Audiences are flocking to the church basement – also known as Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, to be part of the phenomenon that is the “Church Basement Ladies.”
The original production was presented last season to sell-out crowds. The run of the show was extended twice to meet the demand of more than 24,000 fans. This season includes the sequel, “Church Basement Ladies – A Second Helping,” now on stage – and the church basement kitchen has proven to be as hot as ever. Audiences, hungry for more songs and stories served up by the four unforgettable Lutheran ladies, have been coming to the theater in droves.
“It’s been a phenomenal success,” said Doug Stark, owner of Beef & Boards. “This series has gone far beyond all our expectations.”
As a result, when Stark was planning the 2012 season, he made a last-minute change.
“We are now including ‘Away in the Basement’ next season,” he remarked. “It wasn’t originally on the schedule.”
But after seeing the response to “A Second Helping,” it made sense to introduce the “Church Basement Ladies” fans to the holiday show in the series, Stark explained.
So the season was adjusted, and “Away in the Basement” will be featured from Oct. 11 through Nov. 18, 2012 – just before Beef & Boards’ annual holiday production, “A Beef & Boards Christmas.”
The rest of the theater’s 39th season will be announced Sept. 1, when new memberships are available to the public. But Stark wanted to let the fans of the “Church Basement Ladies” know they’d be returning in 2012.
“Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping” continues through Aug. 28 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets range from $36 to $59, and include a dinner buffet.
For reservations, call the Beef & Boards Box Office at (317) 872-9664. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays.
For more information, including show schedule, visit www.beefandboards.com.
