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Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

Civic’s Moon Over Buffalo Runs Through February 21st

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Moon Over Buffalo

The audience loved the opening night of the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre‘s performance of Ken Ludwig’s hilarious farce Moon Over Buffalo as evidenced by the laughter and applause. If you liked Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Tenor, this play is a must see.

The entire cast of the Civic’s performance of Moon Over Buffalo is outstanding. Bill Book delivers a stupendous performance as George Hay. George and his wife Charlotte, played by Jean Childers Arnold, have the main roles as has-been actors who are on the brink of a split-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue. As they receive word that they might have one last shot at stardom, everything that could go wrong does, resulting in a play that is hysterical from start to finish.

Patrons were overheard describing this performance as “very well done”, “excellent”, and “as good as it gets”.

If you want an enjoyable evening of laughter, this is one play that is not to be missed.

February 6-21, 2015
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7pm, last Saturday (2/21) at 5pm, Sundays at 2pm
Tickets: $41.50 Adult, $31.50 Students (under 18)

Civic Theatre Young Adult Program presents Anything Goes July 25-28

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CIV-Anything-Goes

 

On Thursday, July 25, Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre’s Young Adult Program (YAP) premieres its summer production of the Tony Award-winning musical Anything Goes at the Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

Best-known for its magical music and lyrics by Indiana-native Cole Porter, Anything Goes debuted on Broadway in 1934 where it met instant success. Since then, the musical has entertained audiences on Broadway and in film with memorable songs like It’s De-Lovely, I Get A Kick Out of You, Anything Goes and You’re the Top.

This riotous boy-meets-girl tale begins as lovesick young Wall Street broker Billy Crocker stows away on a ship in hopes of winning the heart of heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to a stuffy British nobleman. As other passengers embark on helping Billy break up the match, hilarious complications ensue onboard the S.S. “American,” where anything goes!

The production will feature high school students as the performers, as well as other YAP students running the technical side of the show under the supervision of Civic Theatre’s production staff and Carmel High School technical theatre instructor Aaron Seelig.

Performances for this two-and-a-half hour toe-tapping musical are Thursday, July 25, and Saturday, July 27, at 7pm and Sunday, July 28, at 2 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students (including college).

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit CivicTheatre.org or call (317) 843-3800.

Jr. Civic presents Beanstalk! The Musical! June 14-18, 2013

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Beanstalk-dark-277x122On Friday, June 14, Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre’s Jr. Civic highlights its 72nd season with the premiere of the kids-only production Beanstalk! The Musical! at The Tarkington at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

Auditions were held in April for ages 6-14 and attracted children throughout the metro area. This one-of-a-kind opportunity affords young performers the chance to participate in a professionally staffed, technically supported Mainstage production.

This musical follows the misadventures of Jack, a boy with his head in the clouds and his nose in a book of fairy tales. After trading his family’s cow for magic beans that erupt into a gigantic beanstalk, Jack must climb the stalk and face many obstacles to save his family, find the treasure and reclaim his cow.

Based on the book by Ross Mihalko and Donna Swift, the show’s 90 minutes are filled with hilarious characters, toe-tapping tunes by Linda Berg and more twists than a winding beanstalk!

Showtimes are Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 5 pm and Monday and Tuesday at 10 am and 1 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit CivicTheatre.org or call (3017) 843-3800.

Civic Theatre closes out its 2012-2013 season with Into the Woods

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Into Woods_color

Civic Theatre closes out its 2012-2013 season with this fabulous Stephen Sondheim musical.  A story of wishes and curses and magic, a group of fairy tale characters set out on a comedic adventure Into the Woods.  The Baker and his wife find out that the reason they are childless is due to a curse put on their house by a neighboring witch.  She offers them a chance to lift the curse by finding and bringing her 4 items: a white cow, a red cape, hair as yellow as corn and a golden slipper. They meet several characters along the way and their stories become intertwined.

My personal favorites in the show were Andy Baker (as Rapunzel’s prince) and Justin Klein (as Snow White’s prince).  These two did a fantastic job and play so well off each other.  I don’t know if it was their intent but they reminded me of Prince Edward from the Disney movie, Enchanted.  (one of my faves!)  Susie Harloff did an excellent job as the Baker’s wife, a role she has always dreamed of playing according to her bio.

If you’re looking for something to do in the Indianapolis area, the Civic Theatre’s production of Into the Woods should definitely be on your list!

Performances of Into the Woods take place at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre (3 Center Green, Suite 200, Carmel, IN) from April 26-May 11, 2013 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7pm, last Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets are $44 for adult, $34 for youth 17 & under.

Theater Review: The Woman in Black at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

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The Woman in Black, based on a novel by Susan Hill and adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, was a rather underwhelming experience at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre in Carmel.  I’m still trying to trace the root of my issues with the play and in my opinion, its lack of thrills.  Maybe I’m desensitized from watching haunting movies from Japan and torture epics from the good ol’ U. S. of A.

The Woman in Black certainly deals with violent death and the agony of mortality in a much subtler way.  Don’t get me wrong; subtlety is very important.  However, there just wasn’t enough action to keep me and some parts of the audience entertained.  I heard more than one snore, especially throughout the first act, which features little more than dramatic recitations and drawn-out exposition.

On the other hand, I marveled at the skillful lighting and unique sets.  There was a marked minimalism in the show, which chooses light and shadow over props.  That proved sustenance enough to get me to the next act.  Throughout The Woman in Black, a persistent thread of tension pulled me along; I wanted to know the story behind that damn woman.

The second act features the majority of the action and felt significantly creepier.  I should note that both (the play features a cast of two) actors performed very well.  Each played more than one character and gave their all to every role.  Overall, the second act engaged me much more than the first.

While I didn’t experience as many chills as I expected, in retrospect I can appreciate the muted format of The Woman in Black.  Was I particularly titillated during my appreciation?  No.  But I enjoyed myself and would recommend the play to those who like a minimalistic ghost story.

The Woman in Black concludes with three performances this week:

  • Thursday, November 8 at 7pm
  • Friday, November 9 at 7pm
  • Saturday, November 10 at 5pm

Photo Credit: Zach Rosing

The Woman in Black to Haunt Civic

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Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre is thrilled to celebrate the Halloween season with The Woman in Black, showing Friday, October 26, through Saturday, November 10, at the Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

Based on the book by Susan Hill and adapted by Stephen Mallatratt, The Woman in Black is the second longest-running play in the history of London’s West End. This eerie play within a play follows solicitor Arthur Kipps, played by Daniel Scharbrough, as he travels to a small, foggy town to attend the funeral of a client. While there, Kipps encounters the woman in black and soon discovers the haunted secrets of her past. John Michael Goodson plays The Actor, who is hired by Kipps to tell his mysterious story.

Fans of the film adaptation released this year, starring Daniel Radcliffe, will feel one with the dark and ominous scenes. This Tarkington production will be a sensory-immersive experience, stretching the abilities of theatrical light and sound. Audiences of all ages will be on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next spine-chilling moment.

Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7pm, last Saturday at 5pm, and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $39 for adults. Thrill-seeking students can purchase Student Scream tickets at a spooky $13 with valid school IDs!.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit CivicTheatre.org or call (317) 843-3800.

Enter to Win A Pair of Tickets

Would you like to go see The Woman in Black for FREE on Opening Night, Friday, October 26?

To enter please fill out the form below or e-mail us with your full name,valid e-mail address by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 21, 2012 and one (1) lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets.

Your information is confidential and will only be used for contacting the winner and for prize fulfillment purposes.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

Giveaway Rules:

  • One entry per person
  • Open to Indiana residents
  • Fill out the form above or e-mail us with your full name & valid e-mail address to be entered to win by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 21, 2012
  • You MUST be able to attend on Opening Night, which is Friday, October 26th
  • Tickets will be available at will call on the day of the show

The winner will be notified by Tuesday, October 23, 2012 via e-mail.

A CHORUS LINE presented by Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

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A CHORUS LINE, in its final weekend at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre in Carmel, is an American musical theatre staple. Written in the 1970’s, the musical tells the story of dancers auditioning for spots on “a chorus line” in a Broadway show. We learn about what brought the characters to dancing – in sequential order from childhood, to puberty, through the end of a dance career. Memorable songs include “One,” “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” and my personal favorite, “What I Did For Love.”

Under the direction of Ron Morgan (owner and director of Carmel’s Performer’s Edge Dance Theatre), this cast has created a stunning production of this classic piece. Amongst this (obviously) talented cast, some gave especially great performances:

    • Julia Bonnett, Betsy Norton, and Laura Lockwood definitely deliver during “At the Ballet” – revealing stories about their own rocky pasts, but everything was always “beautiful at the ballet.”
    • Nathalie Cruz, during “What I Did For Love,” had me smiling from the downbeat. As a performer myself, I’m always touched by a great performance of this song because of the truth in it. We all do what we do because we love it and you cannot regret that.
    • And a special shout-out to Anne Beck’s solo dance number, it was electrifying.

The show itself was great visually, but on the night I attended there were obviously some audio issues and a few pitchy performances from cast members – which, no doubt, have most likely been resolved over the run of the show. However, not all dancers are singers and not every singer can dance, so that I am willing to forgive. That being said, I have to give a shout-out to all the dancers in this show – the main cast AND the cut dancers. I have done this choreography (I had to learn it for school!) and I give major props to anyone who can pull that off night after night – because it is really hard!

The show continues in its final weekend at Booth Tarkington Civc Theatre with performances tonight at 7pm and Saturday, September 22nd at 5pm.

Civic Opens 98th Season with A Chorus Line

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CIVIC THEATRE OPENS SEASON OF RAVES WITH A CHORUS LINE
2012-2013 Mainstage Season Premieres with Broadway Classic

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre is set to draw the curtain on its 98th season with A Chorus Line. The nine-time Tony Award winning Broadway favorite will open Friday, September 7, and run through Saturday, September 22, at The Tarkington at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

One of the longest-running American Broadway musicals of all time, A Chorus Line tells the story of 17 dancers, auditioning for the chance of a lifetime.  On a bare stage, in an empty theatre, each character exposes every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives to do what they’ve always dreamed of – dance.

A Chorus Line is based on the book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, with music from beloved American composer Marvin Hamlisch, who passed away earlier this month. Theatergoers will enjoy famed hits like “What I Did for Love” and “One.”

Don’t miss the chance to see this singular sensation on a local stage! Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7pm, last Saturday at 5pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $44 for adults and $34 for youth, 17 and under. This show contains adult content and is not suitable for children.

Tickets – http://www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org/tickets/production.aspx?PID=1504

The Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre is one of the 10 largest active community theaters in the United States and has been a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape for 95 years.  For more information about the largest community theater in Indiana, go to http://www.civictheatre.org/

Guys and Dolls at Civic Theatre April 27 – May 12

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Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Craig Underwood), performing “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre will debut Guys and Dolls, Friday, April 27, at The Tarkington at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

Sarah Brown (Theresa Koleszar) and Miss Adelaide (Laura Lockwood)

Guys and Dolls will be performed on the following dates:

  • Friday, April 27 at 7PM
  • Saturday, April 28 at 7PM
  • Sunday, April 29 at 2PM
  • Thursday, May 3 at 7PM
  • Friday, May 4 at 7PM
  • Saturday, May 5 at 7PM
  • Sunday, May 6 at 2PM
  • Thursday, May 10 at 7PM
  • Friday, May 11 at 7PM
  • Saturday, May 12 at 5PM

Single tickets are $32 for Thursday performances, $39 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances, and $20 for children 12 and younger.

Tickets can be purchased online at CivicTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 317-843-3800.