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Theater Talk: Sci-Fi/Fantasy MONSTERS and TOXIC open, DONUTS closes, COLUMBO continues

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Two "Sci-Fi/Fantasy" openings tonight include Subversive's SHE KILLS MONSTERS about D&D and THE TOXIC AVENGER, Second Generation at Shea's Smith Theatre, a musical based on the 1984 movie. SUPERIOR DONUTS closes this weekend at Shea's 710 with a compelling story of cultures colliding and coming together while PRESCRIPTION MURDER: COLUMBO continues to entertain dinner theater audiences through mid-December.

OPENING

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).

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.

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

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

SHE KILLS MONSTERS, play by Qui Nguyen presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Drew McCabe, starring Emily Yancey, Jamie Nablo, Ryan Kaminski, Rick Lattimer, David Moran, Stefanie Warnick, Sofia Matlasz, Mara Westerling-Morris, Jaimee Harmon, Bekki Sliwa. Oct 25-Nov 16, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 5. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (462-5549). www.subversivetheatre.org
   
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

ONGOING

BRIGHT STAR, musical by Edie Brickell & Steve Martin presented by Aurora Players, directed by Tom Durham. Through Nov 9, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. The Roycroft Pavilion, in Hamlin Park. South Grove St., East Aurora (687-6727). www.auroraplayers.org

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. Through 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

CLOSING

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.  Through Oct 27, Sat & Sun at 1 & 4. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884-4400). www.theatreofyouth.org

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. Through Oct 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. Through Oct 27, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Ken-Ton Elmwood Commons, 3200 Elmwood Ave. (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.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 25 at 8, Oct 27 at 2, Nov 2 at 4 & 8. 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. Through 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

CINDERELLA, opera by Gioacchino Rossini presented by Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Robert Duerr, conductor starring Lorenzo Shawn Parnell as "The Prince." Nov 1 & 3, Fri at 8 & Sun at 2:30. Rockwell Hall Performing Arts Center, 1300 Elmwood Avenue (878-3005) www.buffalostatepac.org

THE BOYS UPSTAIRS, comedy by Jason Mitchell presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Todd Fuller, starring Jonathan Beckner, Zachary Bellus, Jeremy Catania, Ricky Needham, Daniel Torres. Nov 1-23, Fri & Sat at 8. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (886-9239) www.buffalounitedartists.org

INTERROGATION ROOM, play by Jon Elston, directed by Scott Behrend, starring Matt Witten, Tanika Holmes, Nick Stevens, Dave Tyrik. Nov 1-24, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, 456 Main St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, musical by Ashmann & Menken presented by Starring Buffalo, starring Matt Doyle, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Brandon Espinoza, Dudney Joseph, Dominique Kempf, Alex McArthur, Cecelia Monica-Lyn. Nov 1 at 7:30, Nov 2 at 2:30 & 7:30. Shea’s 710 Theatre, 710 Main St. www.starringbuffalo.org

OUT OF TOWN (SHAW)

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)

OUT OF TOWN (STRATFORD)

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
 
Listings adapted from Javier Bustillos

Listen for Theater Talk, Friday morning at 6:45 and 8:45 during Morning Edition.
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