Douglas E. Stark, owner, sits in front of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, which marks its 35th Anniversary on March 3.

Douglas E. Stark and Eddie Curry will star in the Broadway hit "The Producers" later this season at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Beef & Boards marks its 35th Anniversary on March 3.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, on Indy's Northwest side (near the Pyramids)marks its 35th Anniversary today!

It opened on March 3, 1973 with the show "Tom Jones."

Beef & Boards was one of five dinner theatres built from a chain designed by J. Scott Talbott, a Louisville contractor, with the other locations in Kentucky and Ohio. The name simply stemmed from what was offered: the beef served and the boards - or stage - for performances.

Dozens of stars graced the stage in the local theatre's early years, including Mamie Vandoren in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1976), Don Ameche in "Never Get Smart With An Angel" (1977), Ann Miller in "Cactus Flower," Myrna Loy in "Relatively Speaking" and Adam West in "Hot Shot" (all in 1978), Jerry Mathers in "So Long Stanley" (1979), Cesar Romero in "A Dash Of Spirits" and Tab Hunter in "Chapter 2" (both in 1980).

Other performers who have appeared at B&B include: B.B. King, The Smothers Brothers, Waylon Flowers & Madam, Ricky Nelson, Jan & Dean, Pearl Bailey, Carol Channing, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Sid Caesar, Chubby Checker, Mickey Gilley, Tony Bennett, Phyllis Diller Helen Reddy, Sha Na Na, Bobby Vinton, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, Three Dog Night, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Donny and Marie Osmond, The Righteous Brothers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Lovin' Spoonful, just to name a few!

On stage now is the classic "West Side Story." This season also includes Indiana's first independently-produced "The Producers" by Mel Brooks. Beef & Boards is proud to present this show -- winner of the most Tony Awards in Broadway history -- from Aug. 7 through Sept. 28. Other shows in 2008 include "Show Boat" (March 27 through May 11), "Peter Pan" (May 15 through June 29), "Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming" (July 5 through Aug. 3) and "The Sound of Music" (Oct. 2 through Nov. 23).

Stop by the web site: www.beefandboards.com and find out more about "The Best Night Out In Indy!"