A Beef and Boards Christmas celebrates the season

November 27, 2016July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 2 Comments

Rudolph really can fly!

One of the favorite holiday shows in Indiana is back on stage at Beef & Boards on Indy’s northwest side. This beloved variety show, celebrating a 24 year run, is known for its consistent quality. I think the 2016 version of the show actually raised the bar for the overall quality of the production.

Once again the show is hosted by Deb Wims and Kenny Shepard. This will be the last time you will be able to enjoy the heartwarming performance of this marvelous duo as Deb will soon be relocating with her family out-of-state.

The extremely talented principal singers this year is a quartet including Peter Scharbrough, Kyle Durbin, Betsy Norton and Cara Statham. Returning as the featured vocalist for the show is Kendra Lynn Lucas. Kendra brings an amazingly strong voice to all of her many songs. Music director Kristy Templet leads the B&B Orchestra, placed center stage. Several numbers feature just the orchestra which is a real treat.

Fancy costumes, great dancing and exciting song!

You will be immersed in the spirit of the season during the show. The costumes are, well, stunning. I am still in awe of the number of costume changes! (Hats off to costume designer Jill Kelly Howe) Director/Choreographer Ron Morgan has put together a fabulous production. The action is nonstop and exciting.

Kendra Lynn Lucas center stage singing “O Holy Night”

My favorite numbers? I have to say I loved them all. OK, I loved the Grinch, Alvin and the Chipmunks and flying Rudolph. Each year I cherish Kendra Lynn Lucas belting out “O Holy Night”. Her passion flows out and envelopes the entire house with the Spirit of Christmas.

A Beef & Boards Christmas runs through December 23rd. Chef Odell Ward’s holiday buffet is a true culinary delight and is a great way to start your fun filled and joyous evening at indy’s beloved dinner theatre. For reservations you can call the box office at 317.872.9664 or visit the Beef & Boards website.

“Church Basement Ladies” gives a light hearted evening of fun

July 17, 2016July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

The cast of Church Basement Ladies

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre brings back to the stage the original version of the popular Church Basement Ladies series this summer. Set in the basement of a rural Minnesota Lutheran church in 1964, four ladies of various ages bring a mix of nostalgia, cooking, planning and hilarity to this fun story.

Beef & Boards favorite Eddie Curry is featured as the hapless pastor of this church. His interaction with the basement ladies rings so true to anyone who has experience in a local church of any denomination. Licia Watson is fabulous as the matriarch of the basement kitchen, Vivian Snustad. Vivian is struggling with changes within the church, including a recent change from black to red hymnals. The unforgettable Mavis Gilmerson is played by Karen Pappas, reprising her original role. Newcomer to B&B is Dawn Trautman (an authentic Minnesota Lutheran) playing Karin Engleson and Lindsay Sutton is featured as Karin’s daughter, Signe.

“Mavis” in a typical wacky scene

You will laugh ’til you cry

The story follows the problems the ladies face as they prepare for the typical series of events that most church kitchens have: Christmas dinner, a funeral bereavement meal, the Easter celebration and even a wedding. The antics of the ladies as they compare recipes, reduce the possibilities of disasters and keep the pastor in line will have you laughing until you cry.

Don’t miss this funny and poignant production at the popular Indy northside venue. Church Basement Ladies is on stage through August 21st. Tickets include the famous all you care to eat buffet from Chef Odell Ward. Free parking is close and always available. Call the box office at 317-872-9664 for ticket reservations. You may also visit the Beef & Boards website for all details.

Indy’s Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presents “Guys and Dolls”

April 3, 2016July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 4 Comments

Nathan and Adelaide Photo courtesy Beef & Boards Media

The musical comedy Guys and Dolls is now running at Beef & Boads Dinner Theatre on the northwest side of Indianapolis. This intimate venue, beloved by Indy theater goers for decades, provides a perfect setting for this sometimes madcap story of two couples attempting to sort out their feelings.

The cast is filled with Beef and Boards favorties. Eddie Curry has the role of pro gambler Nathan Detroit. Nathan is in a race to procure a location for the biggest craps game ever seen. Adding to the frivolity is the local cop, played by Daniel Scharbrough, who is constantly breathing down Nathan’s neck in an effort to bust the game. Enter Sky Masterson who will bet on anything. Nathan sees this as a chance to make a sure bet with Masterson in order to get the cash to rent the place for the craps game.

The bet brings in a sweet, innocent Mission worker named Sarah Brown, played by Betsy Norton. The bet is that Masterson can get Sarah to go to Havana, Cuba with him for dinner. Meanwhile Nathan is still wooing Miss Adelaide, played by Deb Wims. Nahan and Adelaide have been “engaged” for 14 years. Both men have different ideas of romance. Both women also have different ideas about their perfect man.

Things get crazy quickly. The floating craps game ends up in a couple of unlikely places. Sky and Sarah go to Havana and return. Nathan and Adelaide plan more than one wedding time. Other gamblers join in the search for the perfect game. The cop keeps trying to bust the game. Laced throughout the cast sings, dances, laughs and just carries on!

This favorite won a Tony for Best Musical when on Broadway. The Beef and Boards version features all of the famous songs including “Luck Be A Lady Tonight” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.

Guys and Dolls runs through May15 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. You will really love the buffet that Chef Odell Ward prepares for this production.

Call for reservations at the Beef & Boards box office at 317-872-9664 or visit the Beef & Boards website here.

“The Guys” Photo courtesy Beef & Boards Media

Beef & Boards Christmas show once again shines

December 2, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre on the far northwest side of Indianapolis continues to prove why it is one of the most popular and beloved venues in the area. This year’s version of the Christmas variety show is just marvelous.

Deb Wims and Kenny Shepard continue their tradition of hosts and performers of the show. This team has been leads in this show for years. Wims and Shepard sing and dance as one. Audiences are always enthralled by their performance and stage presence.

The supporting cast is truly one of the best in the musical genre. The choreography, costuming and sets bring the Spirit of the Season to the stage. Special recognition is due to the perfromance of Kendra Lynn Lucas. This talented lady can really belt out a song. Her rendition of “O Holy Night” in Act 2 brought the house to its feet.

The Beef & Boards orchestra is amazing. The quality and depth of the music that a handfull of musicians produce is one of the keys to the excitement of the performance.

Don’t miss the Beef & Boards Christmas 2015. The show runs through December 23rd. Visit the B&B website for all pertainent details.

Curry and Stockberger bring down the house in ‘The Odd Couple’ at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

December 31, 2014July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 2 Comments

Oscar convinces Felix to double date

The 2015 season at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis opened this week with the Neil Simon classic hit The Odd Couple. Starring 25 year friends Eddie Curry as the fastidious Felix Unger and Jeff Stockberger as the slovenly Oscar Madison, this is truly a must see show.

Curry and Stockberger are favorites of B&B patrons and tonight’s production showcased these two talented funnymen at their best. They have worked together for years. Their delivery, timing and facial expressions were frankly some of the best this author has seen in quite a while. Both used this 4 time Tony Award winning script to the max.

There were too many hilarious moments in the play to list, but when you go and enjoy this play be ready for Felix’s bout with neck pain and other physical afflictions. Oscar has a funny time dealing with the curse that Felix put on him.

Oscar flirts with Pigeon sisters

The supporting cast brings a set of characters to the stage that add to the frivolity and humor of the entire situation that face Oscar and Felix. Oscar has a Friday night poker game. Darrin Murrell, Dave Ruark, Michael Davis , and Craig Underwood play Vinnie, Roy, Speed, and Murray respectively. These four keep poppng into scenes with a flair for suppporting roles. Hats off as well to the performances of Carrie Fedor as Cecily and Erin Cohenour as Gwendolyn, the Pigeon sisters from upstairs.

The Odd Couple is celebrating its 50th annivesary this year. The B&B production, directed by Douglas E Stark continues the tradition of a top notch comedy production. This show runs through Feb. 8, 2015 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Don’t miss this show. It is one of the best ever performed at B&B. Here is their website for information.