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Theater Talk

Theater Talk: A conversation with Katie Mallinson, the new Executive Artistic Director of D'Youville's Kavinoky Theatre

By Anthony Chase,
Peter Hall
Published August 11, 2023 at 5:00 AM EDT
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Katie Mallinson is the new Executive Artistic Director for the Kavinoky Theatre
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Katie Mallinson is the new Executive Artistic Director for the Kavinoky Theatre

D’Youville University announced this week that Katie Mallinson will be the Executive Artistic Director for the Kavinoky Theatre, succeeding Loraine O’Donnell who succeeded Kavinoky's Founding Director, David Lamb. A Buffalo native and alumna of Niagara University’s Theatre Program, Katie also holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. Theater Talk recently spoke with Katie about the job. Read more on Anthony's blog here:

https://www.theatertalkbuffalo.com/post/it-s-katie-at-the-kavinoky

Katie joined D’Youville last year as the Program Director for the Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Theater which launched in the fall of 2022. She will continue in this role, developing the program in tandem with the theater itself. As a theater director, Katie has worked throughout the region, earning two Artie Awards for Outstanding Direction, most recently for GUARDS AT THE TAJ for Road Less Traveled Productions. For the Kavinoky she directed EQUIVOCATION in 2019 and returned for PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS in 2022 (and 2023).

In other news, ROMEO AND JULIET continues at Shakespeare in Delaware Park and it is youthful, energetic, and delightful. (See listings below.) Read Peter's review here:

https://www.buffalorising.com/2023/08/romeo-and-juliet-at-shakespeare-in-the-park-brings-a-fresh-vision-well-done/

Road Trip! GYPSY, A Musical Fable, with Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Jule Styne, and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim has been called "the perfect musical" by Anthony who will be leading a bus tour up to Niagara on the Lake Wednesday, September 27 leaving from the AAA parking lot in Amherst at 8:30 am and returning at 6:30 pm. To get your ticket click here:

https://www.wned.org/ways-to-support/wned-wbfo-tours/gypsy/

Anthony's reviews appear in The Buffalo News (buffalonews.com) and Peter's reviews appear in Buffalo Rising (buffalorising.com).

LOCAL LISTINGS ARE PRESENTED AS FOLLOWS: CLOSINGS (last chances to see these plays), then OPENINGS, then CONTINUING, then The Shaw Festival lineup for 2023.

CLOSINGS: (listed alphabetically by title)

AMERICAN IDIOT, a sung-through rock musical based on the concept album of the same name by Green Day, with a book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer, directed by Nicolette Navarro, produced by Bellissima Productions, August 3 - 13, Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 3, at the Lorna C. Hill Theatre at 429 Plymouth Ave Suite #2, Buffalo, NY 14213. Tickets at eventbrite.com or call (716)

AMERICAN IDIOT BLURB: AMERICAN IDIOT is a rock opera inspired by Green Day's album of the same name. Grammy Award-winning (Best Musical Show Album) it delves into the lives of three young friends as they grapple with the complexities of love, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a post-9/11 world. Starring Aaron Saldana (Johnny), Quinn McGillion (Tunny), Ryan Norton (Will), Timiyah Love (Whatsername), Jeremy Catania (Extraordinary Girl/Favorite Son), Maryna Seufert (Heather), Sam Crystal (Alysha), Oliver Ball (Theo). Content Warning- Sexual themes & simulated sexual acts, strong language, and simulated use of drugs and drinking.

OPENINGS: (listed alphabetically by title)

None

CONTINUING: (listed alphabetically by title)

ROMEO & JULIET by William Shakespeare, presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, directed by Chris Kelly starring Aidan Conklin and Erin Grace Kely in the title roles. July 27 - August 20, Tuesdays-Sundays nightly at 7:15 on "Shakespeare Hill" near the Rose Garden and the casino in Delaware Park. Bring your own chair or blanket, picnics are encouraged. (716) 856-4533) www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org

ROMEO & JULIET BLURB (from shakespeare.org.uk): An age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed. A group of masked Montagues risk further conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is due to marry her father’s choice, Paris. With the help of Juliet’s nurse, the women arrange for the couple to marry the next day, but Romeo’s attempt to halt a street fight leads to the death of Juliet’s own cousin, Tybalt, for which Romeo is banished. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with Romeo, Juliet follows the Friar’s plot and fakes her own death. The message fails to reach Romeo, and believing Juliet dead, he takes his life in her tomb. Juliet wakes to find Romeo’s corpse beside her and kills herself. The grieving family agree to end their feud.

All performances are FREE, non-ticketed and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted during intermission.

ROMEO – Aidan Conklin

MONTAGUE – Caitlin Coleman

BENVOLIO – Kris Bartolomeo

ABRAHAM – Brent Hetrick

BALTHAZAR – Shawn Adiletta

JULIET – Erin Grace Kelly

LORD CAPULET – Mike Garvey

LADY CAPULET – Marie Costa

NURSE – Pamela Rose Mangus

TYBALT – James Delano

SAMPSON – Sam Fesmire

GREGORY – Ayden Herreid+

PRINCE – Rick Lattimer

PARIS – David Wysocki

MERCUTIO – Adam Koda

FRIAR – Chris Hatch*

_____

WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A PLAY, an hour of scenes and sonnets by Shakespeare, adapted by Brendan Didio, directed by Norm Sham, presented in a touring format by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, starring Emily Basset, Heather Casseri, Connor Graham, and Nathaniel "Nate" W.C. Higgins. June 14 - August 21, all shows are free at 7:00 (with one added matinee, July 23 at 4:30 at Freedom Run Winery). All performances are FREE, non-ticketed and open to the public. For dates and locations, scroll down or visit https://shakespeareindelawarepark.org/2023-tour-locations/

Bring your own chair or blanket, picnics are encouraged.

REMAINING SHOWS ARE:

Monday, August 14 (7:00PM) – Academy Park

851 Center St, Lewiston, NY 14092

Monday, August 21 (7:00PM) – Bassett Park

359 Klein Rd, Williamsville, NY 14221

_____

COMING LATER IN AUGUST (listed alphabetically by title)

ANTHONY CHASE: MY LIFE IN THE AUDIENCE, additional shows in August, two matinees filled with story and song with theater critic, raconteur, and all-round bon vivant Anthony Chase with Music Director Phil Farugia at the piano. August 19 and 20, both matinees at 2:00 at The Maxine & Robert Seller Theater in the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo,

Benderson Family Building 2640 North Forest Rd. Getzville, NY 14068 For tickets visit www.jewishrepertorytheatreofwny.org Keep up to date by subscribing to https://www.theatertalkbuffalo.com/

_____

AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL THEATRE, Venue by Venue listings.

For details visit https://www.shawfest.com/2023-season/

AT THE FESTIVAL THEATRE

GYPSY

A Musical Fable, Book by Arthur Laurents

Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee

_____

Noël Coward’s

BLITHE SPIRIT

_____

THE AMEN CORNER

By James Baldwin

_____

AT THE ROYAL GEORGE THEATRE

PRINCE CASPIAN

Adapted for the stage by Damien Atkins

Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis

_____

ON THE RAZZLE

By Tom Stoppard

Adapted from Einen Jux will er sich machen by Johann Nestroy

_____

VILLAGE WOOING (2023's Lunchtime One‐Act)

By Bernard Shaw

_____

THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT

By Edith Wharton

_____

At the JACKIE MAXWELL STUDIO THEATRE

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD

By J.M. Synge

_____

THE APPLE CART by G.B. Shaw, directed by Eda Holmes, starring Tom Rooney and others, is in repertory through Saturday October 7, 2023 at the Shaw Festival’s Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre behind the Festival Theatre (they share a courtyard), 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (905-468-2172 / 1-800-511-7429) www.shawfest.com Download house program here.

https://www.shawfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Apple-Cart.pdf

_____

THE CLEARING

By Helen Edmundson

_____

And there are two new "venues" at the Shaw Festival including

SPIEGELTENT offering

THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE

A romantic comedy by Pierre de Marivaux

Improvised by the Shaw Festival Ensemble – a new play every time.

MOTHER, DAUGHTER

Written and directed by Selma Dimitrijevic

and there's "OUTDOORS @ THE SHAW"

A SHORT HISTORY OF NIAGARA

Created by Alexandra Montagnese and Mike Petersen

Commissioned and presented by the Shaw Festival

Rogers and Hammerstein’s

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING – ONE ACT – IN CONCERT

Music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Musical arrangements by Fred Wells

Orchestration by Michael Gibson and Jonathan Tunick

Conceived by Walter Bobbie

_____

For the HOLIDAY SEASON 2023 The Shaw Festival will bring back

Lerner and Loewe’s

BRIGADOON

Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe

Original dances created by Agnes DeMille

Revised book by Brian Hill

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Charles Dickens

Adapted and originally directed by Tim Carroll

_____

Shea's Buffalo Theatre has announced their 2023-24 Broadway Season:

MRS. DOUBTFIRE 9/24 - 30, 2023

MOULIN ROUGE! 10/24 - 11/5, 2023

with ANNIE as a "special engagement" 12/19 - 24, 2023

and then in calendar 2024:

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY 1/16 - 21, 2024

FUNNY GIRL 2/13 - 18, 2024

LES MISERABLES 3/12 - 18, 2024

MAMMA MIA! 4/9 - 14, 2024

MJ THE MUSICAL 6/11 - 16, 2024

_____

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  • MusicalFare's HAIRSPRAY stars include, front, L-R Glen Chitty, Stevie Lou Kemp, Lou Colaiacovo, Bobby Cooke
    Theater Talk: Anthony is one-upped by his baby sister; winning shows continue, HAIRSPRAY (MusicalFare at Shea's 710) with a cast of 22 and JUST FOR US (Jewish Repertory) with a cast of 1. Last weekend to see CURTAINS (O'Connell & Co.), CORDUROY at Theatre of Youth, GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY (Stephen King & John Mellencamp musical at Road Less Traveled), and PURE GLITTER (2nd Gen at Shea's Smith).
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about the Buff State Drama Club's Lavender Graduation (for LGBTQ+ students and allies), where Anthony was the speaker while his kid sister, Bobbie Chase, former editor for Marvel and DC comics, was the commencement speaker at the main graduation event. HAIRSPRAY (MusicalFare at Shea's 710) sports a high-energy cast of 22 (see photo) with superb 60's choreography by Eric Deeb Weaver. For a compelling show with a cast of 1 (Jordan Levin) check out Jewish Repertory's JUST FOR US about an observant Jew who attends a meeting of white supremacists. Believe it or not, it's touching and funny. Closing this weekend are some winning shows: Kander & Ebb's CURTAINS, the musical (O'Connell & Co. at Canterbury Woods) with great choreography by Joey Bucheker, with Nick Lama in the comic/romantic lead role opposite Ashleigh Chrisena Ricci; for the 3+ set, CORDUROY at Theatre of Youth; GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY, a musical collaboration of Stephen King and John Mellancamp, closes at Road Less Traveled; and PURE GLITTER (2nd Gen at Shea's Smith) a very funny play reminiscent of, but gentler than, "The Boys in the Band." SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS.SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS.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.
  • PURE GLITTER (2nd Generation at Shea's Smith) all cast
    Theater Talk: So many shows to choose from! MusicalFare's HAIRSPRAY, Starring Buffalo's RENT, O'Connell's CURTAINS, Theater of Youth's CORDUROY, Kenan's COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE, and 2nd Generation's PURE GLITTER. Click and scroll for complete listings.
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about HAIRSPRAY (MusicalFare at Shea's 710) starring Louis Colaiacovo as Edna Turnblad; RENT (one matinee only) on the "big" stage at Shea's PAC; CURTAINS, the musical (O'Connell & Co. at Canterbury Woods) a "show within a show" about a "triple threat" (she can't act, can't dance, can't sing) who gets bumped off in Act I; CORDURY for the 3+ set at Theatre of Youth; COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE with three comic virtuosos - Kevin Craig, Brendan Didio, Jeremy Kreuzer - at Lockport's Kenan Center, and PURE GLITTER (see lead photo, 2nd Gen at Shea's Smith) starring, among others, Michael "Bebe" Blasdell (who will also be in GEORGIA MCBRIDE at Torn Space in late May). SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS.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.