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Theater Talk: Very successful 2019 Shaw Festival wraps many (but not all) shows this weekend

David Cooper Shawfest.com

Shaw Festival Artistic Director Tim Carroll has heard thousands of opinions (and calls for his job) regarding his vision for the venerable institution but as he continues to make his mark, the revenues continue to grow. Most of the summer offerings close this weekend, but there are still chances to see the hilarious THE LADYKILLERS and the very dramatic (in the best sense) VICTORY, both directed by Mr. Carroll.

OPENING

COME FROM AWAY, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Oct 15-20, 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

INTIMATE APPAREL, play by Lynn Nottage presented by Casting Hall Productions, directed by Lara D. Haberberger. Oct 9-12, Wed-Fri at 8, Sat at 2. Flexible Theatre, Savage Theater and Communication Building at Buffalo State College (878-3005).

PETE THE CAT, musical by Will Aronson & Sarah Hammond, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Bobby Cooke, starring Ryan Butler, Renee Landigran, Peter S. Raimondo, Dan Urtz, Alexandria Watts.  Oct 12-27, Sat at 1 & 4, Sun at 1, plus Oct 27 at 4. Sensory-Friendly performance Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884-4400). www.theatreofyouth.org

THE SILVER LADY, comic thriller written and directed by L. Don Swartz, starring Taylor Grosskopf, Katherine Marchiano, Trey Wydysh, DJ Swartz, Vanessa Stipkovits, Gary W. Cox, Abigail Laski, Emma Gerard, VJ Battaglia, Sara Jo Kukulka, Liz Sanderson. Oct 10-20, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda. www.starrynighttheatre.com.

SUPERIOR DONUTS, play by Tracy Lettts presented by Road Less Traveled Productions, directed by Lucas Lloyd, starring Steve Jakiel, Jake Hayes, Tina Rausa, Dave Hayes, Lisa Vitrano, John Profeta, Dave Spychalski, Gabriel Robere, Johnny Barden. Oct 10 at 7:30, Oct 11-27, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Shea's 710 Theatre, 710 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, musical by Mel Brooks presented by O'Connell & Company, directed by Kelli Natale, starring Timothy Goehrig, Joey Bucheker, Jenny Marie McCabe, Pamela Rose Mangus, Venessa Dawson, John Kreuzer, Nicholas Lama. Oct 10-27, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Ken-Ton Elmwood Commons, 3200 Elmwood Ave. (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.com

ONGOING

IZZY, musical revue by Grant Golden & Jim Santella, directed by Richard Lambert, starring Chuck Basil, Brett Klaczik, Nathan Miller, Renee Landrigran. Through Oct 19, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org

CLOSING

LADIES SWING THE BLUES, book and original lyrics by Thomas W. Jones, II, original music by William A. Knowles, directed by Jones II. Through Oct 13, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 4. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave. (884-2013). www.aaccbuffalo.org

PIPELINE, play by Dominique Morriseau presented by Ujima Company, directed by Lorna C. Hill, starring Shanntina Moore, Jerai Kahdim, Mary Moebius, Phil Davis, Johnny Rowe, Samantha Cruz. Through Oct 13, Thu-Sat at 7, Sun at 4. Ujima Theater, 429 Plymouth Ave. (281-0092). www.ujimacoinc.org

‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE, comedy by John Ford presented by presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, starring Anna Krempholtz, Jeremy Kreuzer, David Oliver, Charmagne Chi, Chris Brandjes, Adriano Gatto, Ben Moran, Adam Yellen, Aleks Malejs, Jacob Albarella, Rolando Martin Gomez, Melinda Capeles. Through Oct 13, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC). www.irishclassicaltheatre.com

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

DISENCHANTED!, musical by Dennis T. Giacino, directed by Michael Wachowiak, starring Brittany Bassett, Amy Jakiel, Melissa Levin, Jetaun Louie, Ember Tate, Chrissy Vogric-Hunnell. Oct 12 & 19, Nov 2 at 4 & 8; Oct 18 & 25 at 8, Oct 27 at 2. The Premier Cabaret at MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare.com

PRESCRIPTION MURDER: COLUMBO, play by William Link and Richard Levinson presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Jack Hunter, Dave Marciniak, Lisa Hinca, Laura Barriere, Nathanial Higgins, Rhonda Parker. Oct 13 – Dec 15, Thu & Sat, dinner at 6, show at 7:30; Sun, dinner at 1, show at 2:30. Bobby J’s Italian American Grille, 204 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga (395-3207). www.mybobbyjs.com

UPCOMING

FREAKY FRIDAY, musical by Carpenter, Kitt & Yorkey presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Steve Braddock. Oct 24-Nov 3, Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall, NU campus (286-8685).

OH MY GOD, play by Anat Gov presented by Jewish Repertory Theatre, directed by Saul Elkin, starring Todd Benzin, Max Goldhirsch, Lisa Ludwig. Oct 24-Nov 17, 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

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, play by Lori Allen Ohm adapted from the classic 1968 horror film, directed by DJ Swartz, starring Ben Torres, Carla Kwasniak, L. Don Swartz, Vanessa Stipkovits, Ryan Walters, Emma Gerard, Abigail Laski. Oct 24-27, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8 Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614). www.starrynighttheatre.com.

THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, play by Jay Presson Allen, presented by UB Department of Theatre & Dance, directed by Vincent O’Neill. Oct 23-27, Wed-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. UB Center for the Arts, Drama Theatre (645-6897).  www.theatredance.buffalo.edu

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, musical by Richard O’Brien, directed by David Bondrow, starring Elliot Fox, Angelo Heimowitz, Elisabeth Klimek, Megan Mahaney, Len Mendez, David Mitchell, Kate Mulberry, Heather Reed, Kristen Richthammer, Matthew Rittler, Jordan Rosas, Joe Russi, Madalyn Teal, Nicholas Williams. Oct 18-Nov 3, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30 (Nov 2 at midnight instead of 7:30). Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776). wwwlancopera.com

THE TOXIC AVENGER, musical by Joe DiPietro & David Bryan, presented by Second Generation Theatre, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Steve Copps, Bethany Burrows, Jenn Stafford, Raphael A. Santos, Dylan Zalikowski. Oct 25-Nov 10, Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2 (no evening performance Oct 26), plus Nov 3 at 7. Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main St. (508-7480). www.secondgenerationtheatre.com

OUT OF TOWN

AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada 905-468-2172 / 1-800-511-7429 (a 1-hour drive from downtown Buffalo)
NOTE: Although the Shaw Festival is rehearsing HOLIDAY INN (November 16 - December 22) and A CHRISTMAS CAROL (November 13 - December 22) this is the FINAL WEEKEND for almost all current productions with the exception of CYRANO DE BERGERAC, at the Royal George Theatre through October 20.

BRIGADOON, a musical, by Lerner and Loewe, at the Festival Theatre, through October 13

CYRANO DE BERGERAC, by Edmond Rostand, at Royal George Theatre, through October 20.

GETTING MARRIED, a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, at the Shaw's Royal George Theatre, through October 13.

ROPE, a thriller by Patrick Hamilton (after Hitchcock) at The Royal George Theatre, through October 12

SEX, by Mae West, at the Jackie Maxwel Theatre, through October 13

THE LADYKILLERS, by Graham Linehan, at the Festival Theatre, through October 12

THE RUSSIAN PLAY, by Hannah Moscovitch, a "Lunchtime One-Act" at the Royal George Theatre, though October 12

THE GLASS MENAGERIE, by Tennessee Williams, at the Jackie Maxell Theatre, through October 12

VICTORY, by Howard Barker, at the Jackie Maxwell Theatre, through October 12

OUT OF TOWN AT THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL, Stratford, ON www.stratfordfestival.ca 1-800-567-1600 (Stratford, Ontario is about a 2-1/2 hour drive from downtown Buffalo)
AT THE FESTIVAL THEATRE:
OTHELLO by William Shakespeare through October 27  
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL by Lee Hall and Elton John extended through November 10
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR by William Shakespeare through October 26
THE FRONT PAGE by Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur adapted by Michael Healey through October 25

AT THE AVON THEATRE:
PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward through October 26
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken through November 2
THE NEVERENDING STORY based upon the novel by Michael Ende, adapted by David S. Craig through November 3
THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller through October 25

AT THE STUDIO THEATRE:
HENRY VIII by William Shakespeare extended through October 27
MOTHER'S DAUGHTER by Kate Hennig through October 13
NATHAN THE WISE by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing in a version by Edward Kemp extended through October 19
BIRDS OF A KIND by Wajdi Mouawd through October 13

Listings adapted from Javier Bustillos

 

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