Most area theaters are going for laughs this week with the highly irreverant BOOK OF MORMON at Shea's, the ultra-clever EQUIVOCATION at the Kavinoky, and an all-female 1776 at O'Connell & Company.
On the more reflective side, LATE IN THE EVENING at Musicalfare looks at the times of Paul Simon, and Ujima Company has a new home, 429 Plymouth Avenue, which you can see when you attend PASSING STRANGE, a musical about a young African-American's voyage of self-discovery while traveling in Europe. Across town, it's THREE SISTAHS in the Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten, a re-telling of Chekhov's play THREE SISTERS.
OPENING
DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, play by Ernie Nolan based on the book by Adam Rubin, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Kyle LoConti, starring Melinda Capeles, Joe Isgar, Alejandro Perez, Victoria Perez, Carlos Maggiolo Perez, Daniel Torres, Dan Urtz, Alexandria Watts, and Preston Williams. May 4-Jun 1, Sat & Sun at 2, plus Jun 1 at 4. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884.4400). www.theatreofyouth.org
ME AND MY GIRL, Broadway musical presented by The Niagara Regional Theatre Guild, directed by Fran Newton, starring Joseph Fratello, Emily Plotkin, Lauren McGowanm Dan Zerpa, Dawn Marcolini Newton, Chuck Slisz, Chris Andreanna. May 3-18, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3, plus May 18 at 3. Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 550 Ellicott Creek Rd., Tonawanda (260-2319). www.niagaratheatre.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 7, Sun at 4. Ujima Company, 429 Plymouth Ave. (281-0092). www.ujimacoinc.org
THREE SISTAH’S, musical by Thomas W. Jones II & William F. Hubbard, directed by Renita Shadwick, starring Denise Mullen, Danielle Green, Taneisha Facey. May 3-26, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 4. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave. (884-2013). www.aaccbuffalo.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
ONGOING
ANNAPURNA, play by Sharr White, directed by Terry Kimmel, starring Lisa Ludwig, John Profeta. Through May 18, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org
EQUIVOCATION, play by Bill Cain, directed by Katie Mallinson, starring Guy Balotine, Arianne Davidow, Christopher Avery, Christopher Guilmet, Adriano Gatto, Darryl Semira. Through 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
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. Through 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
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. Through 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. Through May 19, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, 456 Main St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org
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
CLOSING
THE BOOK OF MORMON, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Through May 5, 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
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
Legally Blonde: The Musical, musical by Hach, O’Keefe & Benjamin, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Steve Braddock. Through May 5, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2.Leary Theatre, Clet Hall, NU campus (286-8685). http://theatre.niagara.edu
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
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).
A TIME TO KILL, courtroom drama adapted for the stage by Rupert Holmes, presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Kinzy Brown, Peter Horn, Marc Ruffino, Sandra Gilliam, Larry Smith, Elizabeth Oddy, Bob Lohr, Jeremy Catania, Michael David O'Hear, Ronald Hicks, Kenneth Leman Justin Chortie, Jacob Sauer, Nathanial Higgins. May 9-Jun 30, 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
ART, play by Yasmina Reza presented by The Carriage House Players, directed by Betsy Bittar, starring Elliot Fox, Alex Rubin, Russell Holt. May 10-19, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Kenan Center’s Taylor Theater, 433 Locust St., Lockport. (433-2617). www.kenancenter.org
DEAR EVAN HANSEN, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. May 14-19, 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
FUN HOME, musical by Kron Tesori, presented by Musicalfare, directed by Susan Drozd, starring Chris J. Handley, Michele Marie Roberts, Renee Landrigan, LauRen Nicole Alaimo, Steve Copps, Robyn Lee Horn, Joseph Bielecki, Jasper Brown, Jane Hereth. May 9-19, Thu at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Shea’s 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org/710main
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
Listings courtesy of Javier Bustillos
