a union!" coming from "The Little Mermaid."

Once you've read past the words 'happily ever after,' the book typically closes and all is right with the world. But INTO THE WOODS takes that idea and turns it on its head. Haven't you ever wondered what happens beyond those three words? Is the prince really that charming? Does the death of an enemy cure all ills? That is what makes this musical so amusing and enticing. It is a chance to look past the last page.

It may have been 20 years since RENT first took Broadway by storm, but there's a clear reason why it's earned a 20th anniversary tour. It resonates with truths that echo through all decades, not just the one in which it was created.

DOGFIGHT seems to imply a ring of competitors, lots of sweat, and probably a few black eyes. But in this frolicsome musical it means an all-out brawl…about who has the ugliest date. This, combined with a trio of 'bad boys,' makes DOGFIGHT a real treat for viewers who visit Buck Creek Players.

If 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.

If 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.

It 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.

In 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.

When 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.

'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.

This season of festivities feels incomplete without the iconic phrase, You'll shoot your eye out, kid! It would seem impossible to improve upon the cinematic genius that brought that phrase into vogue, but A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL has proven that wrong.

With Thanksgiving barely being survived and a nutty Black Friday put behind me, it was time for the 25th (and final) A Beef & Boards Christmas!

Drawing from ethnic flavors of Latin music and the modern, 21st-century popular styles of rap and hip-hop, IN THE HEIGHTS, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and directed by Karin Stratton, tells the story of a close-knit group of friends in the Washington Heights.

Based 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.

If 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.

Academia. Culture. Anthropology. In-depth study. Research. Data collection. These hardly seem the buzz words for an impactful and insightful play, yet each of those weighty words holds sway in HUMAN RITES.

The Depression Era brings to mind vivid images of poverty, bread lines, and tent cities. However, one couple decided that they would turn this time of nothing into a time of plenty. Enter the dastardly villains of BONNIE AND CLYDE.

From 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.