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Theater Talk

Theater Talk: Women Playwrights represented all over Buffalo this March

By Anthony Chase,
Peter Hall
Published March 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM EST
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THE CHILDREN, by Lucy Kirkwood, co-presented by New Phoenix and Red Thread Theatres, all cast L-R Eileen Dugan, Josephine Hogan, Peter Palmisano
New Phoenix Theatre Facebook page
THE CHILDREN, by Lucy Kirkwood, co-presented by New Phoenix and Red Thread Theatres, all cast L-R Eileen Dugan, Josephine Hogan, Peter Palmisano

This week, during International Women's Month, Theater Talk focuses on women playwrights. Lucy Kirkwood's play, THE CHILDREN, is a co-presentation by The New Phoenix Theater and Red Thread Theatre, whose Mission Statement reads, in part, "We are seeking to identify works that showcase fully developed female characters and that address issues that of interest to women...." While at Road Less Traveled, it's TRIBES by Nina Raine; at the Kavinoky there's a funny adaptation of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Kate Hamill; and at The Alleyway several of the BUFFALO QUICKIES are by women, as are STEW by Zora Howard; and the upcoming MY LEFT BREAST by Susan Miller. (See listings below for details.)

Anthony points out the 20th-century indignities experienced by Lillian Hellman as well as Lorraine Hansberry; and most of all by Mae West, one of the most successful creators of Broadway hits (far more than her later movies).

The THEATER LISTINGS below are accurate as of this Friday morning, March 11, but check with the venue frequently. Pro Tip: Visit the websites to buy tickets but check with Facebook as well which will often have the most up-to-the-minute information on cancellations and postponements.

OPENING THIS WEEK (in alphabetical order):

CONSTELLATIONS, a play by Nick Payne, directed by Michael Wachowiak, starring Chris Avery and Kristin Bentley, presented by Second Generation Theatre at Shea's Smith Theatre, March 11-26, Thursdays - Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2. (90 minutes no intermission) secondgenerationtheatre.com

CONSTELLATIONS BLURB: A man, a woman, one relationship, and infinite possibilities. Playwright Nick Payne examines a million versions of “what it?” in this breathtaking two-person play. At once romantic and scientific, CONSTELLATIONS takes us on an intriguing ride through the multiverse.

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FALL FROM THE GRACE OF GOD, a One-Act Showcase of plays by Jennifer Tromble, Mark C. LLoyd, TJ Snodgrass, Monish Bhattacharyya, Tim Joyce, Justin Karcher, Karen McDonald, Matthew LaChiusa, John F Kennedy and James A. Marzo, all based on the music of the Celtic/Punk band The Pogues, March 10 to April 2. Thursday-Friday 8:00, Saturday 5:00. Presented by American Repertory Theatre, at the Compass Performing Arts Center (the old TheatreLoft) 545 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222. artofwny.org 716-697-0837

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STEW, drama by Zora Howard, directed by Curtis Lovell, presented by Ujima, 429 Plymouth Avenue in Buffalo, March 11-27. Friday- Saturday at 7:30, Sun at 4p., (716-281-0092) ujimacoinc.org email to boxoffice@ujimacoinc.org

STEW BLURB: ‘Stew’ takes deeper emotions off the back burner! The kitchen is where the characters reveal their bickering-but-loving true selves in this 2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist! In Zora Howard’s compelling comedy drama, STEW, three generations of Black women banter and bicker as they prepare for a feast.

Mama is up early to prepare an important meal and even with her family on hand to help, time is running short. Tensions simmer with three generations of Tucker women under one roof, but things come to a boil as the violence hovering around the periphery of their lives begins to intrude upon the sanctity of Mama’s kitchen.

Mama (Ember Tate) is matriarch and benevolent dictator rolled into one, and her rules must be followed by those who share her domain. They include her two daughters: 17-year-old Nelly (Ember Tate) and Lillian (Jacquie Cherry), who is in her 30s and appears to have moved back, if only temporarily, with her tween daughter, Lil’ Mama (Millie-Rae Rodriguez-Spencer), and her son, Junior (who remains unseen, like all the men in the characters’ lives).

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MACBETH by William Shakespeare, directed by Jonathan Seinen, (starring Anthony Chase as King Duncan!), presented by The Buffalo State Theater Department and Casting Hall Productions, March 10-12, 17 and 18 at 8:00 pm and March 19 at 2pm all performances in the Warren Enters Theatre in Upton Hall. Visit theater.buffalostate.edu or call 716-878-3005.

MACBETH BLURB (courtesy of Shakespeare.org): Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king, Duncan, becomes the new king, and kills more people out of paranoia. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death.

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CONTINUING:

AMERICAN RHAPSODY presented by MusicalFare February 23 — March 27, 2022

Wed and Thu at 7pm, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 and 7:30, Sun at 2.MusicalFare Theatre is on the Daemen College campus, 4380 Main Street,

Amherst, NY 14226 (Pro Tip: enter from Getzville Road 0.3 miles north of Main Street.) musicalfare.com (716-839-8540)

AMERICAN RHAPSODY BLURB

What begins as a conversation between a white classical pianist and a black jazz pianist about interpreting George Gershwin’s RHAPSODY IN BLUE transforms through incredible music and exhilarating dance into a dynamic and inspiring exploration of the often ignored cultural and historical context that inspired Gershwin to create this seminal work.

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BUFFALO QUICKIES #31, all-new, all-comedy festival of short plays for 2022, starring Joey Bucheker, Rachel Diana Henderson, Kate Olena, Colleen Pine, Matt Rittler, and Michael Starzynski, presented by the Alleyway Theatre, Feb 24 - Mar 19 (NOTE NEW DATES!) Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30, at One Curtain Up Alley (between Pearl and Main along the back wall of Shea's) Buffalo NY 14202 alleyway.com (716-852-2600)

BUFFALO QUICKIES BLURB: Another year (31st annual year!) of brand-new short plays comes to Alleyway! This festival features premiere works from some of today’s best new playwrights both in WNY and around the country. Featuring the world premiere of SEVENTEEN: THE (UNOFFICIAL) JOSH ALLEN MUSICAL.

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PRIDE & PREJUDICE, a play Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen, directed by Kristen Tripp Kelley presented by the D'Youville Kavinoky Theater, March 4th, 2022 - March 27th, 2022. Thursday - Friday 7:30, Saturday 3:30 and 7:30, Sunday 2:00. The Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. Buffalo, NY 14201 (716-829-7668) kavinokythatre.com

PRIDE & PREJUDICE BLURB: "This isn’t your grandmother’s Austen! Bold, surprising, boisterous and timely, this P&P for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life."

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THE CHILDREN, a play by Lucy Kirkwood, directed by Robert Waterhouse, starring Eileen Dugan, Josephine Hogan, and Peter Palmisano, co-presented by both Red Thread Theatre and The New Phoenix Theatre, on stage at the New Phoenix Theatre, March 4 - 26, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm (Thursdays are "pay what you can"). The New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park, Buffalo, NY 14201 newphoenixtheatre.org 716-853-1334 email to newphnxtheatre@aol.com

THE CHILDREN BLURB: The play (inspired by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear explosion in Japan) finds married couple Hazel and Robin, two retired nuclear physicists, living in a remote cottage on the coast of Britain. As the world outside deals with a major nuclear power station disaster, the couple is visited by Rose, also a nuclear physicist.

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TRIBES, a play by Nina Raine, directed by Doug Zschiegner, starring David Marciniak, Margaret Massman, Anna Krempholtz, Johnny Barden, Dave Wantuck and Melinda Capeles. NEW DATES Mar 3 - Mar 27, Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2. Road Less Traveled Productions, 456 Main Street Buffalo NY 14202 In partnership with Deaf Access Services, RLTP will also offer 2 ASL performances: Friday March 4 at 7:30pm & Sunday March 27 at 2:00pm.

(716-629-3069) roadlesstraveledproductions.org CONTENT ADVISORY:

Tribes contains explicit language and profanity. Students under 17 not permitted. Proof of vaccination and masks required upon entry.

TRIBES BLURB: Billy is the only Deaf member of a loving yet dysfunctional family who raised him as part of the hearing world. When Billy meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, he finally starts to learn what it means to be heard. With insight, humor, and an eclectic cast of characters, the award-winning Tribes questions how we define community, family, and belonging.

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OPENINGS LATER THIS MONTH (in alphabetical order):

MY LEFT BREAST, by Susan Miller, directed by Heather Fangsrud, featuring Lara D. Haberberger, presented by Brazen Faced Varlets March 18 - April 2, at the Alleyway's Cabaret Theater - 1 Curtain Up Alley, Buffalo, NY - entrance off of Main Street, varlets.org, (716-598-1585)

MY LEFT BREAST BLURB: "I am a one-breasted, menopausal, Jewish, bisexual lesbian Mom, and I'm coming soon to a theatre near you!" A woman's humorous and moving encounters with relationships, parenthood, cancer, and her ever-changing self are charted in this searingly honest solo piece.

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REMNANTS: An immersive installation experience combining sound, light, film, virtual reality and sculpture exploring the original mythology of Torn Space, Fridays - Saturdays March 25 – April 9, three performances per evning at 7:00, 7:45, and 8:30 at the Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle/Torn Space Theater, 612 Fillmore Ave. Buffalo (at Paderewski). What to wear: black, dark grey, or red. tornspacetheatre.com, 716-768-1109.

REMNANTS BLURB: In groups of six, audiences will experience moments from the past and construct new meanings in the present. Drawing from Torn Space’s original mythology, this project contains traces of past works combined in a fresh, intimate installation with limited and staggered seating. Tickets are offered in 30-minute time slots and purchasers of each time slot will enter every fifteen minutes to allow adequate spacing and comfortable movement throughout the installation.

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WORKING, The Musical, based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers, adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, with additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg and songs by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, and Stephen Schwartz, directed by Neil Radice, presented by O'Connell & Company, March 25th-April 10th Fridays-Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 2:00 on their main stage 3200 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14217 (716-848-0800) oconnellandcompany.com/

WORKING BLURB: "Working explores what makes our work meaningful across all walks of life. Whether it be in an office, a restaurant, your home, or you’ve retired, this musical reminds us to celebrate not only what we do, but how we do it. "

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2022 Theater TalkWBFO Arts & Culture Desk
Anthony Chase
Listen for Theater Talk, Friday morning at 6:45 and 8:45 during Morning Edition.
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Peter Hall
Peter Hall has worn many hats. After 20 years of presenting music to listeners 5 days a week, Peter Hall retired, well mostly. Over the course of two decades, Peter’s distinctive voice and were heard by over a million listeners as host of CD Saturday, Mid Day Classics, and Afternoon Classics on BTPM Classical.
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  • In GHOST BROTHERS, The Caretaker (Matt Witten) tells a shocking story to Anna (Leah Berst)
    Theater Talk: R.I.P. Lancaster's David Bondrow; Buffalo's own Jonathan Young wows at Paper Mill Playhouse; GHOST BROTHERS so good, so true to RLTP's artistic vision; last weekend to catch ISLANDER at Irish Classical, LAUGHING TROLL CAFE (BUA at Compass, 345 Elmwood), while ON A FIRST NAME BASIS continues at Desiderio's. See listings.
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter note the sudden passing of David Bondrow, Executive and Artistic Director of The Lancaster Opera House. But as he would have said, "the show must go on" and so THE ODD COUPLE, in which he starred as Oscar Madison, will run as planned through 4/26. Call the box office (716-683-1776) for details. Anthony went down to the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey to see Buffalo's Jonathan Young perform brilliantly in the musical 1776 as Edward Rutledge. Other shows to note this weekend include GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY, a dark musical by Stephen King and John Mellencamp at Road Less Traveled; ISLANDER, the charming Celtic musical at Irish Classical; THE LAUGHING TROLL CAFE, a Shaw-worthy play at the CPAC, 545 Elmwood; and ON A FIRST NAME BASIS with beloved Buffalo actors Eileen Dugan and Peter Palmisano, at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre. CLICK THROUGH OR SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes excellence in Western New York theater and raises money for AIDS charities.
  • ISLANDER at Irish Classical stars L-R Vanessa Vacanti, the looping machine, Kayla McSorley.png
    Theater Talk: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Shea's so exciting; LAUGHING TROLL CAFE (BUA at 545 Elmwood) so funny; THINGS WITH FRIENDS at the Alleyway such a great cast; ISLANDER at Irish's two woman Celtic musical enchanting and audiences love it. Note: Lancaster Opera House's David Bondrow passed suddenly. See listings re ticket situation.
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Shea's Broadway tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (great acrobatics); BUA's LAUGHING TROLL CAFE about a children's author (think J.K. Rowling) in an intervention of sorts staged by her characters at 545 Elmwood; an absurdist drama with a stellar cast titled THINGS WITH FRIENDS is up at the Alleyway Theatre; and the absolutely stunning Scottish based musical ISLANDER is wowing audiences at Irish Classical. See listings. Note: David Bondrow, Executive and Artistic Director of The Lancaster Opera House, died suddenly this week. In light of that sudden loss, THE ODD COUPLE, a comedy by Neil Simon, is on hold but will start up again on Thursday 4/23 and will run as planned through 4/26. Call the box office for exchanges.Click through, then scroll to see complete listings of what's on stage! Also, visit theatertalkbuffalo.com to read Anthony's reviews, especially his latest on the play THINGS WITH FRIENDS.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes excellence in Western New York theater and raises money for AIDS charities.