Actors Theatre of Indiana: Chicago the Musical

Actors Theatre of Indiana has opened Chicago the Musical, in its new home at The Studio Theater, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel.
The 1997 Tony Award-winning production, which runs through May 22, is always popular and well suited to a large or small stage. Directed by Judy Fitzgerald, this version has the musical quartet to the side of the stage but still involved with the show.

Readers of Gotta Go will be pleased to find familiar names in this show, including Beef And Boards regulars, such as Destination Actor J. Vessels (Smoke on the Mountain) portraying Mary Sunshine, Paul Hansen (Spelling Bee) as Amos Hart, Kenny Shepard (Wizard of Oz), and Sally Scharbrough (Hairspray).

Paul Hansen as Amos Hart

Holly Stults portrays murderess Velma Kelly with a solid vocal and dance performance, while Cynthia Collins turns in an equally solid Roxie Hart. Kelly and Hart want to be stars in the worst way possible, and are willing to murder anyone who gets in their way. When their crimes land them in prison, they opt for Razzle Dazzle lawyer, Billy Flynn, portrayed by Bradley Reynolds.

The entire cast blends well and there is obvious enjoyment by all as they work All That Jazz. Stepping into this week's Gotta Go spotlight is Paul Hansen as Amos Hart, Roxie's pathetically optimistic husband. Hansen's Mr. Cellophane is the perfect combination of dejection and acceptance at his lot in life. Throughout the show his character sublimely continues to hope that Roxie isn't the conniving self-absorbed wrench she actually is and is still his blushing bride.

The spotlight also shines brightly on Reynolds, Collins, Vessels and company in the delightfully twisted We Both Reached for the Gun. Admitting he is the puppet master, Flynn explains to Roxie how she needs to simply say whatever he tells her and the newspaper reporters will mimic the sentiments. The acknowledgment of his powers of influence are demonstrated perfectly in this favorite song and dance number.

A special note regarding Scharbrough who plays Murderess Annie. I have followed her career over the past four years and believe she has now evolved from the innocent characters and is ready to handle a vixen or tough role, perhaps even Chicago's Velma Kelly. It's wonderful to see her develop her abilities and look forward to seeing her handle stronger roles in the future.

Bottom Line: ATI's Chicago blends strong choreography, vocals and seasoned performers for the first show in its new home.

Photos: Julie Curry Photography

 Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, music, restaurant and performing arts critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook or email her at elizabeth@gottago.us.
Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Beef and Boards: A Beef and Boards Christmas 2010

Santa, Anna and Sydney Miller

Change, not always welcome, can be a good thing. Case in point: Beef and Boards' A Beef and Boards Christmas. As if waking from a slumber, the north side dinner theater revamped, re-choreographed and re-energized its show, serving this holiday dish as a variety show-style production (think Dean Martin, Bob Hope, et al.) complete with a guffaw-a-minute emcee (Eddie Curry) and a flying reindeer. Not to worry, there's only one airborne creature.

Bair, Mild, Vessels and Dickerson

Principal singers include destination actor John Vessels (Smoke on the Mountain), Christine Mild (Always...Patsy Cline), Christopher Dickerson (BBC '09) and newcomer Traci Bair. Popular dance duo Kenny Shepard and Deb Wims return to waltz and tap their way across the stage.

Deb Wims and Kenny Shepard

Most noticeable this year is the lightheartedness of the performers. Curry (Church Basement Ladies) keeps the show racing along with the corniest of jokes told in the most endearing way.

Shepard and Wims absolutely flourish this year, singing and dancing as if they have not a care in the world and drank a gallon of energizing Noni juice for breakfast. A joy to watch, this is truly the best exhibition by the couple witnessed by this critic.

Christine Mild

The exchange of Santa is a great asset as Mark Fishback provides the innocence necessary for the jolly old elf. He further endears himself by interacting with the audience moving from table to table announcing who made the naughty or nice list.

Vivacious Mild once more proves her ability particularly during Santa Tonight with Fishback and her solo Christmas Is. 

Keeping with the variety show style, Terry Woods and the B&B Orchestra enhance the show by performing live on stage throughout the evening.

Although this is clearly the best overall Christmas show I have seen at B&B, there remain some missed opportunities.

Two to be exact: Vessels and Dickerson.

Christopher Dickerson

This critic is uncertain as to the reason behind the decision to bring, once more, from New York City, the man with the smooth-as-cognac voice and then use him only for quartets, a duo and a semi-solo with a chorus. As the bass-voiced opera singer who stopped last year’s show with his rendition of Oh Holy Night, surely it would only enhance the show to have an extra solo from Dickerson. Certainly the fact that he was granted the most applause, thunderous both last and this year, would indicate the audience’s desire for more.

John Vessels

Vessels’ powerful vocals and ability to draw laughter from the audience with every entrance should be enough to grant him more solo stage time, also. Perhaps the decision-makers could sit in my seat and view the audience's reaction when either of these two performs. Whether or not it is understood is not relevant, it just is. We get it and that is all that matters.

I realize it is a variety show and do not mean to imply others are unworthy of their stage time at all, merely to point out an increase of certain performers can enhance the production that much more.

Bottom Line: A Beef and Boards Christmas is a must-see for fans of old-fashioned variety shows, holiday tunes and dancing characters.

Website: beefandboards.com

Photos: juliecurryphotography.com

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook. 

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Theater Review: Beef and Boards: Christmas 2009

Certainly a holiday show is enjoyable. A tradition looked forward to annually.

However, every once in awhile, the lull of the known is rocked by the unknown and changed forever. You are left with a feeling of disquiet, as if you had been cheated all of this time by not knowing what else was out there.

Such was the moment when opera performer, Chris Dickerson (La Boheme’, Carmen, Il Travatore) took the stage at Beef and Boards, 9301 N. Michigan Road, for the Christmas 2009 show.

The first act’s proffering was as traditional as turkey, stuffing and songs of little towns in Bethlehem. Then, somewhere in the second half of the performance, a changing of the guard took place. An upswing...

A deeply-timbered revolution.

At the helm of this holiday mutiny stood a man, approximately six foot six inches of "I won’t be silenced." Dickerson, whether having an obviously enjoyable time with You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch, or joining in on Sleigh Ride, and Mistletoe and Holly, brought a presence which could not be overlooked or dampened by mere mortals.

Towering above the other members of the cast, Dickerson belted out his solo, Oh Holy Night, basking in the admiration of the audience, which showed its appreciation via howling, yes, I said howling, cheering, foot stamping, and, dare I say it, catcalls? The audience wanted more, much more.

The show could -- and should -- have ended there. The standing ovation due the man was quashed due to the starting too soon, anticlimactic Joy to the World which followed as the finale. There was simply no earthly reason to not allow Dickerson, and the audience, to finish the show basking in that magnificent glass-of-cognac-while-sitting-by-the-fireplace voice.

Resplendent in his self-confidence and adoration of the ‘his-now’ audience, I can recommend only one thing. See him perform while he is in town, because chances are dismally slim he will have room in an already busy schedule to return next year. Talent of this quality rises to the top and travels to much bigger cities rather quickly.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in M magazine and the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.
Tickets and schedule: BeefandBoards.com

*Photos by Julie Curry Photography