The Blue-Eyed Bettys Perform at Chilly Water Brewing

Free is good.

Usually.

Well ~ sometimes. 

This time it is great.

Sarah Hund, who you will remember as one of my Destination Actors and regular on the Indianapolis stage, has a side addiction. It is called The Blue-Eyed Bettys.

What is "The Blue-Eyed Bettys"? A folk music group of three musicians and singers expressing their love of theater, music and America with audiences across the nation. Daniel Emond and Ben Mackel,  are the two other blue-eyed band members.

This love brings them to Indy Friday, June 26 to perform at 8 p.m. in the trendy Fletcher Place~Fountain Square neighborhood. The free show will be held at local brewery spot Chilly Waters, 719 Virginia Ave., #105.

Hund will reprise her critically acclaimed role as June Sanders, the (ironically) non-singing family member of a singing church group in Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. Running July 9-August 16, the smash hit live show has proven to be a sell out production time and again at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.

I believe June 26 will be just about the time there will be a need to try out the Chilly Water brews with a friend or two, and catch some folk music by the multi-talented Ms. Hund. Join me, won't you?

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.

Beef and Boards Announces its 40th Season 2013 features Menopause, Old Lace and Smoke

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, located at 9301 Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, celebrates its 40th season with three new shows to its stage and several popular favorites.

 Visit GottaGo.us throughout the season for theater reviews.

Arsenic & Old Lace

Dec. 28, 2012 – Feb. 3 

Kicking off the season is the classic Arsenic & Old Lace. This comedy follows the deadly deeds of two charming elderly spinsters who believe they are rescuing their lonely lodgers by poisoning them and burying their bodies in the cellar. Between their special secret and their brother who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt, their nephew is in for quite a surprise when he pays them a visit.

9 to 5

Feb. 7 – March 24
Next on stage is the debut of the high-energy hit 9 to 5: The Musical. With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, and based on the hit 1980 movie in which she starred, 9 to 5 is the story of three female coworkers who plot to get even with their sexist and egotistical boss – and take over the company while they’re at it.

Menopause, The Musical

March 27 - May 12

Set in a department store, Menopause, The Musical brings four women together who have little in common other than a black lace bra. The ladies make fun of woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges in this production that includes parodies from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

The Sound of Music

May 16 – June 30 

The Sound of Music, follows the adventures of free-spirited postulant Maria as she is sent from the convent to become a governess for seven children of Captain von Trapp in Austria during World War II. With stories and song, she transforms the home and hearts of this rigid family. Adapted from “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers,” with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. 

Smoke on the Mountain

July 5 – Aug. 18 

Summer brings the return of the mega hit Smoke on the Mountain. One of the most popular shows in Beef & Boards’ 40-year history, this musical follows the Singing Sanders Family, who is invited to perform at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church by its new pastor, the Rev. Oglethorpe. Enjoy the “signing” sister June, and all your favorite characters as they perform energetic Bluegrass and Gospel tunes and share stories that will touch your heart and leave you laughing.

Father of the Bride

Aug. 22 – Sept. 29 

Ready or not, Stanley Banks is about to be the Father of the Bride. His daughter has announced her engagement and the preparations begin for a “small” wedding. But as the plans and the guest list grow rapidly, so does the debt – and the stress. Banks is surrounded by caterers, dressmakers, florists and furniture movers, and faces the unthinkable when his daughter calls the whole event off.

Les Misérables

Oct. 3 – Nov. 24

The musical phenomenon Les Misérables makes its Beef & Boards debut. Journey with Jean Valjean as he finds redemption against all odds in the corruption and chaos of revolutionary France. An eight-time Tony Award winner, Les Misérables is the struggle, the score and the story that has captivated millions around the globe. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo. 

A Beef & Boards Christmas

Nov. 29 – Dec. 23

The holiday season is time for the annual celebration A Beef & Boards Christmas. This variety show has been a tradition for more than 20 years, and makes the most of the season, with beautiful music, energetic dance numbers, colorful costumes and stirring voices.
Read review of A Beef & Boards Christmas 2011 here

Website: BeefandBoards.com

Tickets: Call the box office at 317.872.9664 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily (10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays). Tickets for main stage shows range from $37.50 to $62.50, and include Chef Odell Ward’s dinner buffet, fruit & salad bar and unlimited coffee, tea and lemonade.

Images provided by Beef and Boards.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, at GottaGo.us and FoodandDrinkDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on Gottago.us, BroadwayWorld.com, in magazines and several Indianapolis area newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Theater Review: Beef and Boards Smoke on the Mountain

Get on your Sunday go-to-meeting clothes, grab your favorite aunt (I took my Aunt Peggy) and find your pew at the Church of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis. I am not sure how the folks up there continually find such great talent, but with Smoke on the Mountain, they truly did it again.

When the good Reverend Thorpe (John Vessels) enters, you feel as if you have been transported to a southern church, circa 1930s. Although you will have no problem noticing the beautiful vocals of the talented Dennis Sanders (Andrew M. Ross), you will be swept up in the moment with Rev. Thorpe’s southern-style sermonizin’.

However, the main reason you've gotta go to this wonderful comedy, is you have got to go enjoy the delightful thief of the night, June Sanders. This gifted actress (Sarah Hund) mesmerized the entire audience with her antics; stealing the show at every turn. You start out counting how many instruments she pulls out to play, and give up, because it is too difficult to count tambourines, etc., when you are crying from laughing so hard. When she attempts to sign, making it up as she goes, she takes the spotlight, staying true to character, even while on the sidelines.

The Sunday pitch-in style dinner is filling, without being fussy, and the dessert tray comes to you (you cannot beat that!). The specially-designed tiered seating at Beef & Boards, allows you to sit anywhere without missing anything – no matter the ticket price. This is helpful for anyone wanting a special night out, without breaking the budget. The wait staff was friendly — helping my aunt carry her food — because she uses a cane. They made each of us feel special and there was a cozy atmosphere to the theatre.

Originally published in West Side Community News and West Indianapolis Community News newspapers.

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.