Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI) will welcome a special guest to the May 14 Drive-In performance in Carmel. Matt Branic will appear on the ATI stage for the first time, as he will perform with the ATI Trio in the upcoming “Start Your Engines” show.
Branic
Branic is well-known throughout Central Indiana for his work in theatre. He has appeared in many productions throughout the Indianapolis area. At Beef and Boards Dinner Theater, he starred as Corny Collins in Hairspray. He was Frid in A Little Night Music at the Indiana Repertory Theater. He also performed at the Booth Tarkington Theater as Valjean in Les Miserables.
Branic received an Encore Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his portrayal of Huck in Big River at Footlite Musicals and a nomination for “Best Supporting Actor in a Musical” playing Tobias in the St. Petersburg Opera’s Sweeney Todd.
Additional musical theatre credits include the character of Roger in RENT in Concert, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Robert in Company, Henrik in A Little Night Music and Randy Curtis in Lady in the Dark. In 2014, he originated the lead role of “The Creature” in a concept recording of Son of the Storm by composer Stephen Melillo.
Equally at home on the pops stage, Branic has appeared as a featured soloist with the Cleveland, Baltimore, and Long Beach symphony orchestras in The Beat Goes On: Music of the Baby Boomers; the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in The 1950’s: The Golden Age of Black and White; the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in A Yuletide Celebration (2011 and 2012) and Hello Dolly! in Concert starring Sandi Patty and Gary Beach. He has been part of the Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City orchestras in Disco Days and Boogie Nights; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Ashley Brown’s Broadway; the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Broadway’s Leading Men; and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra’s Kiss Me Kate in Concert starring Ben Davis and Michele Ragusa.
Actors Theatre of Indiana will return to the stage with Matt Branic for the first of the 2021 Drive-In performances. Each of these live shows will feature a special theme, with the May 14 show entitled “Start Your Engines” in recognition of the Indianapolis 500 at the end of May.
The show will take place at the Monon Square Shopping Center in Carmel. The ATI gang will be back together again to share the music of the highways and by-ways of America. From “King of the Road” to the surf music of the 1960s, it’s going be some high-octane fun, fun, fun till your daddy takes the T-Bird away.
The Drive-In format allows for folks to social distance and maintain the required safety measures issued by the state and the City of Carmel. Area restaurants are within close distance to purchase food and beverages, but just like the Drive-Ins of long ago, guests are invited to bring their own refreshments as well.
Patrons can also look forward to the second planned Drive-In performance themed “Our Father’s Favorites” which takes place on Friday, June 18. This will feature music to pay homage to Dad.
On Friday, July 16, Dwight Lightning and the Conch City All-Stars join ATI for “Summer Fun.” Enjoy some island/beach tunes in the heartland of America – a little Jimmy Buffet, a little John Fogerty, a little Doobie Brothers and much more.
Get your tickets now for one, two or even all of the upcoming Drive-In shows. These Drive-In opportunities allow fans to engage in a fun, safe and unique way. Shows run from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit atistage.org for updates and ticket information, or go the ATI Facebook page at facebook.com/ActorsTheatreofIndiana.