Random Covid infections continue to plague Broadway although Buffalo theaters have been relatively problem free. Plays continuing through this weekend include BERSERKER at the Alleyway and STAGE KISS at Irish Classical, while THE LOVE LIST continues only through May 8 at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre in Cheektowaga - "The Gateway to Depew."
The THEATER LISTINGS below are accurate as of this Friday morning, April 1, 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.
CONTINUING (in alphabetical order):
BERSERKER, by Bruce Walsh (Mazumdar Award winner world premiere) directed by Robyn Lee Horn, starring Patrick Cameron, Kelly Copps, Haleigh Curr, and Sara Kow-Falcone, March 31 – April 23, 2022, presented by Alleyway Theatre, 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)
BERSERKER BLURB: In this award-winning new play, an idealistic teacher comes face-to-face with a bear in the wilderness and finds himself spiraling into a mid-life crisis. He leaves his partner, child, and students in pursuit of a new career where he forms an unlikely friendship with a young boy, as they help each other step forward into a brave new future. Oh yeah, and Led Zeppelin.
_____
STAGE KISS, comedy by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, March 27 - April 24, Wednesday - Friday at 7:30, 3:00 Saturdays, 2:00 Sundays, produced by the Irish Classical Theatre Company in the Andrews Theatre, 625 Main Street Buffalo NY 14203. irishclassical.com (716) 853-ICTC (4282). Special ASL interpreted show April 20 at 7:30.
STAGE KISS BLURB: Two actors and ex-lovers find themselves starring opposite each other in an off-off-Broadway 1930s melodrama. It doesn’t take long for the lines between life and art to blur, while the farcical antics of the play-within-a-play make for an unforgettable romantic comedy.
_____
THE LOVE LIST, comedy by Norm Foster, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Jeremy Kreuzer, Elliot Fox, and Suzie Hibbard. March 19 - May 8, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and some Wednesdays. Nights: 6pm meal, 7:30 pm show; Matinees: 1 pm meal, 2:30 pm show. Bobby J's Italian american Greille, 204 Como Park Vlvd, Cheektowaga. www.mybobbyjs.com 716-395-3207
THE LOVE LIST BLURB: Canadian playwright Norm Foster (LADIES FOURSOME; ON A FIRST NAME BASIS) has Leon and Bill concoct a Top 10 list of qualities that make for the perfect mate. When that ideal woman actually arrives, revisions must be made. "Be Careful What You Wish For" is good advice.
_____
OPENINGS:
ANASTASIA, the musical, April 19-24, part of the M&T Broadway Series, Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30, Tuesday-Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 at Shea's Buffalo Theatre, 646 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202.
ANASTASIA BLURB: The romantic and adventure-filled new musical ANASTASIA is at home in Buffalo at last! This dazzling show will transport you from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out on a journey to discover the mystery of her past. Theatrical Haze, CO2 Ground Fog, Strobe Like Effects. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Children under 5 will not be admitted. Runtime: 2 Hours, 25 Minutes
_____
LADIES FIRST, one night only, April 23, "A deeper look at the women driving Buffalo's Burgeoning Hip-Hop Scene" presented by Torn Space at the Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle/Torn Space Theater, 612 Fillmore Ave. Buffalo (at Paderewski). tornspacetheatre.com, 716-768-1109.
_____
LITTLE WOMEN...NOW, a world-premiere adaptation by Donna Hoke, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Lisa Vitrano, Brittany Bassett, Alexandria Watts, Heather Gervasi, Sabrina Kahwaty, Jake Hayes and Ricky Needham. April 21 - May 15, 7:30 Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30, 2:00 Sunday. Presented by Road Less Traveled Productions.
LITTLE WOMEN NOW BLURB: Little Women… Now brings the beloved March sisters to life in this contemporary adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story by RLTP Ensemble member Donna Hoke. Follow Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth as they navigate the challenges of love, loss, and family on the road from childhood to adulthood in the 21st century. With fresh perspective and charm, this world premiere production captures the spirit and sensibility of the original for a modern audience.
_____
THE OTHER JOSH COHEN, a musical comedy, by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, directed by Randall Kramer, presented by MusicalFare, April 20 - May 22 Wed-Thu at 7pm, Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm at MusicalFare Theatre on the Daemen College campus, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226 (pro tip: enter off Getzville Road). (716 839-8540) musicalfare.com
THE OTHER JOSH COHEN BLURB: Josh Cohen just can't get a break. He's single, broke and to top it all off, his apartment's been robbed of everything but a Neil Diamond CD. Broke and alone, all hope seems lost – until a mysterious letter arrives that changes his life forever. Thus begins the hilarious and quirky romantic comedy about a good guy caught in a lifelong battle with bad luck.
It features a six member ensemble with two actors who play the same hapless-yet-warmhearted title character – one eventful year apart – in a 90-minute life-changing laughfest for the whole family that will leave you feeling better about the world!
______
OPENING LATER THIS MONTH:
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, musical, April 29 - May 22, presented by Theatre of Youth.
at the Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen Street.
_____
BROADWAY BUCKET LIST, a concert fundraiser, starring Steve Copps, Charmagne Chi, Lisa Ludwig, Raphael A. Santos, Joe Russi and more, comes to the Shea’s Smith Theatre on Monday, April 25th @ 7 pm, 658 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. visit secondgenerationtheatre.com
BROADWAY BUCKET LIST BLURB: SGT’s annual concert fundraiser is returning in-person with Buffalo’s best performers singing their favorite songs- whether they’re right for them or not! Your $50 ticket includes admission to the show and appetizers. Cash bar, raffle, and silent auction available.
_____
DAMN YANKEES, musical by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler, presented by O'Connell & Co. April 28 - May 15 on their main stage 3200 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14217 (716-848-0800) oconnellandcompany.com/
DAMN YANKEES BLURB: Light, fast-paced and devilishly clever. Based on the novel, "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant," this classic Tony and Oscar Award-winning musical comedy is a captivating tale of devotion, deception, dancing, the Devil, and Major League Baseball.
_____
LOVE, LOSS, and WHAT I WORE, by Nora Ephron, directed by Roger Paolini, starring Darleen Pickering Hummert, Melanie Klaja, Mary Moebius, Mary Kate O’Connell, and Kim Piazza runs for five shows only, April 28 - May 1, presented by O'Connell & Co. at Shea's Smith Theatre. 654 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14202 Runtime 90 minutes, visit sheas.org
LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE BLURB: Proving that a great show is always in fashion, Love, Loss, and What I Wore is a play of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes and memory that covers all the important subjects—mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses and why we only wear black. Love, Loss, and What I Wore, written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the 1995 book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman uses clothing, accessories and the memories they trigger to tell funny and often poignant stories about matters of the heart and matters of the closet.The production features Darleen Pickering Hummert, Melanie Klaja, Mary Moebius, Mary Kate O’Connell, Kim Piazza and is directed by Roger Paolini. The actresses sit side-by-side with script in-hand, deftly guiding the audience through an evening of humor, nostalgia and, of course, fashion. Nora Ephron was a writer, director and producer best known for writing the screenplays of romantic comedy films. She received three Academy Award nominations for Original Screenplay, for Silkwood (1983), When Harry Met Sally (1989) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993). Ephron sometimes co-authored screenplays with her sister, writer-producer Delia Ephron, including You’ve Got Mail (1998), Hanging Up (2000), and Bewitched (2005).
_____
PEOPLE, PLACES, and THINGS, play, April 29 - May 22, presented by D'Youville's Kavinoky Theatre.
_____
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, April 29 - May 15 at the Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Avenue, Lancaster.
_____
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, play by Edward Albee, directed by Nancy Doherty starring Richard Lambert, Pamela Rose Mangus, Brett Klaczyk, and Pandora Lianne Kew. April 28 - May 28, presented by New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, 95 Johnson Park Buffalo, NY 14201 716-853-1334 newphnxtheatre@aol.com
_____
OPENING IN MAY:
AIN'T TOO PROUD – The Life and Times of the Temptations, Broadway musical tour, May 10-15, at Shea's Buffalo 646 Main Street, Runtime: 2 hours, 10 minutes
AIN'T TOO PROUD BLURB: Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography, it’s a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America. Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Ain’t Too Proud tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine named the greatest R&B group of all time. The Production uses an onstage smoke effect. The Production uses Haze during the performance. Recommended ages 12+ (some language, and adult content) Runtime: 2 hours, 10 minutes
_____
AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Eagerly anticipated, Shea's Buffalo sent out the email blast last week announcing the M&T Broadway series for 2022-2023 which includes:
THE PROM Sep 27-Oct 2, 2022
TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Nov 8-13, 2022
COME FROM AWAY Dec 13-18, 2022
HADESTOWN Feb 21-26, 2023
BEETLEJUICE Mar 21-26, 2023
SIX Apr 25-May 7, 2023
JAGGED LITTLE PILL Jun 6-11, 2023
with two "special engagements"
Disney's ALADDIN Nov 22-27, 2022 and
DEAR EVAN HANSEN jUNE 20-25, 2023.
