Themed drinks at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

/ Roadtirementvintage / 7 Comments

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis is a wonderful venue that not only provides top notch live musicals but also a delightful buffet dinner to start your evening’s entertainment. Doors open at 5:30 and the buffet is available soon after you are seated.

Four lines, hardly any waiting at the buffet!

As part of the available libations from B&B’s full bar are themed cocktails fitting of the production on stage. Custom designed for each show, we always order one to start our evening at the theater.

Appropriate for this show!

“Foot Loose” had both alcoholic and non-alcoholic designer drinks!

For “An American in Paris” we both enjoyed drinks with a Parisian flair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An evening at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is a marvelous way to spend an evening of good food, drink, and professional theater. Check the B&B website for details.

Thomas Family Winery

/ Roadtirementvintage / 5 Comments

Roadtirementvintage's avatarRoadtirement

The Thomas Family Winery in downtown Madison, Indiana is housed in, appropriately, a vintage 1850’s old stable and carriage house. The interior is most welcoming, with tables set amidst a rustic motif, and there are outside tables as well for your pleasure.

This winery takes a bit of a different philosophy concerning their wine creations than other establishments. From the Thomas Family Winery website: “We feel that wine is food, and fills its greatest role as a mealtime beverage. We craft our wines in the European tradition of finesse, balance, and structure which particularly enhances the variety of flavors in meals.” Steve Thomas told us that they do not have any sweet wines, rather wines for pairing with meals. He expanded on their European style of wine making.

Maj tasting Gale Hard Cider

Owner Steve Thomas with our purchase


Owner Steve was most gracious and took plenty…

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Beef & Boards “An American in Paris” delights with dance

/ Roadtirementvintage / 8 Comments

Do you like dance live on stage? Do you appreciate the brilliance of George and Ira Gershwin’s music compositions? Head out to Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre for the currently running production of An American in Paris. Set in Paris immediately after the end of World War II it follows the story of an American GI who decides to stay in Paris and have a go at a career as an artist. Yes, he finds a girl.

An American In Paris Lise and Jerry

One of the first things we noticed when we arrived at the theater was the larger than usual stage area that had been prepared for this show. Every square foot of the stage was utilized by Ron Morgan’s dynamic choreography and direction. This show was filled with dance. The depth of talent in this cast is exceptional and showcased by awesome choreography. The precision displayed during mass numbers is amazing, as are the scenes featuring couples. Cast members even utilized dance moves while placing props during set changes!

Jerry Mulligan (Jon Rose), center, sings “Beginner’s Luck” out of joy to have fallen in love with Lise

Milo Davenport (Sarah Hund), right, asks Jerry (Jon Rose) if she’s enough for him

 

 

 

 

 

The 1951 movie, An American in Paris, won Best Picture that year, and debuted classic music pieces from George and Ira Gershwin. The Gershwin songs in the B&B’s production also include “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” “Stairway to Paradise” and orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “2nd Prelude,” “2nd Rhapsody,” “The Cuban Overture” and “An American In Paris.”

Henri Baurel (Ian Black), center, imagines himself to be an authentic “song-and-dance man” while singing “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise”

Our GI, Jerry (Jon Rose), is smitten when he meets Lise (Sophie Aknin), a beautiful Parisian girl. Lise is engaged to Henri (Ian Black), and is also desired by Adam (Austin Glen Jacobs) another American. The convoluted love stories are artfully told by means of the music and dance. The backdrop to the storyline includes references to the hard truth that Paris had just endured several years of Nazi occupation.

Adam Hochberg (Austin Glen Jacobs) center, declares that he, Jerry Mulligan (Jon Rose), left, and Henri Baurel (Ian Black), right became the “Three Musketeers”

Lise (Sophie Aknin) completes the lift at the conclusion of the “Paris Ballet”

 

 

 

 

 

The Gershwin music is just wonderful. The dancing is superb. You’ll say “Wow” after each scene! You’ll marvel at the quality of the ballet and other styles of dance. We really enjoyed the depth of talent that shows in the entire cast.  It may sound like a cliché, but this is one show you don’t want to miss!

Lise (Sophie Aknin) auditions at the Ballet du Chatelet as Jerry (Jon Rose) watches

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of An American in Paris is now on stage through May 14 . Tickets include Chef Larry Stoops’ buffet and select beverages. Visit Beef & Boards website for pricing and availability, or call the box office at 317.872.9664.

 

 

Gershwin’s music comes to Indy’s Beef & Boards

/ Roadtirementvintage / 5 Comments

This romantic musical finally is back on stage at Indianapolis’ beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Scheduled for 2020 and shut down by the pandemic, Gershwin’s music filled An American in Paris will open for 47 performances starting March 30th and run through May 14th.

Based on the 1951 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, An American in Paris brings breathtaking dance and music to the stage. Jerry Mulligan, a young American soldier, is doing his best to make it as a painter in the bustling city of Paris following the end of WWII. But when Jerry meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret, his life becomes complicated.

The cast of the Arizona Broadway Theatre production of An American in Paris

The City of Light’s streets become a dancefloor for the music of George and Ira Gershwin, including great tunes like “I Got Rhythm,” “But Not for Me,” “Shall We Dance,” and “’S Wonderful.” Of the impressive 11 Tony Award nominations it received,
An American in Paris won four, including Best Orchestrations.

We’re looking forward to enjoying these Gerswhin masterpieces and the accompanying story and dancing choreography on opening weekend. We’ll add our take then. Brisk ticket sales are already limiting seating availability for some performance dates. We suggest that you go to the Beef & Boards website and reserve your time for this classic movie-based show.

Explosive musical Footloose on stage at Indy’s Beef & Boards

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Are you ready Indianapolis? The first musical of Indy’s beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 50th Anniversary season is  the dynamic, dramatic and explosive Footloose, now on stage. This show is a marvelous musical entertainment treat.

Ren and his friends dance in the opening number of Footloose

The production opens with a vibrant dance number that sets the stage for premium quality choreography and music throughout. A Beef and Boards press release provides a snapshot of the storyline: “The 1984 movie danced its way into the hearts of millions, and was nominated for two Oscars, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for its powerhouse hits including “Footloose,” “Almost Paradise,” and “Let’s Hear It for The Boy.” The stage musical combines the bestselling score with dynamic new songs in a celebration of the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness.”

Ethel McCormack, Ren’s mother, played by B&B veteran Sarah Hund

Rev. Shaw Moore, played by Eddie Curry, B&B long time actor and director

Rusty (Shelbi Berry Kamohara) sings “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”

Ren, a rebellious teenager from Chicago, who, with his mother, moved from the Windy City to Bomont, a super conservative small rural town. He is shocked when he learns that dancing is illegal, among other culture shocks. The plot follows the drama as he comes to grips as best as he can with his developing feelings for Ariel, the minister’s daughter. Oh yes, the minister, Rev. Shaw Moore, is responsible for maintaining the ban on dancing, founded by a tragic accident that took the lives of four teens, including the minister’s son.

Ariel (Sharaé Moultrie), top, sings “I Need A Hero” with her friends (from left) Urleen (Logan Hill), Rusty (Shelby Berry Kamohara), and Wendy Jo (Maya Mays)

As he tries to take her order, Ariel (Sharaé Moultrie), right, tells Ren (Daniel Dipinto) that what she wants isn’t on the menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you like song and dance, Footloose is for you. There are over a dozen songs performed across the two Acts of this stage play. Not only will you enjoy the songs, but you’ll also be amazed at the high stepping and energetic choreography of the dances. Over the course of the scenes the story of Ren and his quest to fit in are dotted with happiness and sadness. But the overall show is both uplifting and inspiring. Yes it has a happy ending.

At the Dance

Willard leaps at the dance

Making their Beef & Boards debuts are Daniel Alan Dipinto as Ren, and Sharaé Moultrie as the minister’s daughter, Ariel. Shelbi Berry Kamohara (The Addams Family,
Honky Tonk Angels, Hello, Dolly!) is Rusty, while Noah Nehemiah Robinson makes his Beef & Boards debut as Willard. Eddie Curry reprises his role as the uptight town minister, Rev. Shaw Moore. The show is directed by Heather Patterson King, with choreography by Doug King and musical direction by Kristy Templet. Footloose is rated PG-13 for some adult themes and language.

Ren leaps for joy at the dance

Footloose is on stage  through March 26 in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner
Theatre. Tickets  include Chef Larry Stoops’ dinner buffet and select beverages.
To purchase tickets online, visit beefandboards.com. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays.

Before Footloose at Beef and Boards

/ Roadtirementvintage / 3 Comments

We are back at Beef and Boards, just had a great meal. Now we are enjoying a fancy cocktail waiting for the start of the first musical in the 50th anniversary season: Footloose!

Kevin Bacon starred in the 1984 movie which became an instant hit. Tonight’s cast at Beef and Boards includes several talented actors making their debut here.

We’ll have a full review with photos for you tomorrow !

Comedy filled murder mystery dinner show

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We had a fun and different evening for last night’s entertainment. Our son and daughter-in-law from Columbus, Ohio came over to Indianapolis and treated us to an evening at the Indy version of The Dinner Detective murder mystery dinner show.

Where the body was found!

The show was held in a decent sized conference room at the Sheraton Hotel in the Keystone Mall on the north side of Indianapolis. Our party had seven, including three of our adult grandkids. The table sat 10, so another couple was seated, and before the show started another fellow sat down. We all wondered if this fellow was in fact part of the show.

Interaction between cast and audience

All attendees had made up “aliases” for name tags. Sher was Nancy Drew. The crowd was encouraged to question as many other guests as possible, and begin to make a suspect list. Soon after we began eating the murder victim made his appearance with a mortal wound and died on the floor.  Thus the mystery commenced.

The detective hovering over the victim’s body

Two “Police Detectives” soon came out and began the investigation. They interviewed and interacted with many of the audience. There was constant funny patter, including some hilarious one liners and great improvisation. The lack of an obvious script was a bonus.

This was the “Curtain Call” for the cast

Clues were discovered, some under some of the plates on the tables, some from printed pages giving background information for the plot. The flow of the acting was pretty much constant. The two police detectives did a great job keeping the storyline on track. The plot was quite complicated and only one person got all the details correctly.

Vegetarian Farro Risotto

Chicken Marsala

The rich dessert

All of this action took place while we were enjoying the very nice multi course meal. It started with Caesar salad. Entrees offered were Chicken Marsala, Pan Seared Tilapia, and vegetarian Farro Risotto, all topped off with a decadent rich chocolate cake. There was also a full service bar that was open the entire time. The meal was good, however the table service left a lot to be desired. That was really our only disappointment of the evening.

The company logo

We had a great time being immersed in this murder mystery. The Dinner Detective has over 80 locations in cities all over the country. Check to see if there is one near you.

 

Oldenburg 1871 Sorrowful Mother Shrine

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Oldenburg Indiana is known for its rich religious history. Founded in 1837 by German settlers, it is known as the “Village of Spires” due to the multiple church steeples that make up the town’s skyline.

Located about a mile outside the town limits visitors will find the beautiful Sorrowful Mother Shrine, erected in 1871 by Siegfried Koehler, who had arrived in Oldenburg from Alsace, France in the late 1830’s.

The Altar

Prayer bench

The statue on the altar is actually a plaster cast of the original that Koehler brought with him on the ship from France. The original was found to be hand carved from black walnut, and now is in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg to protect it from vandalism.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

Seven Sorrows pictured

The shrine is found on a country road, and is in a beautiful setting. Trees, lawns and a stone…

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Foggy spooky early and late evening

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Normally dense fog shows up in the morning. This afternoon the local National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory starting at 3:00 PM, not the normal time of day for fog appearing.

Creepy winding foggy road

Darkness has fallen, fog thickens

The fog got thicker and denser as the evening went on. Glad we were not out on the road tonight!

 

Jimmy Johns for supper

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Sometimes you don’t want a large supper, often it depends on what you had for lunch that day. This evening was one of those times…

Turkey, ham and provolone cheese

Wonderful veggie sandwich

We decided that a couple of deli type sandwiches would make for a  tasty light meal. Jimmy Johns makes theirs good and fresh, and it was not very far away for a quick in store pick up. And we had a night off from cooking.