Indianapolis, Indiana, Theater Reviews
by
~Lisa Gauthier Mitchison~
Why the middle row?
When it comes to covering local theater, I try to find the happy medium between paying audience member and critic. These two perspectives are quite different. The audience members want to be entertained and get their money’s worth. This part is pretty easy. Did I like it? Did I laugh? Cry? Was it a good story? Did the people around me have good reactions?
The critic has to look more, well, critically, at what is happening on stage and also has to look past the plot of a play and into the play’s presentation (actors and directors should not be held responsible for a flawed script). What was the director’s vision? Was the lighting distracting? Are the costumes appropriate for the setting and period? Did the actors fully embody their characters? How was the blocking and/or choreography? If it’s a musical, how were the numbers? Does the ticket price accurately reflect what the audience can expect? (Yes, if a theater’s tickets are $50 as opposed to $15, I will have higher expectations of it, as well as if it’s an Equity house or not.) These are just some of the questions I ask myself when I write.
I have been reviewing local theater since 1998, at first for NUVO Newsweekly. I took a semi-hiatus in 2009 when I had my son, and during my time as a new mom, my theater coverage was limited — but I was still out there, covering shows for publication when time allowed. In 2015, I initiated independent show reviews on this website to help fill the gap of coverage where many publications work against space and budget constraints.
I try my best to walk the line between audience and performers, and I take it seriously. But I also have a lot of fun. I hope you do too!
~Lisa Gauthier Mitchison
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“The Open Hand” at the Phoenix Theatre 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Feral Boy” by Catalyst Repertory. Photo by Gary Nelson. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“Bonnie & Clyde” at Buck Creek Players 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“You Never Know” by Amalgamated Stage Productions 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Feral Boy” by Catalyst Repertory. Photo by Gary Nelson. 
University of Indianapolis Theatre Department 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
Actors Theatre of Indiana: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing.” Ed Stewart Photography. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Tin Pin Allie” presented by Nickel Plate Players. Photo courtesy of Amy Lancaster Frederick. 
“Sex with Strangers” at the Phoenix Theatre 
“Beyond the Rainbow” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Beyond the Rainbow” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“Bonnie & Clyde” at Buck Creek Players 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
“Shrek” at Beef & Boards 
“Mad Mad Hercules” 
Asante Children’s Theatre at Conner Prairie 
“Beyond the Rainbow” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Belles” at Epilogue Players 
Ricks-Weil Theatre Company: “Annie” 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
“Human Rites” at the Phoenix Theatre 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
Storytelling Arts of Indiana: Liza Hyatt 
Amalgamated Stage Productions and Vince Accetturo: “You Never Know: Cole Porter’s Lost Musical.” Photo by Olive Branch Photography. 
“Nuts” at Buck Creek Players. Photo by photoGary.net. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Ring of Fire” at Beef & Boards 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
“Barbecue” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Barbecue” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Hir” at the Phoenix Theatre 
“Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” 
“Mad Mad Hercules” 
“Barbecue” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“M*A*S*H” at Buck Creek Players 
“Hir” at the Phoenix Theatre 
The Cat theater in the Carmel Arts & Design District 
“City of Conversation” at Theatre on the Square 
“Infinity” at Khaos Theatre Company 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
Fat Turtle Theatre Company’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
“Feral Boy” by Catalyst Repertory. Photo by Gary Nelson. 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“Human Rites” at the Phoenix Theatre 
“Barbecue” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“The Golem of Havana” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Feral Boy” by Catalyst Repertory. Photo by Gary Nelson. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “A Raisin in the Sun.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Glengarry Glen Ross” at Fat Turtle Theatre Company. Photo by Brandi Elizabeth Underwood. 
“The Open Hand” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Joe Konz 
“You Never Know” by Amalgamated Stage Productions 
“And Then There Were None” at Civic Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Halftime with Don” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Halftime with Don” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Carmel Community Players: “Driving Miss Daisy” 
Stage Door Productions: “Bill W and Dr. Bob” 
Kurt F. Clemenz (left) and Ryan Powell in “M*A”S*H” at Buck Creek Players. Photo by photoGary.net 
Approxima Productions: “In the Family Way” 
“Miranda” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
EclecticPond Theatre Company: “J. Eyre: A New Musical.” Photo by Derek Martin. 
Approxima Productions: “In the Family Way” 
Epilogue Players: “Tribute” 
“Beyond the Rainbow” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Storytelling Arts of Indiana: “Eglamore and Cristobel: A Medieval Love Story” by Dolores Hydock 
Miranda Nehrig in EclecticPond Theatre Company’s “J. Eyre: A New Musical.” Photo by Derek Martin. 
Storytelling Arts of Indiana:n D. Paul Thomas 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “A Raisin in the Sun.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “A Raisin in the Sun.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Brigette McCleary Short and Gloria Bray in Buck Creek Players’ “The Matchmaker.” Photo by photoGary.net. 
“Romeo and Juliet” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
Actors Theatre of Indiana: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 
“The Great Bike Race” at Theatre on the Square 
“Nuts” at Buck Creek Players. Photo by photoGary.net. 
“You Never Know” by Amalgamated Stage Productions 
Abby Gilster and Tim Hunt in EclecticPond Theatre Company’s “J. Eyre: A New Musical.” Photo by Derek Martin. 
Zach & Zack’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Abby Gilster and Tim Hunt in EclecticPond Theatre Company’s “J. Eyre: A New Musical.” Photo by Derek Martin. 
Fat Turtle Theatre Company: “The Quest for Don Quixote” 
“On Broadway” by the Indiana Performing Arts Initiative. Photo by http://www.photography.net. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “A Raisin in the Sun” 
“Barbecue” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Greater Tuna” at Beef & Boards 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“You Never Know” by Amalgamated Stage Productions 
Don White 
Carmel Community Players: “Other Desert Cities” 
“Barbecue” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Appoggiatura at the IRT. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“Appoggiatura at the IRT. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
Morgan Morton in Civic Theatre’s “Sense and Sensibility.” Photo by Fierce Little Bird Productions. 
Mary Margaret Montgomery in EclecticPond’s “J. Eyre: A New Musical.” Photo by Derek Martin. 
Buck Creek Players: “The Rink.” Photo by photoGary.net. 
“Mad Mad Hercules” 
“Miranda” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing 
Indiana Repertory Theatre’s Exploring Stages production: “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse” 
Epilogue Players: “Lucky Me” 
“A Very Phoenix Xmas 12” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Appoggiatura at the IRT. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“The Curse of an Aching Heart” at Mud Creek Players 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Footlite Musicals: “Brooklyn: The Musical” 
Jay and Silent Bob Get Old 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “A Raisin in the Sun.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Human Rites” at the Phoenix Theatre 
Approxima Productions: “In the Family Way” 
Phoenix Theatre: Pure Prine 
Civic Theatre: “And Then There Were None” 
Catalyst Repertory: “Hell’s 4th Ring [The Mall Musical].” Photo by Matthew Walls 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Garfield Shakespeare Company: “Richard II” 
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” at Civic Theatre 
“Batshit Crazy” at DivaFest 
Phoenix Theatre: “Halftime with Don.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
The Improbable Fiction Theatre Company and Nickel Plate Players “Much Ado About Nothing” 
“Appoggiatura at the IRT. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “Town Mouse and Country Mouse” 
Civic Theatre: “The Cat in the Hat” 
“Mad Mad Hercules” from NoExit Performance and Zach Rosing Productions 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
EclecticPond Theatre Company: “Sonnets And Slow Jams” 
The Belfry Theatre: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” 
7th Artistry: “Hansel and Gretel” 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Zach & Zack: “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “Romeo and Juliet.” Photo by Zack Rosing. 
Civic Theatre: “Sense and Sensibility.” Photo by Fierce Little Bird Productions. 
“La Cage aux Folles” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “Romeo and Juliet.” Photo by Zack Rosing, 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “Town Mouse and Country Mouse” 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Epilogue Players theater presented by Zach and Zack. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“La Cage aux Folles” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Freetown Village Celebrates Christmas” 
Oscar Munoz at IndyFringe 
“La Cage aux Folles” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Jason Gaskins. 
Phoenix Theatre: “Sweat.” Photo by Zach Rosing 
“Boeing Boeing” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“Fairfield” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Butler Theatre: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 
Storytelling Arts of Indiana: Antonio Sacre telling “The Leprecano” 
Emily Bohn in Civic Theatre’s “Sense and Sensibility.” Photo by Fierce Little Bird Productions. 
Civic Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photos by Zach Rosing. 
“Appoggiatura at the IRT. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Richard III” presented by First Folio and Catalyst Repertory. Photo by Gary Nelson. 
Lillian Baxter at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Ed Stewart. 
“Dinner: A Romance in Four Courses” presented by NoExit and Mesh on Mass. 
Storytelling Arts of Indiana: Sheila Kay Adams 
Mud Creek Players: “Sylvia” 
The Phoenix Theatre: “A Very Phoenix Xmas 12.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Civic Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photos by Zach Rosing. 
Asante Children’s Theatre: “Snatched: A Passage to Madness” 
“Dinner: A Romance in Four Courses” presented by NoExit and Mesh on Mass. 
“A Very Phoenix Xmas 12” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Indiana Repertory Theatre: “Romeo and Juliet.” Photo by Zack Rosing, 
“Dashing through the Snow” at Mud Creek Players 
Buck Creek Players: “It’s a Wonderful Life — The Radio Play.” Photo by photoGary.net. 
First Folio Productions and Catalyst Repertory’s “Richard the III” 
“Pink Hulk” at DivaFest 
Broadway Across America: “A Christmas Story: The Musical” 
“Boeing Boeing” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“The Secret of Castle Alphabet” at IndyFringe 
Footlite Musicals: “Brooklyn the Musical” 
“Anything Goes” at Footlite Musicals 
Indiana University Theatre Department 
“Rock of Ages” at Theatre on the Square 
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” presented by Bobdirex 
“Boeing Boeing” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“Stuart Little” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Buck Creek Players 
Carmel Community Players. Photo by Charlie Hanover, CCP Board Vice President 
Footlite Musicals: “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” 
“Rabbit Hole” at Mud Creek Players 
Civic Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photos by Zach Rosing. 
Civic Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photos by Zach Rosing. 
“Swan Song” at Epilogue Players. Photo by Duane Mercier. 
Leela Rothenberg in Eclipse’s “Dogfight.” Photo by Michael Camp. 
James Still, playwright-in-residence at the IRT 
“Boeing Boeing” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
Eclipse’s “Dogfight.” Photo by Michael Camp. 
“Peter and the Star Catcher” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing 
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre 
“The Gab” at IndyFringe 
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre: “25th Anniversary: A Beef & Boards Christmas” 
“The Three Musketeers” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
Chiké Johnson and Annie Munch in the IRT’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“How to Use a Knife” at the Phoenix Theatre 
Joey Mervis, John Collins, and Patrick Dinnsen in Eclipse’s “Dogfight.” Photo by Michael Camp. 
“A Christmas Carol” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“Cabaret” at Actors Theatre of Indiana 
“The Great Gatsby” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 
“Blackberry Winter” at Theatre on the Square. Photo by Zach Rosing 
“Little Shop of Horrors” at Footlite Musicals 
Brandon Alstott and Don Farrell in “Million Dollar Quartet” at Actors Theatre of Indiana 
“Not Yet Dead” at DivaFest 
“Rock of Ages” at Theatre on the Square 
Photo by photogary.net 
“Million Dollar Quartet” at Actors Theatre of Indiana 
The Phoenix Theatre 
“Million Dollar Quartet” at Actors Theatre of Indiana 
“Sister Act” at Footlite Musicals. Photo Credit: Rick Galloway. 
“The Cay” at the IRT 
“A Christmas Carol” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing 
Buck Creek Players: “The Rink” 
“Hedy” at DivaFest 
“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” by Stage Door Productions. Photo by Timothy Hill 
“On the Pole” at DivaFest 
NoExit Performance: “Drosselmeyer’s XXX-Mas Cabaret” 
Author, playwright, and cardiologist Dr. Louis Janeira 
The cast of CCP’s “Is He Dead” took a walkabout — in costume — through downtown Carmel. 
Footlite Musicals: “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” 
Buck Creek Players’s “Every Christmas Story Ever Told.” Photo by photogary.net 
“A Very Phoenix Xmas 12” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at Footlite Musicals 
“A Very Phoenix Xmas 12” at the Phoenix Theatre. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Spamalot” at Footlite Musicals. Photograph by Gary Nelson 
Civic Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photos by Zach Rosing. 
“Million Dollar Quartet” at Actors Theatre of Indiana 
Carmel Community Players: “Is He Dead” 
Leela Rothenberg and Patrick Dinnsen in Eclipse’s “Dogfight.” Photo by MIchael Camp. 
“Beauty and the Beast” at Civic Theatre 
Theatre on the Square. photo by Zach Rosing 
Actors Theatre of Indiana presents “A Year with Frog and Toad: The Musical” 
Defiance Comedy: “The North Wing: A Holiday Musical” 
“La Cage aux Folles” at Actors Theatre of Indiana. Photo by Zach Rosing. 
IndyFringe: “Merry Fringe-mas Holiday Cabaret” 
“Gruff!” at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum 
Virginia Vasquez in “Broadway’s Leading Ladies” 
Blake Mellencamp, Jeff Kirkwood, David Molloy, and Kate Duffy Sim in “The Pope Walks into a Bar” at IndyFringe 
Epilogue Players. Photo by Duane Mercier 
Kayla Lee, Anthony Nathan, Luke McConnell, Jim Banta, and Ryan Powell in Catalyst Repertory Theatre’s “ARCADEFIRE! [The Redemption of Billy Mitchell].” Photo by Gary Nelson 
Tim Latimer and Jenni White in Buck Creek Player’s “The Rainmaker.” Photo by photoGary.net. 
Rayanna Bibbs in “Broadway’s Leading Ladies” 
Joe Wagner, Tim Latimer, Matt Spurlock, Jenni White, and Steve Jerk in Buck Creek Players’ “The Rainmaker.” Photo by photoGary.net. 
Sally Scharbrough and Lauren Briggeman in the Phoenix Theatre’s “Cry It Out.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
“Young Frankenstein” at Civic Theatre 
Brent Marty and Claire Wilcher 
Shelbi Berry in “Broadway’s Leading Ladies” 
Qurrat Ann Kadwani in “Intrusion” 
Sally Scharbrough and Lauren Briggeman in the Phoenix Theatre’s “Cry It Out.” Photo by Zach Rosing. 
Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Frozen, the North American Tour, music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and book by Jennifer Lee directed by Michael Grandage with: Caroline Bowman (Elsa), Caroline Innerbichler (Anna), Mason Reeves (Kristoff), F. Michael Haynie (Olaf), Austin Colby (Hans), Jeremy Morse (Weselton) 
Photo by Roger David Manning 
Photo by Roger David Manning 
Photo by Roger David Manning 
We are not alone! Read more voices here:
Indianapolis Theater Reviews 
Many years ago I would accompany Lisa to the theatres to watch plays that she was critiquing for a column she had at the time in NUVO. I was her “and guest” at many wonderful and less than wonderful plays (imagine a man dressed as a lobster playing his belly as a drum and you’ll understand the “less than wonderful” plays I endured with her).
Lisa and I do not see eye to eye on politics, religion, or any other topic that one might construe as “important “. In fact I disagree with her on just about every subject. But no one has more respect of her opinions as a theatre critic than I do. This is a hat tip to you Lisa, and advice to anyone who doesn’t yet trust her opinion – Lisa is the very best at what she does and her opinion is a whole lot more thought out (informed and constructed) than yours. She knows what she is talking about when it comes to the theatre.
Here’s to lobster boys banging on their bellys and champagne on opening night at IRT. Thank you so much for the wonderful plays Lisa! I hope you continue your critiques for a long time to come.
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I’m humbled that you have my back after all these years. And grateful that you remember the guy using his belly as a drum so that I have someone to share that pain with. Thank you for your words when I needed them the most.
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