Main Street's Theater District will be alive tonight as Shea's heads into its final weekend of HAMILTON, THE MUSICAL while on the same block are three openings: the traditional A CHRISTMAS CAROL opens at the Alleyway while up front in the Alleyway Main Street Cabaret, Todd Warfield's wild and wacky A VERY, VERY TRUMPY CHRISTMAS CAROL overlays today's politics on the old story, and, at Main and Tupper Streets MISS BENNET: A CHRISTMAS AT PERMBERLY opens at Shea's 710.
OPENING
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, starring David C. Mitchell, James Cichocki, David G. Poole, Joyce Stilson, Roger VanDette, Emily Yancey, Lauren McGowan. Dec 7-23, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 5, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, play presented by Aurora Players, directed by Michael Breen, Dec 6-9, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Roycroft Pavilion, in Hamlin Park. South Grove St., East Aurora (687-6727). www.auroraplayers.org
MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY, play by Lauren Gunderson & Margot Melcon, presented by Road Less Traveled Productions, directed by Katie Mallinson, starring Alex Watts, Nick Stevens, Amy Feder, Todd Benzin, Rosa Fernandez, Darryl Semira, Brittany Bassett, Tracy Snyder. Dec 7-22, Thu at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Shea's 710 Theatre, 710 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org
A VERY, VERY TRUMPY CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Todd Warfield, starring Stephanie Bax, Timothy Patrick Finnegan, A. Peter Snodgrass, Guy Tomassi. Dec 7-23, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Dec 16 & 23 at 7. Alleyway’s Main Street Cabaret, 672 Main St. (852-2600). www.alleyway.com
ONGOING
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, starring Michael Therriault, at the Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, the final offering of the 2018 Shaw season, through Sunday, December 23. (1-800-511-7429) www.shawfest.com
BARCELÓ ON THE ROCKS, play by Marco Antonio Rodriguez presented by Raíces Theatre Company, directed by Victoria Pérez, starring Alejandro Gabriel Gómez, Rolando Martín Gómez, Jake Hayes, Victor Morales, Dewel Pérez, Jordan Rosas. Through Dec 16, Thu at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 6. Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave. Third Floor (381-9333). www.raicestheatrecompany.com
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, based on the story by Charles M. Schulz and the television special by Melendez & Mendelson, adapted by Eric Schaeffer, presented by Theatre of Youth. Through Dec 16, Sat & Sun at 1 & 4. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884.4400). www.theatreofyouth.org
CHRISTMAS OVER THE TAVERN, world premiere of the musical by Tom Dudzick, directed by Randall Kramer, starring Jacob Albarella, Isaac Fesmire, Samuel Fesmire, Wendy Hall, Pamela Rose Mangus, Caroline Schettler, Michael Scime. Through Dec 16, 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
MY THREE ANGELS, comedy by Samuel & Bella Spewack, directed by Tom Makar. Through Dec 15, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org
NUNCRACKERS, musical by Dan Goggin presented by O'Connell & Company, directed by Drew McCabe, starring Susana Breese, Mary Craig, Mary Moebius, Ann Mosner, Mary Kate O’Connell, Michael Starzynski. Through Dec 23. Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.com
CLOSING
GREETINGS!, play by Tom Dudzick presented by Western Door Playhouse, directed by Bob Priest, starring Kris Bookhagen, Sam Granieri, Brandon Minicucci, Amanda Molinaro, Ricco Slaiman. Through Dec 9, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun. at 2:30. Woodbox Theatre, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave. at Portage Rd. (297-5910).
HAMILTON, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Through Dec 9, Tue-Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 1 & 7. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org
IS HE DEAD?, comedy by Mark Twain presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Amanda Sharpe. Through Dec 9. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall, NU campus (286-8685).
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
THE LADIES FOURSOME, comedy by Norm Foster presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Lisa Ludwig, Maureen Porter, Susan Toomey, Lisa Hinca. Nov 15-Jan 20, 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
UPCOMING
THE BETSY CARMICHAEL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, interactive original comedy conceived & written by Mary Kate O’Connell & Joey Bucheker, directed by O’Connell, starring Betsy Carmichael, Dec 14-23, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2. Shea’s Smith Theatre, 654 Main St. (847-0850). www.oconnellandcompany.com
Listings adapted from "On the Boards" appearing in Artvoice, 12/06/2018
