There is something wonderfully comforting about an evening at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Dinner, conversation and live entertainment come together under one roof, turning a trip to the theatre into a complete night out. My recent visit to see CATS offered an opportunity to enjoy that combination—and revisit a musical whose appeal rests as much on movement and imagination as on its unforgettable score.

Located on Indianapolis’ northwest side, Beef & Boards has a distinctly welcoming character. The dining tables give the room a social atmosphere, while the stage remains the focal point. It is a setting that encourages guests to settle in and enjoy themselves before the performance begins. For couples, groups of friends or families celebrating an occasion, that relaxed rhythm is part of the attraction.

The buffet plays an essential role in the experience. Dinner becomes part of the evening’s entertainment, giving everyone time to gather, fill a plate and catch up before the lights dim. The format also makes planning easy: there is no separate restaurant reservation to coordinate or rush across town between dinner and curtain time.

Rather than getting overly elaborate, the dining experience fits the venue’s approachable personality. A buffet allows guests to choose what appeals to them and build a meal around their own preferences. It is an easygoing start to an evening that soon trades dining-room conversation for a much more fantastical world.

And few musicals make that transition quite like CATS.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, introduces a community of Jellicle cats gathering for their annual ball. Its structure is unusual: instead of following a conventional plot, it unfolds through a succession of personalities, musical introductions and dance sequences. The pleasure comes from getting to know this curious feline society.

It is also a demanding piece of theatre. The performers must do more than sing the songs and execute the steps; they must create characters through posture, expression and movement. A tilted head, an arched back or a sudden change of direction can tell the audience almost as much as a lyric.

That physical storytelling is what makes CATS such a good match for an intimate venue. Being close to the stage invites attention to the details—the gestures that distinguish one cat from another, the interaction within the ensemble and the transformation achieved through costumes and makeup. The production’s visual language is central to the experience, giving each character an identity within the larger feline world.

The score supplies another layer of personality, moving between playful introductions, theatrical showpieces and reflective passages. At its heart is “Memory,” the song that reaches beyond the musical’s eccentric premise to touch something recognizably human. Grizabella’s longing for acceptance gives the evening its emotional center, bringing themes of belonging, compassion and second chances into focus.

For me, the appeal of an evening like this extends beyond any single number. Beef & Boards brings the audience into a shared experience, beginning with dinner and continuing through the final bow. There is pleasure in watching a familiar musical in a setting that makes the performers feel close enough to study, rather than distant figures across a cavernous auditorium.

The theatre will soon exchange feline fantasy for holiday nostalgia. Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn runs November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027, bringing songs including “Blue Skies,” “Cheek to Cheek” and “White Christmas” to the stage. A Christmas Carol is also scheduled for select dates December 4–22, 2026, offering another opportunity to make live theatre part of the season’s celebrations.

Whether your calendar calls for a date night, a gathering with friends or a holiday outing, Beef & Boards offers a winning invitation: arrive hungry, settle in and let the evening unfold.

For tickets and performance schedules, visit beefandboards.com or call 317-872-9664.

PHOTO BY INDY GHOST LIGHT