Theater Talk promotes gender inclusion in the arts and this week recognizes three strong women. Eleanor Jean Murray who recently passed away at the age of 95 was a driving force behind the Studio Arena Theatre (now Shea's 710 Theatre). Chelsea Marcantel has another of her plays on stage at Chautauqua called AIRNESS. And 2018 Artie-nominated Heather Fangsrud presents her one-woman play KNOCK KNOCK, JESUS CALLING about growing up gay in a Jehovah's Witness family.
OPENING
CLICK, CLACK, MOO, musical presented by Niagara University Theatre for Young Audiences, directed by Steve Braddock and Terri Filips Vaughan. Jul 19-21 & Jul 27 at 7; Jul 24 at 1; Jul 25 & 28 at 10:00 a.m. Leary Theatre. N.U. campus. Free admission.
CINDERELLA X, multi-genre endeavor conceived of and directed by Kurt Schneiderman, presented by Subversive Theatre as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival, starring Heather Casseri, Elizabeth Catania, Jaime Goldfuss, Shakora HP, Brianna Vogel, Collin Kirdahy , Monica Morrisey, Lawrence Rowswell, Justin Fiordaliso, Renee Gosselin, Kent Bostock, Vanessa Shevat, Eric Hahn. Jul 26-Aug 4, Thu-Sat at 9. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (462-05549). www.subversivetheatre.org
KNOCK KNOCK, JESUS CALLING, staged reading of a play written and performed by Heather Fangsrud, presented by The Brazen-Faced Varlets as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival, directed by Lara D. Haberbeger. Jul 26 at 5, Aug 4 at 7, Aug 5 at 12 noon. Rust Belt Books, 415 Grant St.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, comedy by William Shakespeare presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, directed by Kyle LoConti, starring Todd Benzin, Kate LoConti, Nick Stevens, Melinda Carpeles, Gregory Gjurich, Chris Hatch. Jul 26-Aug 19, Tue-Sun at 7:30. Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park (856-4533). www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org
ONGOING
AIRNESS, play by Chelsea Marcantel presented by Chautauqua Theater Company, directed by Joshua Kahan Brody. Jul 14-29. Bratton Theater, Chautauqua Institution (357-6437). www.chq.org/chautauqua-theater-company
ALICE IN WONDERLAND, adapted by Alice Gerstenberg, presented by Aurora Players, directed by John Szablewski, Jul 21 & 22, Aug 4, 5, 18, 19 at 7. Outdoors in Hamlin Park, East Aurora. www.auroraplayers.org
MURDER FOR TWO, murder mystery musical by Kellen Blair & Joe Kinosian, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Philip Farugia, Joseph Donohue III. Through Aug 12, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare.com
SILENCE! THE MUSICAL by Kaplan, Kaplan & Bell, presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Todd Warfield, starring Maria Droz, Jimmy Janowski, Michael Blasdell, Jeremy Catania, Charmagne Chi, Sam Crystal, Adam Hayes, Eric Rawski, Michael Seitz. Through Jul 29, Sat at 8, Sun at 7. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (886-9239). wwwbuffalobua.org
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
HERE LIES JEREMY TROY, comedy by Jack Sharkey presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Richard Lambert, Marie Costa, Andrew Starr, Marc-Jon Filippone, Jamie Nablo. Through July 29, evening shows arrival at 6, show at 7:30; matinee shows arrival at 1, show at 2:30. Bobby J’s Italian American Grille, 204 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga (395-3207). www.mybobbyjs.com
MORNING DEW, new work by multimedia designer Flatsitter in collaboration with David Mitchell, presented by Torn Space Theater as part of the third annual Response Performance Festival. Jul 17-22, AMLDC, 612 Fillmore Ave. www.tornspacetheater.com
UPCOMING
NUNSENSE 2, musical by Dan Goggin directed by Debby Koszelak Swartz, starring Swartz, Joann V. Mis, Jenna Montesanti, Elizabeth Sanderson, Jill Anderson. Aug 2-12, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614). www.starrynighttheatre.com.
THE SHAW FESTIVAL
The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake has announced its 2018 season https://www.shawfest.com/2018season/.
At the Shaw's Festival Theatre:
The Magician’s Nephew
Grand Hotel
Mythos: A Trilogy – Gods. Heroes. Men.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
At the Shaw's Royal George Theatre:
Stage Kiss
Of Marriage & Men: A Comedy Double-Bill
O’Flaherty V.C.
Oh What a Lovely War
A Christmas Carol
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, is also into its 2018 season https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/ThePlays including three plays by Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Coriolanus, and The Comedy of Errors along with such classics as Long Days Journey into Night and An Ideal Husband.
Listings adapted from “On the Boards” appearing in Artvoice 07/18/2018
