Indy attraction

Grumpy Old Men brings hilarious comedy to Beef & Boards

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Accident prone Harry (Jaddy Ciucci) reacts in pain after a mishap

Long time Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre professional actors and directors Eddie Curry and Jeff Stockberger take the stage by storm in the currently running production of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical. Set in the cold climes of Wabasha, Minnesota, the story joins the decades long running feud between John Gustafson (Curry) and Max Goldman (Stockberger) that is ramped up when Ariel Truax, an alluring lady (played by another B&B favorite Sarah Hund) moves in across the street from from John and Max.

Ariel (Sarah Hund), center, fuels the feud between John Gustafson (Eddie Curry), left, and Max Goldman (Jeff Stockberger), right

Max and John both want Ariel, as it has been years since they lost their wives. Throw in John’s daughter (Logan Hill) and Max’s son (Jacob A Butler) and their love interest adds yet another layer to the plots and hilarity of the interactions of the people of Wabasha.

John (Eddie Curry) hooks a boot while ice fishing with (from left) Max Goldman (Jeff Stockberger), Chuck Barrels (Ty Stover), and his father, “Grandpa” Gustafson (Douglas E. Stark)

Among the characters in the town are General Store owner Chuck Barrels (Ty Stoyer) and his just arrived cousin Punky Barrels (Karen Pappas), an ornery and vindictive IRS agent Sandra Snyder (Devan Mathias) and Grandpa Gustafson (Douglas E. Stark).

Ariel (Sarah Hund) gives Max (Jeff Stockberger) a cup of tea as he struggles to maintain his balance in one of the funniest interactions of the performance.

Curry and Stockberger once again shine with their performances playing off of each other. The constant banter between the two characters is filled with hard hitting one liners. Their expressions are priceless and both fit the “Grumpy Old Men” label perfectly. Curry and Stockberger reset the bar high for Grumpy Old Men.

Ariel (Sarah Hund), top, celebrates her arrival to Wabasha, Minnesota

No review of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical would be complete without mention of Douglas E. Stark’s portrayal of Grandpa Gustafson’s highly animated monologs that give son John very explicit instructions on how to carry on with Ariel. Let’s just say that the multiple double entendre uttered combined with, ah, explicit gestures leaves nothing that Grandpa is saying to imagination.

His lascivious father “Grandpa” Gustafson (Douglas E. Stark), left, gives John (Eddie Curry) some encouragement and life advice by singing “Life Is All About Livin'”

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, is now on stage through Oct. 1. This is the Indianapolis premiere for the show, which is rated PG-13 for adult language and content. Visit The B&B website for pricing and availability, or call the box office at 317.872.9664.

“Beauty and the Beast” comes to Beef & Boards

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Parents and Grandparents: Do not miss this opportunity to share a professional live musical on stage with your kids and grandkids!

Lumière (Jonathan Studdard), center, beams as Belle (Jameelah Leaundra) shares some soup with the Beast (Logan Moore)

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis now has its annual children’s production on stage through July 9th. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful addition to the  exciting Beef & Boards 50th Anniversary season. This  popular musical was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Gaston (Jon McHatton) proudly poses for Belle (Jameelah Leaundra) after giving her a photo of himself

Belle (Jameelah Leaundra) asks the Beast (Logan Moore) to dance with her

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. The original Broadway production ran for over 13 years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Unforgettable songs include “Belle,” “Be Our Guest,” “Gaston,” and the title song.

The time to get your tickets is right now! There is already limited availability for many performances. Know that there are discounts for kids aged 3 – 15. Also know that Chef Stoops has prepared a wonderful kid and family menu for the buffet. Think chicken fingers and mac and cheese in addition to the usual “grown up fare”. To purchase tickets online, visit B&B website. 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 (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays).

Themed drinks at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

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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.

Before Footloose at Beef and Boards

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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 !

“The Ruins” from a New York City building to Indianapolis

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Holliday Park is a city park located in the near north-side of Indianapolis in one of the more higher end neighborhoods. The park is a beautiful setting with hundreds of trees, flowers and wildlife. In addition to the natural features of this inner city recreation site you will find an eclectic display affectionately tagged “The Ruins”.

The centerpiece of this ‘artwork’ is a structure that is the home of three massive sculptures atop a brick and mortar conglomeration of various architectural details. The three statues are called “The Races of Man”, are carved from (fittingly) Indiana limestone and represent Caucasian, Asian and African ethnic groups. Karl Bitter was the sculptor.

View of the whole display

Entrance of structure in 1898 showing the 3 statutes and columns

The original home of the three statues was the St. Paul building in downtown New York. The building was the work of famed architect George B. Post (1837-1913) who was the architect of many of the most important landmarks in New York City, including the New York Stock Exchange.  At the time of the completion of the St. Paul building in 1898 it was 315 feet tall and the tallest in New York City.

The original St. Paul building was torn down in 1958 to make way for a new skyscraper. The building’s owner, Western Electric, held a contest among US cities for the rights to have the sculptures. Long story short, Indianapolis won the competition. It took two decades and tons of money to bring “The Ruins” to a condition suitable for public use. For a while Western Electric considered retrieving the statues. Then Mayor of Indianapolis Richard Lugar pushed the completion of the project, which included the three  original entrance columns, in the mid 1970’s.

Detail of one of the statues

When we visited the park we frankly were amazed. What a beautiful setting! The Ruins were fascinating to see. It was fun walking the grounds and touring the extensive nature center as well. Note that there was adequate parking for RV’s and buses, making access very easy.

 

The Addams Family at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

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Indy’s Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre has published a general invitation to “meet The Addams Family” during October and most of November this year. We took them up on that invitation, and thoroughly enjoyed the performance Saturday night.

(snap snap) When you’re an Addams theme song

A B&B press release sets the stage: “Few things frighten the eerie Addams clan. But Gomez Addams faces a nightmare when his daughter, Wednesday, falls in love. What’s worse, she loves a boy Gomez has never met – who is from a respectable family. To complicate matters even more, Wednesday pleads with him not to tell her mother, Morticia, and Gomez must do something he’s never dared – keep a secret from his wife. Everything changes forever for the famously frightening family when they are put to the test hosting a dinner for the “normal” boyfriend Lucas and his parents.”

The (family) Ancestors and Uncle Fester (Kurt Perry)

That said, it should be noted that all of the cast were on point with the quality of their performances. Eddie Curry and Jill Kelly Howe portray Gomez and Morticia Addams with skills that successfully define their characters. The show begins with Uncle Fester “dancing on the graves” of ghostly Ancestors, who provide dancing choreography throughout the performance.

Jeff Stockberger as Lurch

Amanda Butterbaugh as Grandma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelbi Berry plays Wednesday Addams,  while Ray Gleaves plays her “normal” boyfriend Lucas. John Vessels and Sarah Hund play Mal and Alice Beineke, the ridiculously normal parents of Lucas. Mal and Alice have a hard time adjusting to the Addams macabre way of like, their house in a Park in New York, and just about anything Addams!

The Beinekes and Lurch

Wednesday challenges Lucas with a crossbow and apple on head

Wednesday sings while torturing Pugsley (Eli Neal)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The conflicts that arise between the Addams family members, Beineke family members, and each others set the tone for the hilarious interactions seen in Act to Act to Act. Gomez and Morticia clash over his lying about the engagement of Wednesday and Lucas. Mal and Alice had tough time with their marriage. Pugsley was worried about Wednesday leaving him so no more torture.

Gomez reacts to the news of the engagement ring

The humor in this production is constant and hilarious. Some scenes border on slapstick, others are filled with subtle references to current political issues. Uncle Fester is in love with the Moon. Yes, the moon that orbits Earth. His featured Act “The Moon and Me” will have you rolling in the aisle. Lurch greets the Beineke family with the classic “You rang?” line. He later gives a mime explaining his death (yes, Lurch is neither dead or alive) involving a motorcycle and a bunny.

Portrait of Gomez and Morticia Addams

The set, lighting and special effects for The Addams Family are very impressive and set the tone of the production. Costumes reach a level of creepiness that is , frankly, creepy. Eddie Curry’s artistic direction is spot on, and coupled with the music rounds out a delightful production. You will be perfectly and hilariously creeped out when you meet The Addams Family. Reserve your seats early! The theater was sold out when we attended. This is a great Halloween season show.

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. A discount of $6 off per ticket is available to children ages 3-15. The Addams Family is rated PG-13 for some language, innuendo, and dark references.

Stockberger and Curry together in Beef and Boards “The Addams Family”

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This is our Review of The Addams Family posted after we enjoyed the show!

Sher and I have been enjoying Beef & Boards shows for years now. Among our favorite performers are Jeff Stockberger and Eddie Curry. These two talented actors and directors always bring a spark to whatever production they are part of. And they really shine when they are on stage together. (Remember The Odd Couple performance a while back?) Their timing is perfect and they put you in mind of classic comedy duos like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis or Abbott and Costello.

The Addams Family cast

Jeff Stockberger as Lurch

This October we’re excited to see that Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre is presenting the spooky-ooky macabre musical comedy The Addams Family  starring Stockberger and Curry, among other B&B veterans of the stage. The show opens tonight, October 6th. We’re going to the show Saturday night.

To purchase tickets online, visit beefandboards.com.  A discount of $6 off per ticket is available to children ages 3-15. Also check out VIP memberships for next year’s 50th Anniversary Season. There are some great ticket deals available for some awesome shows.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presents “The Addams Family”

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Back in 2015 Beef & Boards presented a production of The Addams Family. We missed that production but to our delight we will have a chance soon to see the same Tony Award nominated macabre musical comedy. Traditionally referred to as a show that is “creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether ooky” the 2022 cast is packed with B&B favorites as well as many of our favorite cast members.

Based on the cartoon characters created by Charles Addams that later inspired a television series in the 1960s and several films, The Addams Family opened on Broadway in 2010. The Beef & Boards production stars Eddie Curry, who reprises his role from our 2015 production as Gomez Addams, and Jill Kelly Howe (Million Dollar
Quartet, Ring of Fire, Lend Me A Tenor) as Morticia. Shelbi Berry (Honky Tonk Angels, Hello, Dolly!, Phantom) plays the role of Wednesday Addams, while Ray Gleaves (Escape to Margaritaville, Kinky Boots, Newsies) plays her boyfriend, Lucas. Also returning to reprise their 2015 roles are Jeff Stockberger as Lurch, Amanda Butterbaugh as Grandma, and John Vessels and Sarah Hund as Mal and Alice Beineke, Lucas’
parents. Eli Neal and Kurt Perry makes their Beef & Boards debuts in the role of Pugsley and Uncle Fester, respectively.

 

The Addams Family opens on October 6th and runs through November 20th. Pick your dates, reserve your favorite table and get tickets at the B&B’s website. 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. Tickets include the dinner buffet , and don’t forget parking is always free.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre celebrates 50 years of entertainment excellence.

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The year was 1973. Those three massive eye catching  Pyramids had just been constructed on the then far northwest side of Indianapolis. A new music and theater venue named Beef & Boards had just opened. It offered a delicious meal prior to the entertainment show of the evening. Thus began a wildly successful run that continues today, 50 years later.

Come celebrate with the Stark family

Fort Wayne native Douglas E. Stark patronized the opening show, Tom Jones, and was mesmerized by the venue. His dream came true in 1980 when Stark bought Beef & Boards with a business partner, Bob Zehr. Stark recently observed “At the time it offered the most stability that I could have as an actor and director to fulfill my artistic need-and at the same time provide the stability that’s necessary for raising a family.” That family is now, with Douglas, operating Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.

The 2023 season will celebrate 50 years of excellence in the theater business. The lineup of shows is quite frankly remarkable. It opens with the classic board game mystery Clue, one of three debuts this season. Wonderful musicals, clever comedies and theater classics make for a must see season.

The Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre 50th Anniversary season lineup

Clue                                                               Dec. 28, 2022 – Feb. 5, 2023 (Beef & Boards Debut)
Footloose                                                   Feb. 9 – March 26
An American in Paris                           March 31 – May 15 (Beef & Boards Debut)
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast      May 18 – July 9
Sophisticated Ladies                           July 13 – Aug. 20
Grumpy Old Men The Musical      Aug. 24 – Oct. 1 (Beef & Boards Debut)
Joseph -Dreamcoat                             Oct. 5 – Nov. 19
White Christmas                                   Nov. 24 – Dec. 31

The show that brought more people through its doors than any other: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from Oct. 5 through Nov. 19, 2023.

The year long celebration of 50 years at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre will be an event that you should become a part of. Each and every show has appeal to all and provides an immense variety of entertainment options. Do not miss any of these fabulous performances. Bring your desire for a filling dinner and hunger for professional entertainment. You won’t be disappointed. All the information you need is at the Beef & Boards website.