WNED | WBFO is celebrating 25 years of Theater Talk! The evening will include musical performances, reminiscences from well-known area performers, a look back at 25 years of Theater Talk, and a heartfelt salute to host, Anthony Chase, Monday, November 6 at 7 p.m. in the WNED TV Studios. Tickets are only $25. This week, Theatre of Youth opened BUNNICULA, O'Connell & Company opened Jerry Herman's musical DEAR WORLD and Subversive closes IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE this Saturday night.
The Shaw Festival continues to offer eight (8!) plays into October. WILDE TALES (which will come to Buffalo) and Shaw's ANDROCLES AND THE LION run through October 7; and 1837: THE FARMER'S REVOLT ends on October 8 (note that Thanksgiving Day in Canada and Columbus Day in the U.S. are celebrated on Monday, October 9). Looking at the final weekend, DRACULA (no explanation needed); 1979 (about Prime Minister Joe Clark); and AN OCTOROON (a 21st century look at a 19th century melodrama) end on October 14; while Shaw's SAINT JOAN (very powerful), the musical ME AND MY GIRL (very funny); THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III (funny but poignant); and DANCING AT LUGHNASA (funny but poignant in that "Irish" way of laughing through tears) all close the Festival's offerings on Sunday, October 15, 2017. Note that Sunday performances at The Shaw are now "an hour early" at both 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
OPENING
MENOPAUSE The Musical, a musical parody presented by GFour Productions. Oct 10-15, Tue-Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2 & 6. Shea’s 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org/710main
ONGOING
BUNNICULA, about an adopted rabbit who nightly sucks the juice out of vegetables, presented by Theatre of Youth runs through Oct 29, Sat & Sun at 2 (no performance Oct 21 & 22). Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884.4400). www.theatreofyouth.org
DEAR WORLD, the musical (an adaptation of THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT) by Jerry Herman (MAME; HELLO, DOLLY!) presented by O’Connell & Company, directed by Kelli Bocock Natale, starring Mary Kate O’Connell, Roger Van Dette, Katy Miner, Amy Jorrisch, Nick Lama, Jon May, Matt Gilbert, Matthew Mooney, Gianna Palermo, Jeremy Kreuzer, Joel Russlett. Through Oct 22, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.com
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, reading of the play by Kristoffer Díaz presented by Raíces Theatre Company, directed by Rosa Fernandez, starring Jose A. Rivera, Nicholas Lama, Ugo Chukwu, Neimah Djourabchi, Brian Morvant. Oct 8 at 6. Road Less Traveled, 500 Pearl St. (381-9333). Free admission.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS, comedy by Robert Harling presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Kyle LoConti, starring Lisa Ludwig, Lisa Hinca, Justyne Harris, Maureen Porter, Mary McMahon, Bethany Gruendike. Sep 21-Dec 3, Thu, Sat & Sun, evening shows arrival at 6, show at 7:30; matinee shows arrival at 1, show at 2:30. Bobby J’s Italian American Grille, 204 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga (395-3207). www.mybobbyjs.com
CLOSING
DESIGN FOR LIVING, comedy by Noel Coward presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Katie Mallinson, starring Kate LoConti, Adriano Gatto, Ben Michael Moran. Through Oct 8, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC). www.irishclassicaltheatre.com
IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE, play by Tony Taccone and Bennett S. Cohen adapted from the novel by Sinclair Lewis, presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Kurt Schneiderman, starring Dennis Keefe, Christopher Standart, J. Tim Raymond. Through Oct 7, Thu-Sat at 8. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499). www.subversivetheatre.org
KILLER RACK: The Feminist, Horror Musical Comedy, world premiere of the musical written and directed by Neal Radice, starring Emily Yancey, Nathan Andrew Miller, Kim Piazza, Joey Bucheker, Kyle Baran, Andrew Zuccari, James Cichocki, Heather Reed, Sabrina Kahwaty, Colleen A. Pine. Through Oct 7, Thu-Sat at 7:30. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com
MY OLD LADY, play by Israel Horovitz directed by Michael Lodick, starring Eileen Dugan, Anne Gayley, Richard Lambert. Through Oct 7, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org
PETER & THE STARCATCHER, play by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson, music by Wayne Barker, directed by Chris Kelly, starring Jacob Albarella, Anthony Alcocer, Bobby Cooke, Steve Copps, Kevin Craig, Philip Farugia, Renee Landrigan, Jordan Levin, Jesse Tiebor, Daniel Torres, Doug Weyand, Preston D. Williams. Through Oct 8, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare.com
UPCOMING
CHILD'S PLAY, thriller by Robert Marasco, directed by Vanessa Stipkovits, starring L. Don Swartz, Tommy Vane, Jesse Swartz. Oct 12-22, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614). www.starrynighttheatre.com
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVIL, new play by John Reich, presented by Western New York Players Oct 13&14 at 7:30. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 107 Scott St., Tonawanda (692-6200).
DESDEMONA: A Play about a Handkerchief, play by Paula Vogel presented by Brazen-Faced Varlets, directed by Lara D. Haberberger, starring Jeni Arroyo, Caroline Parzy-Sanders, Stefanie Warnick. Oct 12-29. Rust Belt Books, 415 Grant St. (598 – 1585).
STRAIGHT, play by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola presented by Buffalo United Artists, starring Michael Seitz, Adam Hayes, Cassie Gorniewicz. Oct 13-Nov 4, Fri & Sat at 8. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (886-9239). www.buffalobua.org
STUPID FUCKING BIRD, play by Aaron Posner, inspired by Chekhov's THE SEAGULL, presented by American Repertory Theater of WNY, directed by Michael Lodick, starring Connor Graham, Emily Yancey, Candice Kogut, Rick Lattimer, Diane DiBernardo, Thomas LaChiusa, Scot Kaitanowski. Oct 19-Nov 11, Thu & Fri at 8. The 330 Performance Space, 330 Amherst St. (697-0837). www.artofwny.org
Adapted from "On the Boards" appearing in Artvoice 10/4/2017)
