I'm always up for a tall tale, as long as that tale is well-spun. And they rarely come better than the story of "Shipwrecked: An Entertainment" now on stage at the Phoenix Theatre in downtown Indy. Now, before you have the young'uns look away from the screen, I must note that unlike much of the Phoenix fare, this show is very much all-ages. I'd even recommended it for kids, and at 89 minutes long, it won't try their patience.

Edgar Allan Poe was the master of the macabre short story -- heck, he practically invented it -- and an excellent poet. But can such works be made into an interesting and entertaining musical? The answer is yes! Presenting "Cabaret Poe," the new musical with music and words (other than those supplied by E.A.P.) by Ben Asaykwee, playing Halloween in the Irvington Lodge (former Masonic Lodge No.666), 5515 E. Washington St. in Indianapolis.

Among the popular crowd pleasers that make the rounds of Indianapolis stages, it seems the number one show is Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Now Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in northwest Indianapolis is taking its turn, with performances daily except Mondays through Nov. 22.

The 20th anniversary Tenderness Tour to benefit the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence comes to The Bread Ladies in downtown Greenfield, with live music by Luke Austin Daughterty and Ann McWilliams and sales of the benefit CD "Give a Girl a Chance."

Richard Propes has toured the state in his wheelchair year after year for the cause. This is is last tour, as he establishes the Tenderness Network. Click on the tour link above for details.

"Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage" is not for everybody. Of course, even Buck Creek Players, which is staging this western-themed dark comedy through Oct. 18, will readily admit that, with their advisory that this play is chock full of mature material, which includes strong language, popping guns and stage blood.

For all the disinformation and shrill debate over health care reform there are things upon which almost all of us can agree. First, there is indeed a serious problem. Neither side of the aisle disputes the fact that one in every six dollars spent in the U.S. relates to health care. That is a crucial problem affecting our economy and the well-being of the middle class as well as the poor.

Hancock County talents continue to light up area stages. Local resident Parrish Williams directs the weird-West romp "Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage," opening this weekend at Buck Creek Players, just outside the county at 11150 Southeastern Ave. (Acton Road extit off I-74). BCP frequently features Hancock residents both on stage and behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, for one night only, Greenfield's Nathalie Cruz is part of a singer showcase, "The Midnight Spotlight," 11 p.m. Saturday at Theatre on the Square, 627 Massachusetts Ave. in Indy.

After this weekend's Riley Festival closes, another celebration of the Hoosier Poet will take place near his gravesite in Indianapolis.

It's a bit of a drive to get out to Westfield Playhouse, just ask Hancock County resident Beth Ray-Scott, who has a role in their production of "Lafferty's Wake." But just as it's worth it for her, it may be worth the trip for you -- just be advised, you too may have a couple of lines in the play.

Theatre on the Square, 627 Massachusetts Ave. in downtown Indianapolis, seems drawn to unusual musicals. So it was no surprise that TOTS artistic director Ron Spencer brought "Ug! The Caveman Musical" to his stage.

The show is a hilarious look at the origins of theatre and the "play," told by Neanderthals who can't help occasionally breaking into song. It is especially funny if you've had any experience with playacting -- "You should stand down-cave; the light will shine up-cave."