Now, through the magic of theater and a new play called ONCE IN MY LIFETIME opening next week at Shea's Smith Theater, Bills fans (isn't that everyone at some point?) can gain redemption.
When you see a tee-shirt that says "Just one before I die" it probably refers to the Superbowl and the ignominy of losing by inches as an errant football went "wide right." Although opening night, Wednesday, August 29 is sold out, the play (listen to an interview with the director) runs almost continuously to September 8th, and on Friday, August 31st, Theater Talk's Anthony Chase will make an on-stage celebrity appearance! Also noted this week: THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW (a prequel to C.S. Lewis's THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE) at The Shaw Festival features extremely clever sets, many made of cardboard boxes. Raconteur Joey Giambra (interview here) reprises BREAD & ONIONS, a story of Sicilian immigrants in Buffalo, with opeartic tenor Jay Louis Dref and a large cast of Buffalo favorite actors at The Kavinoky Theatre, Saturday, August 25 at 7:30. And, we note two passings: Barbara Harris, who was a founding member of the Second City improvisational theater and went on to win a Tony Award for her lead role in the musical “The Apple Tree” and Craig Zadan, a larger than life stage, TV, and film producer who was responsible for those live NBC television Broadway productions of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and HAIRSPRAY and so much more, earning in his lifetime Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys.
OPENING
ONCE IN MY LIFETIME: A Buffalo Football Fantasy, world premiere of a play by Donna Hoke, presented by Buffalo Boys Productions, directed by Victoria Pérez-Maggiolo, starring Josie DiVincenzo, Jake Hayes, Aaron Wag Krygier, Adam Hayes, Kinzy Brown, Diane Di Bernardo, Jon May, Kyle Baran, Pamela Rose Mangus, Steve Brachmann. Preview Aug 28 at 7:30. Aug 29-Sep 8, Tue-Fri at 7:30, Sat & Sun at 2:30 & 7:30. Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main St. (847-0850).
UPCOMING
FARENHEIT 451, play by Ray Bradbury presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Gary Earl Ross & Michael Doben, starring Rick Lattimer, John Profeta, Jamie Nablo. Sep 6-Oct 6, Thu-Sat at 7:30. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (462-5549). www.subversivetheatre.org
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, by Laurence O'Keefe & Kevin Murphy, presented by American Repertory Theater of WNY, directed by Candice Kogut, starring Madalyn Teal, Joe Russi, Carly Luksch, Kelly O'Hara, Talia Mobley, Parker Welling, Jake Grear, Kaeli McGinnis, Katy Miner, Nick Lama, Rich Kraemer. Sep 6-22, Thu-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. 3200 Elmwood Ave. (983-4345). www.artofwny.org.
PUMP BOYS & DINETTES, musical by Foley, Hardwick, Monk, Morgan, Schimmel & Wann, directed by Chris Kelly, starring Jaclyn Lisenby Brown, Jayson Clark, Joseph Donohue III, Maria Droz, Ryan Kaminski, Andrew J. Reimers. Sep 5-Oct 7, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2 (Sep 14 at 8). MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare.com
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, musical by Sondheim & Wheeler, directed by John Fredo, starring, Matt Witten, Loraine O’Donnell, Peter Palmisano, Aleks Malejs, Leah Berst, Anthony Lazzaro, Bill Lovern, Marc Sacco, Charmagne Chi, Kelly Copps, Lucas Denies, Adam Eckmair, Karen Harty, Dudney Joseph, Ben Moran, Bob Mazierski, Derek Moran, Steve Heatley. Sep 7-30, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2 (Sep 14 at 8). Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668). www.kavinokytheatre.com
THE SHAW FESTIVAL in Niagara-on-the-Lake https://www.shawfest.com/2018season/
(800-511-SHAW)
At the Shaw's Festival Theatre:
THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW
GRAND HOTEL
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
At the Shaw's Royal George Theatre:
O’FLAHERTY, V.C.
OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR
STAGE KISS
OF MARRIAGE AND MEN: A Comedy Double Bill
At the Shaw's Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre
THE ORCHARD (AFTER CHEKHOV)
THE BARONESS AND THE PIG
HENRY V
THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL
The Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario presents a variety of plays. https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/ThePlays (800-567-1600)
Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR, THE TEMPEST, CORIOLANUS, and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS along with such classics as Eugene O’Neill’s LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT and Oscar Wilde’s AN IDEAL HUSBAND. In addition, there are world premieres of BRONTE and PARADISE LOST and modern works including TO KILL A MOCKINBIRD and NAPOLI MILIONARIA! And there are musicals: Meredith Wilson’s THE MUSIC MAN and Richard O’Brien’s THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.
Listings adapted from “On the Boards” appearing in Artvoice 08/23/2018
