Just as the Artie Award committee thought it might begin deliberations, area stages are exploding with openings such as EQUIVOCATION (about "The Gunpowder Plot"), THE UNDENIABLE SOUND OF RIGHT NOW (an aging rocker confronts new musical tastes) and ANNAPURNA (ex-wife returns).
And there are new mounts of old favorites such as HAMLET at Irish Classical while over at O'Connell and Company the musical 1776 features an all-female cast. Back by popular demand, THE BOOK OF MORMON (interview with "Mafala") opens on Tuesday at Shea's, while the one-man show, GIVE 'EM HELL, HARRY features beloved Buffalo actor David Lundy up at the Kenan Center's Taylor Theater, but only this weekend. And LATE IN THE EVENING which opened at Musicalfare earlier in the week celebrates the music of Paul Simon.
And, we note a passing, Mark Medoff, the Tony Award winning playwright of CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD.
OPENING
ANNAPURNA, play by Sharr White, directed by Terry Kimmel, starring Lisa Ludwig, John Profeta. Apr 26-May 18, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org
THE BOOK OF MORMON, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Apr 30-May 5, Tue-Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2 & 7. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org
EQUIVOCATION, play by Bill Cain, directed by Katie Mallinson, starring Guy Balotine, Arianne Davidow, Christoper Avery, Christopher Guilmet, Adriano Gatto, Darryl Semira. Apr 26-May 19, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668). www.kavinokytheatre.com
GIVE ‘EM HELL, HARRY, one-man play by Sam Gallu presented by Carriage House Players, starring David Lundy. Apr 26 & 27 at 7, Apr 28 at 2. Kenan Center’s Taylor Theater, 433 Locust St., Lockport. (433-2617). www.kenancenter.org
HAMLET by William Shakespeare, presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Kate LoConti Alcocer, starring Adam Yellen, Rolando Gomez, Matt Witten, Kristen Tripp Kelley, Anthony Alcocer, Patrick Cameron, Chris Kelly, Anna Krempholtz, Peter Raimondo, Jake Hayes. Apr 26-May 19, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC). www.irishclassicaltheatre.com
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, musical by Hach, O’Keefe & Benjamin, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Steve Braddock. Apr 25-May 5, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2, plus Apr 27 at 2. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall, NU campus (286-8685). http://theatre.niagara.edu
1776, musical by Sherman Edwards & Peter Stone presented by O'Connell & Company, directed by Steve Vaughan, Pamela Rose Mangus, Mary Kate O’Connell, Melissa Leventhal, Mary Craig, Mary Moebius, Sara Jo Kukulka, Ann DeFazio, Priscilla Anker-Young, Sam Crystal, Emily Yancey, Sara Kovacsi, Marie Olczak. Apr 25-May 19, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.com
THE UNDENIABLE SOUND OF RIGHT NOW, play by Laura Eason directed by David Oliver, starring Peter Palmisano, Diane DiBernardo, Christine Turturro, Johnny Barden, Jeffrey Coyle, Nick Stevens. Apr 26-May 19, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, 456 Main St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org
ONGOING
BUFFALO QUICKIES, annual festival of one-act plays, directed by Joyce Stilson, Samantha Marchant, Stephanie Riso, Carly Weiser, starring Stephanie Bax, Andrew Zuccari, Dylan Brozyna, Shawnell Tillery, Jaimee Harmon, Mike Starzynski. Through May 4, Thu-Sat at 7:30 Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com
DESDE EL PUENTE, one-act play festival presented by Raíces Theatre Company, written, directed and performed by members of the Raíces ensemble. Through May 5, Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 3, Sun at 6. Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave. Third Floor (381-9333). www.raicestheatrecompany.com
LATE IN THE EVENING: The World According to Paul Simon, world premiere musical conceived and directed by Michael Walline, starring Noah Bielecki, Cathy Carfagna, Terrie Ann George, Timmy Goodman, Robert Insana, Dudney Joseph, Jr., Dominique Kempf, Bob Mazierski, Sean Murphy, Emily Prucha, Zak Ward. Through May 26, 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
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
AN EVENING OF COMEDY, IMAGINATION AND SONG, dessert theater production of five radio plays presented by Western New York Players. May 3 & 4 at 7:30. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 107 Scott Street, Tonawanda (692-0906).
UPCOMING
LOOKING THROUGH GLASS, play by Ken Kaissar presented by Jewish Repertory Theatre, directed by Saul Elkin, starring Zachary Bellus, Arin Lee Dandes, Angelo J. Heimowitz, David Lundy. Tina Rausa. May 9-Jun 2, Thu at 7:30, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. The Maxine and Robert Seller Theatre, 2640 North Forest Road, Getzville (650-7626). www.jewishrepertorytheatre.com
PASSING STRANGE, musical by Stew & Heidi Rodewald, directed by Lorna C. Hill, starring Preach Freedom, Brian Brown, Augustus Donaldson, Jacqueline Cherry, Tianna Livingston, London Lee, Zoë V. Scruggs. May 3-26, Thu-Sat at 6, Sun at 4. Ujima Companhy, 429 Plymouth Ave. (281-0092). www.ujimacoinc.org
THE THREEPENNY OPERA, play with music by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, adapted by Simon Stephens, presented by UB Department of Theatre & Dance, directed by Nathan R. Matthews. May 2-5, Thu-Sat at 7:30; Sat & Sun at 2. Drama Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, North Campus (645-6897) www.theatredance.buffalo.edu
Listings adapted from "On the Boards" appearing in Artvoice 04/24/2019
