Strong women's roles may be a rarity in Hollywood, but not here on Western New York stages, including the three daughters of King Lear over at Shakespeare in Delaware Park and the various roles in the very timely and topical SLUT, played by students from Buffalo's Academy for Visual and Performing Arts at the Manny Fried Theater. Also note Rebecca Ritchie's IN THE BEGINNING (the "real" story of Eve, Lillith, and "the serpent") up at the Kenan Center, paired up with Mark Humphrey's DAYROOM.
OPENING
AN OCTOROON, play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins presented by Chautauqua Theater Company, directed by Giovanna Sardelli. Jun 29-Jul 8. Bratton Theater, Chautauqua Institution (357-6437). www.chq.org/chautauqua-theater-company
CONTINUING
KING LEAR, drama by William Shakespeare presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, directed by Steve Vaughan, starring Tom Loughlin, Saul Elkin, Lisa Ludwig, Lisa Vitrano, Marissa Biondolillo, Kevin Craig, Norm Sham, Dave Marciniak, John Profeta, Adam Yellen, Anthony Alcocer. Jun 21-Jul 15,Tue-Sun at 7:30. Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park (856-4533). www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org
CLOSING
SLUT, play by Katie Cappiello presented by The Subversive Youth Series, directed by Kelly Beuth. Jun 22-30, Thu-Sat at 7:30. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (462-5549). www.subversivetheatre.org
CANDID CONVERSATIONS, a pair of one-act plays by local playwrights, including DAYROOM, a play by Mark Humphrey (premiere) starring 2018 Artie Best Actress winner Verneice Turner and Anna Krempholtz and IN THE BEGINNING, a play by Rebecca Ritchie (reprise), starring 2018 Artie Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Pamela Rose Magnus, Kathleen Rooney, Jessica Leigh Tokarski. Both plays directed by Besty Bittar. Thu-Sat at 7:30. The Kenan Center's Taylor Theater, 433 Locust Street, Lockport. (433-2617). www.kenancenter.org.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
HERE LIES JEREMY TROY, comedy by Jack Sharkey presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Richard Lambert, Marie Costa, Andrew Starr, Marc-Jon Filippone, Jamie Nablo. Through July 29, 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
AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare presented by Free Chautauqua Shakespeare in the Park, directed by Andrew Borba, at various times and venues: Southern Tier Brewery, Wednesday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m.; Southern Tier Brewery, Wednesday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m.; Lakeside Park, Mayville, Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 p.m. and Allen Park, Jamestown Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. www.chq.org/chautauqua-theater-company
UPCOMING
MURDER FOR TWO, murder mystery musical by Kellen Blair & Joe Kinosian, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Philip Farugia, Joseph Donohue III. Jul 11-Aug 12, 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
adapted from "On The Boards" appearing in Artvoice 6/27/2018
