What is a dramatic comedy? Well, it's a drama that tackles serious issues, but has a healthy dose of laughs to keep things moving along. LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART deals with social isolation, suicide, and AIDS, but, there ARE laughs, in a fine production with a stunning set by 2016 Artie Award winning Paul Bostaph. Meanwhile, Ujima Theatre and Buffalo United Artists collaborate on a story of a white playwright pretending to be black in THE SUBMISSION. And the Irish Classical Theatre presents Tennessee Williams' SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, about a gigolo/drifter in the company of a faded movie star attempting to win back the love of his youth. DEAR LYDIA, at the Alleyway, a new play about a house-bound advice columnist, is also mentioned this week.
OPENING
BREAST IN SHOW, a musical by Lisa Hayes & Joan Cushing presented by O'Connell & Company, directed by Drew McCabe, starring Mary Craig, Laurel Flynn, Tammy Hayes McGovern, Arlynn Knauff, Nick Lama, Bryan Patrick Stoyle. Sep 28 at 7:30. Sep 29-Oct 30, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.com
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, musical by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber, presented by Theatre in the Mist, directed by Joey Bucheker, starring Anthony Lafornara, Sára Kovácsi, Amy Teal, Samuel Fesmire, Adam M. Wall, Ryan Darnell, Quinn McGillion, Sep 23-Oct 9, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2 (Sep 24 at 2pm ONLY). Stella Niagara Education Park, 4421 Lower River Road, Lewiston. (1-877-856-0694) www.theatreinthemist.org
ONGOING
AMERICAN IDIOT, musical by Green Day, Billy Joe Armstrong & Michael Mayer presented by American Repertory Theater of WNY, directed by Matthew LaChiusa, starring Christopher Teal, Billy Horn, Jesse Ryan Tiebor, Jordan Levin, Sara Kow-Falcone, Carolyn Lanson, Clarissa Maloy, Ben Caldwell, Preston D Williams, Melissa Levin. Through Oct 1, Thu-Sat at 8, plus Sep 21 & 28 at 8. 330 Amherst St. (697-0837) www.artofwny.org
DEAR LYDIA, world premiere of a play by Larry Gray, directed by Neal Radice, starring David C. Mitchell, Melissa Leventhal, Louise Reger. September 15-October 8, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 (September 16 at 8). Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com
DINNER WITH FRIENDS, play by Donald Margulies, directed by Katie Mallinson, starring Kelly Meg Brennan, Dave Hayes, Lisa Vitrano, Phil Farugia. September 9-October 2, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 2 (September 16 at 8). Road Less Traveled Theater, 500 Pearl St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org
DON'T TALK TO THE ACTORS, comedy written and directed by Tom Dudzick, starring Kevin Craig, Wendy Hall, Pamela Rose Mangus, Jamie Nablo, Peter Palmisano, Steve Vaughan. September 9-October 2, Thursday & Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 3:30 & 7:30, Sunday at 2 (September 16 at 8). Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668). www.kavinokytheatre.com
GYPSY, musical by Styne, Sondheim & Laurents, directed by Chris Kelly, starring Jonas Barranca, Allison Barsi, Charmagne Chi, Doug Crane, Arianne Davidow, Maria Droz, Jordan Louis Fischer, John Fredo, Sabrina Kahwaty, Marina Laurendi, Loraine O’Donnell, Michele Marie Roberts, Dan Urtz, Faith Walh. Through October 9, Wednesday & Thursday at 7, Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 3:30 & 7:30, Sunday at 2 (September 16 at 8!). MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare.com
LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART, play by Terrence McNally directed by Greg Natale, starring Candice Kogut, Richard Lambert, Kelli Bocock-Natale, Eric Rawski. September 16-October 8, Thursday-Saturday at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org
LOUISIANA BACCHAE, adapted and directed by Robert Waterhouse, presented by Red Thread Theatre, starring Christian Brandjes, Eileen Dugan, Greg Howze, Geoff Pictor, Bonnie Jean Taylor, Harold White. September 16-October 8, Thursday-Saturday at 8. Jim Bush Studios, 44 17th St. (445-4653). www.RedThreadTheatre.info
MY FAIR LADY, musical by Lerner & Loewe presented by The Niagara Regional Theatre Guild, directed by Dawn Marcolini Newton, starring Emily K. Plotkin, Charles Slisz, Eric Bloom, Christopher Cummings. September 16-October 2, Friday & Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 3. Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 530 Ellicott Creek Rd., Tonawanda (260-2319). www.niagaratheatre.com
6x8, new work created and presented by Brazen-Faced Varlets, directed by Theresa DiMuro-Wilber, starring Brittany Germano, Chanyl White, Kajana Stover, Diane McNamara, Cierra Cappas, Diane Michaels, Jennifer Arroyo, Caroline Parzy-Sanders. September 15 at 8. September 16-October 1, Friday & Saturday at 8 plus September 25 & October 2 at 2. Rust Belt Books, 415 Grant St. (247-9585).
THE SUBMISSION, play by Jeff Talbott presented by Buffalo United Artists and Ujima Company, directed by Lorna C. Hill, starring Adam Hayes, Rick Lattimer, Shanntina Moore, Michael Seitz. September 16-October 1, Friday & Saturday at 8, Sunday at 7. Alleyway Theatre’s Main Street Cabaret, 672 Main St. (886-9239). www.buffalobua.org/www.ujimacoinc.org
SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, a play by Tennessee Williams presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, stars Patrick Cameron, Aleks Malejs, Stan Klimecko, Renee Landrigan, Colleen Gaughan, Bethany Sparacio, Gerry Maher, Jacob Albarella, Adam Yellen, Ray Boucher, and Ron Mangum. September 16-October 9, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 3 & 7:30, Sundays at 2 (September 16 at 8) at the Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC). www.irishclassicaltheatre.com
URINETOWN!, musical by Hollmann & Kotis presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Jeffrey Coyle, starring Ryan Kaminski, Jenn Stafford, Michael Starzynski, Jeffrey Coyle, Erin Coyle, Susana Breese, Bethany Burrows Gruendike, Tyler Brown, Michael Wachowiak, Chris Andreana, Matt Mooney, Jennel Pruneda, Jake Hayes, Dave Spychalski, Sara Jo Kukulka. September 8-October 15, Thursday-Saturday at 8. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499). www.subversivetheatre.org
WONDER OF THE WORLD, play by David Lindsay-Abaire presented by Buffalo Laboratory Theatre. September 15-October 2, Thursday at 7:30, Friday & Saturday at 8, Sunday at 7. Shea’s 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org/710main
CLOSING
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, musical by Sondheim & Gelbart directed by Fran Landis, starring David Bondrow, Katy Clancy, Tim Hartman, Scott Gunner, Scot Kaitanowski, Jeremy Kreuzer, Marc Sacco, Richard Spitaletta, Chrissy Vogric. September 9-25, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 2:30 (Friday Sep 16 at 8 p.m.). Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (83-1776). www.LancOpera.org
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
THE FALL OF STAG LEE, an original opera by Darryl Glenn Nettles presented by Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Tim Kennedy, Artistic Director, stars Eric McKeever as Stag Lee, Jordan Pitts as William “Billy” Lyons, along with Brittany Walker and Nia Drummond, conducted by the composer Friday, September 23 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday September 25 at 2:30 p.m. at Rockwell Hall on the Buffalo State College campus.
UPCOMING
DESTINY OF ROSE, the world premiere of a musical play by Christopher B. Pearman & Phil Davis Sr., is presented by Alemaedae Theater of Dreams, LLC in cooperation with the Hearts for the Homeless October 2 at 2 & 5 at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts 450 Masten Ave. (402-8367). www.TheDestinyofRose.com
FINDING NEVERLAND, the touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino will have previews October 7 & 8 at 7, then run from October 9-15, Tuesday -Thursday at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sundays at 2 & 7, at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org
