Broadway in Indianapolis: 2017-2018 Season

Flying children, a boy with his tongue frozen to poles, and a green-faced young girl are just a few of the reasons Broadway in Indianapolis' 2017 - 2018 season is interesting this year.

Returning for a tour is Rent, new shows are a majority of the list, and the musical numbers are well known in more than one show.

Below is the schedule, with ticket information following.

Broadway in Indianapolis

2017-2018 SEASON SHOWS

Finding Neverland

October 17-22, 2017

Clowes Memorial Hall

Finding Neverland tells the incredible

story behind one of the world’s most beloved characters: Peter Pan. Playwright J.M.

Barriestruggles to find inspiration until he meets four young brothers and their beautiful

widowed mother. Spellbound by the boys’ enchanting make-believe adventures, he sets out to write a play that will astound London theatergoers. 

A Christmas Story, The Musical

November 28-December 3, 2017

Old National Centre

A Christmas Story, The Musical chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he

schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder® Carbine-Action

200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”).

Beautiful

The Carole King Musical

January 30-February 4, 2018

Clowes Memorial Hall

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl

with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by

the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career

writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. It wasn’t until her personal life began to crack

that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in pop music history.

Les Misérables

March 13-18, 2018

Old National Centre

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story

of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament

to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by more

than 70 million people in 44 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Misérables is still the world’s most popular musical, breaking box office records everywhere in its 32nd year.

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour

June 12-17, 2018

Clowes Memorial Hall

In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway... and forever

changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan Larson’s Rent

continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and all over the

world. And now, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning masterpiece returns to the stage

in a vibrant 20th anniversary touring production. A re-imagining of Puccini's La Bohème, RENT

follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their

dreams without selling out. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear,

this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure our lives with love.

Wicked

April 25-May 13, 2018

*Old National Centre

Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz...but from a

different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with

emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When

she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the

unlikeliest of friendships...until the world calls one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

GROUP SALES AND SINGLE TICKETS

Group sales information is now available for all shows. Reservations may be made by calling

Group Sales Manager, Chris Schneider, at 317-632-7469 x 103 or email at

Chris.Schneider@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. For more information visit

BroadwayInIndianapolis.com

Tickets for individual shows typically go on sale to the general

public 4-6 weeks prior to the opening of the show.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Broadway Across America (in Indianapolis) 2015 - 2016 Season Includes Dreams, Wizards and a Phantom

New season line ups for theaters always give me happiness like Christmas morning. Will it have the shows I want? What surprise productions will be on the lineup?
Broadway Across America's Broadway in Indianapolis' schedule covers all the bases. One I hoped for (The Phantom of the Opera), one I didn't expect (Wizard of Oz), and even one I hadn't known existed.

Below is the entire lineup, including family favorites, new productions and a returning sell-out show.

For tickets, visit Indianapolis.Broadway.com

 Broadway Across America Indianapolis

2015 - 2016 Season

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

December 15-20, 2015

*Old National Centre

Be amazed by more than 300 costumes, 20 acts and 30 artists from every corner of the globe. Witness snowmen, penguins, angels, reindeer, toy soldiers, gingerbread men, ornaments and Santa with soaring acrobatics, gravity defying feats, elaborate production numbers, imaginative costumes, illusions and more. The show celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with singers, original music and seasonal favorites all performed in a winter wonderland of amazement.

THE WIZARD OF OZ

January 12-17, 2016

*Clowes Memorial Hall

The most magical adventure of them all. This new production of The Wizard of Oz is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic, totally revamped for the stage. (read my review here)

Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay, this production contains the beloved songs and surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

ONCE

February 9-14, 2016

*Clowes Memorial Hall

 Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical, ONCE is a truly original

Broadway experience. Featuring an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their

own instruments onstage, ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s

about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights... but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance. 

NEWSIES

March 15-20, 2016

*Clowes Memorial Hall

Winner of the 2012 TonyAwards® for Best Score and Best Choreography, NEWSIES, based on true events, tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It’s a rousing tale about fighting for what’s right...and staying true to who you are. NEWSIES was brought to the stage by an award-winning creative team. It features a score by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Jack Feldman (The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride) and a book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles).

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

May 4-15, 2016

*Old National Centre

Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA comes to Indianapolis as part of a brand new North American Tour. The production, boasts many exciting special effects including the show’s legendary chandelier. The beloved story and thrilling score - with songs like “Music of the Night,” “All I Ask Of You,” and “Masquerade” - will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this PHANTOM one of the largest productions now on tour.

THE BOOK OF MORMON

April 12-17, 2016

*Old National Centre

 Hailed by The New York Times as "the best musical of this century" and the winner of

nine Tony Awards®, THE BOOK OF MORMON (Read review here) is the blockbuster Broadway smash from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and the Oscar®-winning

composer of Disney's Frozen and Avenue Q, Bobby Lopez. This outrageous musical

comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway

across the world to spread the Good Word. *Contains explicit language.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker, consultant and trainer for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

WICKED Holds $25 Lottery Seat for Indianapolis 2013 Shows

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED,

returning to the Old National Centre with performances from November 13-December 1. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Old National Centre box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.

Winner of more than 50 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

WICKED will play the Old National Centre November 13-December 1. Good seats still available! For the best seating selection, please check the available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances and weekday matinees on Thursday, November 14 at 2:00 pm and Friday, November 29 at 2:00pm. Tickets for the return engagement are on sale now and available in person at Broadway Across America Box Office downtown at 342 Massachusetts Avenue, Clowes Memorial Hall, The Old National Center Ticket Office, online at BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com, or by calling 1-800-982-2787.

Performance Schedule

November 13-17: Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Thursday matinee at 2:00 pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at8:00 pm, Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm, Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm and Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; November 19-24: Tuesday –Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm, Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm and Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; November 26 – December 1: Monday – Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm.

There is no performance on Thanksgiving Day,Thursday, November 28.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Long Island Medium's Theresa Caputo Live in Indianapolis October 13

Theresa Caputo, the fast-talking, pint-sized, psychic medium star of the hit TLC show, Long Island Medium, will be appearing live at The Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis Sunday, October 13.

The wise-cracking New Yorker channels people who have passed over to the other side. Caputo's self-deprecating humour and dead-on (pardon the pun) accuracy has earned her millions of fans worldwide. Interactive readings throughout the show will be peppered with tales of the personal journey of being just "a normal Long Island housewife" who happens to chat with dead folks.

The highly-rated show launched its 4th season on May 12 and continues with its original format of following the medium as she spends a normal day. Whether seeing clients, running errands or spending quality time with her husband of 22 years, Larry, or their two children, Larry Jr., and Victoria.

Without an off switch, the spirits pop in and out as the feisty blonde visits her local car mechanic, manicurist or cashier at the bagel shop. Introducing herself as a messenger from their loved ones, Caputo relays in the stereotypical Long Island accent, wisdom, helpful words of comfort and amusing anecdotes.

Not since John Edwards, the handsome New Yorker who shared his similar abilities on Crossing Over, has there been such a popular messenger of tales from the dark side. Edwards (nee John MaGee, Jr. ) was accused on Dateline television show of faking it and reporting previous knowledge as spirit information. Click here for the interview.

Caputo has been a practicing medium for 10 years and is a certified medium with the Forever-Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to connecting science with the afterlife. She has launched her book, “There’s More to Life than This” October 1.

As Caputo says, "this is not just my job... this is my life."

For tour dates, tickets and information, visit TheresaCaputo.com.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Indianapolis City Ballet Announces 5th Annual Evening with the Stars 2013

Indianapolis City Ballet will host its 5th annual Evening with the Stars performance Sat., September 7, at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in downtown Indianapolis.

Once again the show will showcase signature pieces from world-renown choreographers, companies and dancers at the annual event. I have written a review in prior years, and it has made this critic's Top 10 List every year.

The performance features principal dancers from key dance companies around the world including: Gillian Murphy and Cory Stearns from American Ballet Theatre, Elisa Carrillo Cabrera and Mikhail Kaniskin from Berlin Ballet, Paulo Arrais from Norwegian National Ballet, Whitney Jensen from Boston Ballet, Aaron Smyth from England National Ballet and soon Joffrey Ballet, Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith from San Francisco Ballet, Alicia Amatriain and Jason Reilly from Stuttgart Ballet and Andrij Cybyk. Demitra Bereveskos, a young prodigy from Indianapolis who studies in New York City and has metaled at ballet competitions in Boston and Berlin, will also be featured in the performance.

*Artists are subject to change without notice.*

Tickets: at the Murat Theatre Box Office, or by calling 800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. For information, visit www.IndianapolisCityBallet.org or call (317) 339-1413.

Images from past performances, provided by ICB

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Fine-living Adviser on Indy STyle television program (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in magazines. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Theater Review: Broadway Across America Fiddler on the Roof

It’s good to revisit a classic every once in awhile. A meandering stroll along the path of nostalgia…

It’s good for the soul. It gives a little perspective. Broadway Across America’s “Fiddler on the Roof” provides that opportunity.

On stage in the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, March 6 – 11, the tale takes us to a village being thrust into a future of unknowns. Starring John Preece as main character Tevye, the show wraps around a family with five daughters, all of whom are at, or near, marrying age.

Comedic touches, along with a tremendous voice, keep this story of being uprooted by war and hatred from becoming too dark. It does bring into focus how the unwillingness to accept differences results in destruction of families, villages and countries.

Preece’s soothing vocals were strong throughout his performance as the patriarch of the family. His confidence on stage may come from the 1,780 performances of portraying the Jewish dairy farmer and currently in his 10th tour in the program. The shots at gruffness were belied by vulnerable undercurrents and love for his daughters.
Attempts to point to just one song showcasing his talent more than any other is futile, but audience, and personal, favorites would include “To Life” and “Sunrise, Sunset” with wife, Golde.

Playing matriarch Golde is Gerri Weagraff giving as much spunk and feistiness as she was getting….and then some. Her sparring matches with Tevye, and Yente the Matchmaker, played admirably by Pamela D. Chanora, are pure enjoyment.

Vocals, acting and dancing stayed at a high range with the Bottle Dance by the entire company the preeminent scene of the evening.
The most satisfying factor of the performance is the fabulous energy and strong talent of the entire cast. It truly is the highest level of showmanship seen this entire season from BAA.

Bottom Line: Broadway Across America’s Fiddler on the Roof gives a great opportunity to revisit or share the classic with a whole new generation.

For tickets, schedule and information, visit OldNationalCentre.com

Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

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, LinkedIn 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.

Theater Review: Broadway Across America: Chicago

B r o a d w a y Across America’s Chicago razzle-dazzled its way into Indianapolis this weekend. Set in Chicago’s late 1920s, the story revolves around murderesses and the celebrity status bestowed upon them via the media.

Tom Wopat portrayed Billy Flynn, the slick-talking attorney who cares only about love…and money.

Bianca Marroquin, as Roxie Hart, stood out, giving a little something extra, with her best musical performance in Me and My Baby.

Terra C. MacLeod brought energy to the stage as Velma Kelly, with her best vocals and dancing during When Velma Takes a Stand

Tom Riis Farrell in the role of Roxie’s husband Amos Hart, brought the audience into the “aah factor” zone. Creating the aah factor is not an easy feat, however Farrell drew sympathy from the women and empathy from the men in the audience, particularly during Mister Cellophane.

D. Micciche, as newspaper reporter Mary Sunshine, surprised the audience by revealing she was, in fact, portrayed by a man. Although it is traditional for a male performer to portray the role, it is always pleasant to see reactions when the surprise is revealed. Adding in his flamboyant energy, the thought was entertained heavily on Micciche’s being more well-suited for the role of Billy Flynn than Wopat, who seemed to lack the devil-may-care attitude and energy required for the flashy lawyer role.

Bottom Line: The snappy, jazzy pace makes Chicago a great choice for first-timers and die-hard fans alike.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her newest column, Infused at GottaGo.us and www.FoodandDrinkDigital.com and as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, in M magazine and these newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.