Some things might be worse than you'd think (perhaps the movie version of CATS) and some will be much better than you'd suspect from the title (the gorgeous musical THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY which opens this weekend at the Kavinoky) and one limited run should be greater than the sum of its parts - Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with the complete incidental music by Mendelsssohn.
OPENING
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, musical by Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman, directed by Loraine O’Donnell, starring Michele Marie Benzin, Steve Copps, Christopher Guilmet, Ian Hayes, Arin Dandes, Robert Cooke, Ben Moran, Karen Harty, Kelly Copps, Laryssa Petryshyn, Pamela Rose Mangus, Paul Maisano. Jan 10-Feb 2, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668). www.kavinokytheatre.com
COPS AND FRIENDS OF COPS, play by Ron Klier presented by First Look Buffalo, directed by Drew McCabe, starring Tony Grande, Dan Morris, John Patrick Patti, Shakora Purks, Bob Rusch. Jan 10-Feb 1, Thu-Sat at 8. Compass Performing Arts Center, 545 Elmwood Ave. (800-838-3006). www.FirstLookBuffalo.com
UPCOMING
THE ANASTASIA TRIALS IN THE COURT OF WOMEN, courtroom drama by Carolyn Gage presented by The Brazen-Faced Varlets, directed by Lara D. Haberberger, starring Jennifer Arroyo, Heather Fangsrud, Jessie Miller, Jamie Nablo, Caroline Parzy-Sanders, Emily Pici, Kathleen Rooney, Stefanie Warnick, Priscilla Young-Anker. Jan17-Feb 1, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Feb 2 at 2. Alleyway’s Cabaret, 672 Main St. (598-1585).
THE ANTIPODES, play by Annie Baker, directed by Scott Behrend, starring Sean Cullen, Cassie Cameron, Kristen Tripp Kelley, Greg Howze, John Hurley, David Marciniak, Ricky Needham, Dave Hayes, Adam Yellen. Jan 16-Feb 9, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, 456 Main St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org
FACTORY FOR MURDERS, play by Scott McCrea, directed by Neal Radice, starring James Cichocki, Trevor Dugan, Sandra Roberts, Emily Yancey, Madeline E. Allard, Bob Bozek, Emily Lotocki, Nolan Miles, Amy Rochford. Jan 16-Feb 18, Thu-Sat at 7:30. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com
JUMP, play by Charly Evon Simpson directed by Paulette D. Harris, starring Jon Cesar, Hugh Davis, Christina Foster, Al Garrison, Renita Shadwick, Vincenzo L. McNeill. Jan 17-Feb 9, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 4. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave. (884-2013). www.aaccbuffalo.org
MISS NELSON IS MISSING, play by Joan Cushing; based on the books by Harry Allard, presented by Theatre of Youth. Jan 25-Feb 9, Sat & Sun at 2. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884.4400). www.theatreofyouth.org
MERCURY FUR, play by Philip Ridley, presented by Subversive Theatre Collective, directed by Mike Doben, starring Zachary Bellus and Justyne Harris. Jan 17-Feb 8, Thu-Sat at 7:30 at The Manny Fried Playhouse at 255 Great Arrow Avenue. (462-5549) www.subversivetheatre.org
ON A FIRST NAME BASIS, comedy by Norm Foster presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Eileen Dugan, Russ Papia. Jan 23-Mar 22. 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
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by Shakespeare performed to the compositions of Mendelssohn, presented by Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Irish Classical Theatre Company, conducted JoAnn Falletta, directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, Jan17-19, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Kleinhans Music Hall, 1 Symphony Circle (885-5064).
METROPOLITAN OPERA NATIONAL COUNCIL AUDITIONS will be held Saturday, January 18, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm in the Nichols School Auditorium on Amherst Street in Buffalo. Three local singers (Bass-Baritone Eric Delagrange, Mezzo-Soprano Kathleen Kane, and Tenor Jordan Pitts) will be among the dozens competing. Admission is free although donations are gratefully accepted. Come and go as you are able.
Listings courtesy of Javier Bustillos
