My earliest memory of Beef and Boards is seeing a show during the holidays with my grandmother, Norma. She introduced me to the arts. Being a patron of the arts was a tradition passed down from her mother, and she passed it down to me.
Grandmother invested in my attending orchestra camp at Oberlin College, going to musicals and making music and art a necessary part of life. I come from a family of musicians, visual artists and art supporters.
My first Beef and Boards memory is mostly of the many helpings of sweet potato souffle. I was 10 and I hadn’t seen marshmallows in sweet potatoes before, but 20ish years later the memory sticks with me. Of course, that savory memory was on my mind when I went to Beef and Boards a few weekends ago to see “Fiddler on the Roof.” Sadly, I was too early in the season for the souffle.
After the show, I thought about my family’s traditions. Which ones will stand the test of time, and which ones can be broken or transformed? I’m the eldest child and the rebel in my family, which means I’m the one who questions and tests our traditions. To my siblings: you’re welcome. As a mom, I’m setting new ones like a holiday movie marathon on Christmas Day.
When I arrived at Beef and Boards on the north side, I was nervously excited. I grew up near the College Park pyramids, and it’s hard not to be nostalgic. The energy in the room was similar to seeing an old friend. I could tell this show in particular was a tradition for many in the room.
Before the show, we ate dinner from the executive chef Larry Stoops and his team. There were two buffet stations in front of the stage where guests could enjoy roast beef, salad and rolls. Our server was flawless. My guest and I laughed, ate and people-watched. The seating is cabaret-style, so we had a clear view of the stage and the other guests. I ate a cinnamon roll cheesecake, which I’m still thinking about.
If you go
“Fiddler on the Roof”
🗓️ Through Nov. 24
📍 Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Road
💲 Ticket prices vary, ranging from $55-82
“Fiddler on the Roof” is based on the book by Joseph Stein and the music by Jerry Bock. Before the show began, Beef and Boards staff shouted out audience members’ anniversaries and birthdays. They shouted out former “Fiddler on the Roof” actors, who were present in the audience.
Then the lights dimmed and the show began. You might know the tale: a father, Tevye, raises five daughters to adulthood. Three of them are ready to leave home. Each breaks tradition to forge a new life for themselves, which isn’t easy for “the papa.”
Because I’m steeped in pop culture, many of the songs from the score were familiar to me. Like Gwen Stefani’s “If I Was a Rich Girl,” a play on “If I Was a Rich Man.” Even songs like, “Sunrise, Sunset,” and, “Matchmaker.”
The actors’ booming voices commanded our attention as they weaved the story of Tevye and his five daughters. Some even walked through the crowd acting. The opening song, “Tradition,” stuck with me. It explained why tradition was important to this small Jewish community. Like many communities, their traditions were the bedrock of their community. But very quickly, we watched this community have to bend and change traditions altogether.
The actors embodied the characters, especially the lead, Tevye. He made me feel like I was really in Russia watching him pull his broken wagon. After two acts and an intermission, the show concluded with a standing ovation from the audience. I was left wondering what happened to Tevye’s family and the daughters who were married off. What would become of their traditions? As a parent, traditions mean a lot more to me. It’s the strong foundation that supported my growth, and the same will be said for my little one.
As a lover of the arts, I felt recharged after seeing “Fiddler on the Roof.” I remembered how much I value musicals in my life. My grandmother showed me that life and art go hand in hand. I’m excited to return to Beef and Boards and create more traditions with my family.
Ariana Beedie is the community journalism director at Mirror Indy, where she leads the Indy Documenters program. You can reach her at ariana.beedie@mirrorindy.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
