Showing posts with label shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shows. Show all posts

Thursday, September 19

Theater Review: Phoenix Theatre: The Legend of Georgia McBride

















An Elvis impersonator, a couple of drag queens and a curmudgeon all meet up in a bar one night ...

Sounds like the beginning of a very bad or very good joke, depending on the ending, right?

In fact, it is the basis for a new production at Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis. The Legend of Georgia McBride, written by Matthew Lopez, brings in dance expert Kenny Shepard as choreographer, and a few of the best local performers to rip up the stage with antics and talent.

Set in a dying bar, owner Eddie, the straight man in this comedic gem, is played perfectly by Ty Stover. The crotchety businessman is desperate to find that winning live show to draw crowds and save the venue. At first he hires a local guy whose passion is impersonating the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

Elvis impressionist, Casey, played by Sam C. Jones, just isn't popular with local patrons. Although Jones personifies the late music legend superbly, bar regulars aren't entertained. Casey returns home to reveal to his fiancee' (Bridgette Ludlow) he is fired, when she interrupts him to reveal she is pregnant.

Enter new performers Miss Tracey Mills and Miss Anorexia Nervosa --impersonators of a different sort. Drag Queens, to be precise.

Mills is portrayed impeccably by John Vessels. Vessels has wowed audiences in numerous roles and productions, including Smoke on the Mountain,  Hello Dolly and Chicago. As a queen of dressing in women's clothing he is uproarious and outright fabulous.

Tutoring the Elvis he-man into becoming a she-man is seamlessly played by Vessels and Jones, with - let's call them feisty debates - is an interaction of pure joy for the audience.

Add in drama drag queen Anorexia, played royally by Jonathan Studdard, makes it's a performance definitely worth attending. Studdard, who's portrayal can only be described as fierce, is a feisty and welcome change to Indy's stage productions.

Side note: Complimentary parking across the street, intimate venue and efficient box office are pluses for visiting the new Phoenix Theatre.

Other notes: Jim Parsons will produce and star inn the upcoming film version of the same name.

Bottom Line: The Legend of Georgia McBride is an absolute must-see for anyone who has even an inkling of a sense of humor.



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.



Sunday, November 15

Theater Review: Beef and Boards: The Addams Family

The Addams Family, opened this past weekend at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis. Centering around daughter Wednesday (Samantha Russell) becoming secretly engaged to Lucas Beineke (Blake Spellacy), the Beineke family are to have dinner with television's favorite creepy family.

It is no surprise seats were full for the show's opening weekend, not only for the show's popularity but also for the cast, which includes numerous Indy favorite actors.
John Vessels and Sarah Hund keep the hilarity high as Mal and Alice Beineke the uptight and disconnected parents of Lucas. Hund and Vessels play off each other with barbed comments and connect with believable sweetness.

Eddie Curry completely rocks the role of Gomez Addams, a man willing to do anything for the love of his life, Morticia (Erin Cohenour). Curry's (Gomez') passion bubbles to the top, creating an energy on stage the audience can feel.
Although Cohenour's Morticia is technically correct with mannerisms, she lacks the inner sensuality necessary for the matriarch's position. Curry brings out her best, however, and creates a sizzling pace.

Amanda Butterbaugh is priceless as Grandma; her antics keep the audience laughing hysterically. Uncle Fester is portrayed gloriously by Shaun Rice, a veteran to this role, creating a flawless performance without making it stale (through repetition).

Bottom Line: This is easily in the Top 10 Beef and Boards' productions of all time ~ do not miss it.

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.

Friday, December 13

The Cabaret at The Columbia Club 2014 Winter-Spring Schedule


Indianapolis' posh nightspot, The Cabaret at The Columbia Club ~ overlooking Monument Circle, has released its 2014 Winter-Spring Season Schedule and it looks good. Check back for reviews.

Known for bringing divalicioush, devilish and delightful entertainers to the Indy stage, The Cabaret has built such a reputation top performers from the stages of Broadway, television and film are lining up to step on our stage. This season brings back audience favorites and those who might become a new favorite.







2014 Schedule

AN EVENING WITH MEGAN HILTY
January 18, 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM
BELTING BLONDE BOMBSHELL
The Cabaret’s Fifth Anniversary Season opens with Broadway and television star, Megan
Hilty. Megan gives an evening of Broadway showstoppers, along with selections from her brand
new album It Happens all the Time. On stage, Hilty starred in Broadway’s Wicked and 9 To 5: The Musical, as well as City Center Encores: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Audiences also know her as Marilyn Monroe/Ivy Lynn on NBC's SMASH, earning her a Grammy nomination for "Let Me Be Your Star." Hilty can currently be seen alongside Sean Hayes in NBC’s Sean Saves the World.
Tickets: $65, $75, $86, $95

CHESTER GREGORY: THE EVE OF JACKIE, A TRIBUTE TO JACKIE WILSON
February 14 &15, 8:00 PM
The Cabaret celebrates Black History Month with Broadway star Chester Gregory in his award-winning show: The Eve of Jackie. Gregory reveals the sometimes tragic side of the man who recorded more than 50 hit singles from 1957-'75 with “Lonely Teardrops” to “(Your Love Keeps Liftin’ Me) Higher and Higher." Gregory’s Broadway credits include Sister Act, Hairspray, and Dreamgirls. Other credits include The Jackie Wilson Story, Hairspray the Movie and performing for Michael Jackson.
Tickets: $25, $35, $45, $55

STEPHANIE J. BLOCK: THIS PLACE I KNOW
March 7 & 8, 8:00 PM
VOTED BY THE AUDIENCE AS THEIR #1 FAVORITE SHOW OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS!
Stephanie J. Block has established herself as one of the most relevant and versatile voices in contemporary musical theatre. She starred on Broadway in Wicked, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, 9 To 5: The Musical, The Pirate Queen and The Boy From Oz (opposite Hugh Jackman).
Most recently, Block starred in the Off-Broadway musical, Little Miss Sunshine. The Tony-nominated performer shares songs from a vast Broadway career and from her solo album, This Place I Know.
Tickets: $35, $45, $55, $65

TIERNEY SUTTON: AFTER BLUE, THE JONI MITCHELL PROJECT
March 19, 8:00 PM
JONI MITCHELL REIMAGINED
FEATURING MARK SUMMER AND SERGE MERLAUD
In her most daring and revealing project to date, five-time Grammy nominee, Tierney Sutton, pays homage to the revered pop singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Sutton puts her unique stamp on Joni Mitchell tunes going back to “Both Sides Now” and “Big Yellow Taxi” to more recent numbers like “The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines,” “Be Cool,” and “Don’t Go to Strangers.”
Tickets: $25, $35, $45, $55

MEOW MEOW: FELINE INTIMATE
(Image at top)
April 11 & 12, 8:00 PM
a lesson in performance art exotica
The bustier-clad, vampy, sexy and slightly deranged chanteuse “drags cabaret kicking and screaming into the 21st century” (Time Out NY). Her purr-fectly unique, post-post-modern brand of kamikaze cabaret has hypnotized, inspired and terrified audiences worldwide. Expect nothing less than sequins and satire; witty wicked Weimar; 60’s French pop; Brel, Brecht and Kitt; mayhem and magnificence.
Price: $25, $35, $45, $55

CYRILL AIMÉE
April 23, 8:00 PM
A MODERN SERVING OF GYPSY JAZZ
Internationally renowned, Cyrille’s vocal stylings are synonymous with musical genius. Her culturally rich background has supplied her with the driving force of Dominican rhythm and the incredible swing of the French Gypsies. Born in Fontainebleau, France, Aimée’s introduction to jazz was the result of the fortuitous location of her upbringing in Samois-sur-Seine, where the legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt once lived. At the young age of 27, Aimée has already released five CDs internationally, was winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival Competition and a finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition.
Price: $25, $35, $45, $55

KARRIN ALLYSON: ROUND MIDNIGHT
May 2 & 3, 8:00 PM
A SMOKY AFTERGLOW AFFAIR
After a dozen releases on Concord Jazz over the course of two decades, and three Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album along the way, the versatile vocalist/pianist still believes that the emotional connection that takes place in a small, quiet club during the late hours is one of the best parts of the jazz experience. Explore the warmth and depth of an artist who engages with a range of music from Gershwin and Porter to Duke and Thelonious. The evening will feature songs from Karrin’s vast career as well as from her newest release, Round Midnight.
Price: $25, $35, $45, $55

JAMES TORMÉ: LOVE FOR SALE
May 16, 8:00PM
NOT YOUR MAMA’S TORMÉ
The Cabaret celebrates Jazz History month with the son of the legendary entertainer Mel Tormé. James Tormé brings classic jazz to a new generation, infusing older classics with contemporary influences, and haunting newer songs with his timeless throwback renditions. Having grown up hanging out with jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, and more, it is no surprise that his debut jazz album Love For Sale reached #2 on iTunes Jazz and #3 on Amazon Jazz. Come find out why Jazz FM says, “If you get a chance to see James Tormé you should beg, borrow, even steal a ticket.”
Tormé brings classic jazz to a new generation, infusing older classics with contemporary influences, and
Price: $25, $35, $45, $55

LAURA BENANTI: IN CONSTANT SEARCH OF THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTENTION
June 6 & 7, 8:00 PM
QUIRKY STAR OF STAGE AND SCREEN
Celebrating the release of her brand new CD, Live at 54 Below, Tony-Award winner Laura Benanti, bares all in an evening filled with amusing stories, mesmerizing melodies and self-deprecating humor. This kooky and sexy Broadway and TV star will feature an eclectic range of music from the Great American Songbook to popular songs of today.
Price: $35, $45, $55, $65

SUSAN WERNER
June 27, 8:00PM
THE QUINTESSENTIAL STORYTELLER
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Susan Werner and her music defy category. She has cultivated a reputation as a daring and innovative songwriter who boldly endeavors to weave old with new to create altogether new genres of music. She has recorded sixteen albums with projects ranging from jazz to country, and even gospel. With her grace, wit, and pure genius in capturing the human experience in music, Werner delivers it all.
Tickets: $25, $35, $45, $55

ABOUT THE CABARET
The Cabaret is a professional, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of The Cabaret is to elevate the cabaret art form; attract, develop and retain high-quality local performance talent; and provide a unique and important contribution to the city’s artistic and cultural life.

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 magazines. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Wednesday, April 3

Broadway Across America Indianapolis 2013-2014 Season Gets Wicked with Ghost, Flashdance and Mormons

BroadwayInIndianapolis.com brings fresh shows and a (now) classic favorite to the 2013-2014 season. Check back to GottaGo.us for reviews of each of the shows or catch them on WIBC Saturday mornings.

2013-2014 SEASON

FLASHDANCE
October 1-6, 2013
*Clowes Hall
FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. It features the biggest hit songs from the movie, including the Academy Award-winning title song "Flashdance - What a Feeling," "Maniac," "Gloria," "Manhunt," and "I Love Rock & Roll."

WICKED
November 13-December 1, 2013

*Old National Centre
Back by "Popular" demand. Variety calls WICKED "a cultural phenomenon,” and when it last played Indianapolis in 2011, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKED is the story of  long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two 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. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for "the most complete - and completely satisfying - new musical in a long time" (USA Today).

GHOST THE MUSICAL
March 4-9, 2014
*Old National Centre
Relive the iconic and magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie GHOST in a brand-new Broadway musical. GHOST THE MUSICAL follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam's untimely death. Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death.

MEMPHIS
April 1-6, 2014
*Clowes Hall
From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, comes a hot new four-time Tony winning Broadway musical with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY
May 13-18, 2014
*Clowes Hall
THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. Come meet the family. We’ll leave the lights off for you.

THE BOOK OF MORMON
June 17-22, 2014
*Old National Centre
THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s
Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.

For more information visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.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 Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, an in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Monday, July 23

Theater Review: Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre: Nunsense

When is a greeting card more than a greeting card? When it spawns a commercially successful international sensation known as Nunsense, one of off-Broadway's most commercially successful shows. Six sequels, three spin offs and a television show followed quickly. Originating from Dan Goggin's line of nun-based humorous cards, the popular Little Sisters of Hoboken convened once again on stage at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis.

The rollicking ladies of the convent are in dire straits for quick cash. Fifty-two nuns have died from botulism caused by the poor culinary skills of an unseen cooking sister (Sister Julia, Child of God). With only 48 buried due to improper money management, the wacky spiritual ladies contrive a revue and cookbook sale to raise the remaining funds needed to bury the dearly departed...before the Board of Health slaps them with a hefty fine for storing the stiff sisters in the walk-in freezer.
Amanda Butterbaugh as Sister Amnesia

A cast of five Sisters: Rev. Mother Superior Mary Regina (Nancy E. Carroll), Hubert (Mary Robin Roth), Amnesia (Amanda Butterbaugh), Robert Ann (Lin Tucci) and Leo (Laurie Walton), revolves constantly on stage and throughout the audience prior to the first and second acts.

In some shows a particular role is created perfectly to easily become the audience favorite. In some, an actor takes a role and makes it that way. Then you have the situations such as Beef and Boards' Nunsense. Sister Amnesia is almost a shoo-in to be an audience favorite and Amanda Butterbaugh takes the opportunity and puts it over the top. The role is noted as her favorite and she has played in off-Broadway productions and in tours. Butterbaugh's comedic timing in her endearing portrayal of the sweet nun with amnesia (received from a crucifix falling on her head) will steal the hearts of absolutely everyone and is worth the ticket price alone.

Nancy E Carroll as Rev. Mother Superior
Rev. Mother Superior (most notably portrayed by Rue McClanahan) is given a crusty, but likable portrayal by Broadway veteran Carroll, who also directs the production and toured in the role for two years. Pairing just the right amount of eye-rolling with glimpses of a soft heart, Carroll creates a thoroughly enjoyable character.

Created for the stage in 1985 and television subsequently, various punchlines and one-liners referencing popular topics in the '80s are adjusted for today's current events, particularly during Sister Robert's (Tucci) impersonations.

With adult-based humor involved, parents might want to leave the little, impressionable ones at the sitter for the evening. As hilarious as a nun tripping on an illegal inhalant might be for some, others might be less comfortable with their children viewing this scene.

Bottom Line: Beef and Boards' Nunsense gives Catholics and non Catholics alike an evening of rowdy fun, lessons in religion and fundraising.

For tickets, show times and directions, visit BeefandBoards.com.
Images: JulieCurryPhotography.com

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

Tuesday, December 27

The Cabaret at The Columbia Club: 2012 Season


THE CABARET AT THE COLUMBIA CLUB: 2012 SEASON 
*Press Release* 
Sam Harris
The Cabaret at The Columbia Club, located in the Crystal Terrace on the third floor of The Columbia Club,  opens its 2012 season Jan. 13 & 14. Tickets are on sale now for all 2012 performances and are open to the public.
Patrons should be advised to order tickets in advance, as The Cabaret sold to 93 percent capacity on average in 2011, with more than half of the shows selling out far in advance. Tickets may be purchased at TheCabaret.org or by calling 317-275-1169.
                         
*Sam Harris: Broadway, Ballads & Blues
January 13 & 14, 8:00 PM
Since first amazing audiences as Star Search Grand Champion with his signature rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” SamHarris has become a Tony-nominated Broadway star (The Life, Grease, The Producers, Cabaret, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), a multi-million selling recording artist with nine albums to his credit, and an international concert “sellout” from New York's Carnegie Hall to London's West End. Harris brings his singular interpretation and inimitable style to an eclectic collection of Broadway and Pop Classics from Hammerstein to Sondheim and U2 to Lennon. 
 Price: $45, $55, $65

** Steven Stolen: Isn’t It Romantic?
February 14, 8:00 PM            
“Indy’s favorite tenor,” Steven Stolen, performs a show sure to please the Valentine in everyone. Whether it’s a date with “A Fine Romance” or a witty “I Hate You Darling” come “Dream a Little Dream” and share a “Stolen Moment” with one of Indy’s favorite personalities and that casual elegance that has made him popular with audiences from coast to coast. (Singles welcome)
Price: $25, $35, $45

*Janis Siegel: New York Standard Time
February 24 & 25, 8:00 PM
Ever since Janis Siegel co-founded The Manhattan Transfer over three decades ago, listeners, fellow musicians and critics have marveled at her inventive phrasing and richly expressive voice. A ten-time Grammy winner, Siegel has sung lead vocals for some of the Transfer’s biggest hits, including “Operator,” “Birdland,” and “The Boy from N.Y.C.” Siegel has also sustained a solo career that has spawned more than a half dozen finely-crafted solo albums and numerous collaborative projects, amassed a large international fan base and garnered consistently high critical praise. In an age when buyers and sellers are quick to jam music and musicians into convenient boxes, Siegel has built a career on defying preconceptions and stereotypes. 
Price: $35, $45, $55

*The Puppini Sisters!
March 9 & 10, 8:00 PM 
With a unique blend of retro style, pop kitsch, and stunningly crisp vocals, UK-based vocal trio The Puppini Sisters bring ‘Andrews Sisters’ style three-part harmony into the modern age with show-stopping interpretations of everything from “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” to “I Will Survive” to Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.”  They have four albums, two of which have landed in the Top Five albums on the U.S. Jazz Charts. Their recent Christmas album, Christmas With The Puppinis, earned them a spot on NBC’s “A Michael Bublé Christmas.” With TV appearances and tours worldwide, the group has developed a large and dedicated fan base throughout Europe and in North America. **Prizes will be awarded to the best 40’s attire!
Price: $45, $55, $65
**Cynthia Layne: The Back Room, A Night at the Speakeasy
March 24, 8:00 PM

Don your flapper dress or raccoon coat and join us as we transform The Cabaret into a 1920’s speakeasy. In celebration of women’s history month, Cynthia Layne celebrates the music of prohibition’s “Jazz Age” when women got the right to vote and “flappers” flooded the speakeasies, daring to drink cocktails and dance to hot Jazz. Don’t let the law keep you from coming! The evening will include prohibition-era cocktails served in teacups and prizes for the best costumes. Don’t forget: the password “hooch” will get you in the door.
Price: $25, $35, $45

**Shannon Forsell: Songs I’ve Never Sung on Broadway 
April 20 & 21, 8:00 PM 

Managing and artistic director of The Cabaret, Shannon Forsell, graces The Cabaret’s stage once again, with “Songs I’ve Never Sung On Broadway.” Through songs from Broadway to cabaret to jazz, this show explores how we choose to live, the choices we make, and how “forks in the road” shape and define who we are.   
Price: $25, $35, $45 

*Maureen O’Flynn: At the Crossroads, In Partnership with the Indianapolis Opera
April 27, 8:00 PM
Metropolitan Opera leading lady Maureen O’Flynn, makes her Indianapolis cabaret debut with a sumptuous musical feast for the ears. Featuring classics by Kern, Porter, Sondheim, and Weill, Maureen’s versatility shines in this intimate performance. Equally comfortable on the opera stage at La Scala or the musical theater stages at the Berkshires Theatre Festival, Maureen proves to be one of the most thrilling voices to grace the worlds of opera, musical theatre and cabaret. 
Price: $35, $45, $55

*Lainie Kazan: The Chanteuse is Loose! 
May 11 & 12, 8:00 PM
Lainie shares music and stories from her long and varied career on the stage and screen.  From her start as Barbra Streisand’s Broadway understudy in Funny Girl , Lainie went on to sing in the top night clubs and on television, including 26 appearances on The Dean Martin Show, and her own variety special. On screen, she received critical acclaim for her performances in My Favorite Year and the blockbuster comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  On Broadway, she received a Tony nomination for My Favorite Year, and starred in The Government Inspector, The Exonerated, and The Vagina Monologues. Audiences may also recognize her for her television roles on Will & Grace, The Nanny, Ugly Betty, and Desperate Housewives.
Price: $45, $55, $65

*Stacey Kent: Dreamer

June 7 & 8, 8:00 PM 

Grammy nominated songstress, Stacy Kent ‘s ability to tell a story, capture an emotion, a mood, hone it and share it like a secret with her audience are qualities that make her so special and enable her to sell out concert halls, jazz clubs, and cabarets around the world.  The evening will feature tunes from her recent Blue Note release Dreamer in Concert, along with songs from her critically acclaimed musical career spanning eight best-selling albums.
Price: $35, $45, $55
Linda Eder

*An Intimate Evening with Linda Eder
June 22 & 23, 8:00 PM

June 23, 2:00 PM 

With a career spanning over two decades and accolades as “one of the greatest contemporary solo voices of our time,” vocal sensation Linda Eder brings her one-woman show to The Cabaret for a rare and intimate performance. Linda rose to stardom after an impressive 12-week run on Star Search followed by an award winning Broadway performance in Jekyll and Hyde. Since then, Linda has performed for packed concert venues across the country and recorded nine solo albums. With her extravagant vocal gifts and stage presence, Linda proves she is a vocal force not to miss!
Price: $75, $100, $125

*Tom Wopat: Love Swings
Tom Wopat
July 13 & 14, 8:00 PM
Tom Wopat first came to public attention as Luke Duke on the original TV series The Dukes of Hazard, but it wasn’t long before his classically trained vocals whisked him away from car smashes and corny humor to the bright lights of Broadway (Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago, The Pajama Game, Guys & Dolls, Catch Me if You Can). With an expansive repertoire featuring music from Hollywood to Broadway, the Tony-nominated star’s show will feature musical favorites from Frank Sinatra and The Beatles to Judy Garland.
Price: $45, $55, $65

*Melinda Doolittle: Love 101

July 27 & 28, 8:00 PM

Former “American Idol“ contestant, Melinda Doolittle’s show is sure to be very cabaret, and, with all due respect to Simon Cowell, she’s not about to apologize for it!  After two critically acclaimed runs at Feinstein’s, Melinda brings her show featuring Jazz standards, pop hits, Broadway classics and songs from her recent CD to The Cabaret. She got her start as a backup singer for, to name a few, Michael McDonald, Aretha Franklin, Alabama, Bebe and CeCe Winans and Aaron Neville. Since her time in the spotlight, Melinda has wowed audiences with her ‘big voice’ and ‘soulful’ performances, from the White House to the Kennedy Center to Carnegie Hall.
Price: $35, $45, $55

*Carol Woods: Singin’ the Blues on Broadway
August 10 & 11, 8:00 PM       
Whether singing the Blues, gospel or standards, Broadway star Carol Woods is at home on stages around the world. While Broadway is her musical home (Chicago, One Mo’ Time, Smokey Joe’s Café, Stepping Out, The Goodbye Girl, Grind, Big River, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas), Carol has also performed at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops, in the movie The Honeymooners opposite Cedric The Entertainer, on London’s West End (One Mo Time, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Blues In the Night) and in cabaret venues around the world. 
Price: $35, $45, $55

*Karen Mason: Show Queen, A Broadway Songbook
August 24 & 25, 8:00 PM 
Whether she is lighting up the stage in a hit Broadway musical or amazing audiences with her critically-acclaimed cabaret performances and concerts, Karen Mason is a showstopper.  In this performance, Karen shares songs from her vast Broadway career including her starring roles in Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard, and Wonderland.  Karen is also a ten-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) award winner, winning the Major Female Vocalist of the year for six consecutive years.
Price: $35, $45, $55
  
*Annual Cabaret Fundraiser
Laura Benanti: Let Me Entertain You

September 29, 8:00 PM

Laura Benanti
This irresistible star of Broadway, TV, and film shares a saucy evening with her favorite stories and songs. Laura has taken Broadway by storm, earning the Tony Award for her portrayal of Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee, starring opposite Patti Lupone in Gypsy. Other Broadway credits include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Swing!, Into the Woods opposite Vanessa Williams, Nine opposite Antonio Banderas, and The Sound of Music. She has performed her cabaret in top venues around the country, including Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center’s “Spotlight” series, curated by cabaret legend Barbara Cook.  *The evening will include a silent auction, heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting, and a champagne and dessert reception following the performance.
Price: Individual $150, Table Sponsor $1,000, **Corporate Table Sponsorships available 

*Gavin Creel: Live, Out Loud

October 12 & 13, 8:00 PM

Tony nominated Broadway star and singer/songwriter, Gavin Creel has a unique sound that blends his love for both pop and musical theatre. Performing songs from his already vast Broadway career (Hair, La Cage aux Folles, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins) and his contemporary originals, Gavin showcases his extensive musical talent. In tandem with his success as an actor, Creel has garnered an organic mainstream following as a singer/songwriter, playing to sold-out crowds from New York to London. 
 Price: $35, $45, $55

*Todd Murray: Croon
November 2 & 3, 8:00 PM
Before the age of electrified amplification, songs had to be sung loudly in order to be heard.  The introduction of the microphone introduced a new, intimate style of performing which became known as crooning. Todd Murray follows the history of crooning, beginning in the 1920’s through today.  With lush popular ballads, swing, Latin beat, all with lyricists such as Berlin, Porter, Lerner/Lowe, Hal David, and Leonard Cohen, Murray demonstrates that all popular music has its roots in crooning.
Price: $35, $45, $55 

*Victoria Clark: Glorious Days

November 16 & 17, 8:00 PM

A favorite among audiences and critics alike, Tony Award-winning Broadway star Victoria Clark brings her one-woman show to Indianapolis. The show will feature standards from the Great American Songbook alongside material from lesser-known composers and music from her Broadway career (The Light in the Piazza, The Grapes of Wrath, Sister Act: The Musical, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Cabaret, Urinetown, Titanic, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Bye Bye Birdie, Grand Night for Singing). The New York Times says Clark, in her Piazza, role gave “hands down the best musical performance by any actress this season.” This is sure to be one show you won’t want to miss!
Price: $35, $45, $55 
Shannon Forsell
*Martinis & Mistletoe, featuring Everett Greene, Shannon Forsell & The Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
December 13, 14 & 15, 7:30 PM

December 15, 2:30 PM

Start with the rich sounds of jazz vocalist Everett Greene (compared by many to Barry White, James Earl Jones and Darth Vader); add the sultry, smooth vocals of local diva, Shannon Forsell; stir in the Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra with their lush, sophisticated arrangements; toss in holiday classics such as “The Christmas Song,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” along with a dab of instrumentals from the infamous TV cartoon special A Charlie Brown Christmas; add a few other holiday gems and voilà – the perfect evening to warm you up on a cold winter’s night!

Price: $35, $45, $55

*** Check back at GottaGo.us throughout the season for review of performances ***
  *The Signature Series, features the finest national and international cabaret performers.
**Club Series showcases the wealth of Central Indiana’s seasoned local performers.

Location: The Cabaret at the Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Parking:   $10 valet parking for cabaret patrons.
ABOUT THE CABARET
The Cabaret is a professional, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of The Cabaret is to elevate the cabaret art form; attract, develop and retain high-quality local performance talent; and provide a unique and important contribution to the city’s artistic and cultural life.



Photos: Furnished by The Cabaret Club


Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s 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.