Full disclosure: I generally don’t enjoy productions that morph from screen to stage. I prepared myself to embrace Tootsie, now on stage at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, with an open mind, and pushed my 1982 movie memories to the back of my brain. So a show with music and lyrics by David Yazbek (writing for screen … Continue reading Tootsie – Now on Stage at Shea’s
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All Through the Night Opens Varlets’ Season
...it uses a chillingly fairytale set up to tell the story of a group of German Gentile woman in the never-idyllic days of Nazis and World War II.
“To the New Girl…” at New Phoenix Theatre
Sarah Emmerling as Elissa Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And if that woman has your address - physical or email – there’s a good chance you’re gonna hear from her. Sharing pearls of personal wisdom between the about-to-be-ex and the trade-in is the premise behind To The New Girl from the Former … Continue reading “To the New Girl…” at New Phoenix Theatre
Local mother and daughter among those impacted by Kenny Awards
Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Performing Arts Center and The Lipke Foundation will celebrate 25 years of the Kenny Awards, a year-long educational initiative which includes performances, numerous awards, theatre workshops and a fully realized ceremony open to the public. The 25th Annual Kenny Awards ceremony will be held at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 6:00 … Continue reading Local mother and daughter among those impacted by Kenny Awards
Theatre Review: ‘Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope’ at The Paul Robeson Theatre
Can’t cope? Dreary winter weather got you down? Finding the TV as dull as dirty roadside snow since the Winter Olympics ended? You may want to take a trip to the Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center where the musical revue “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope” is sure to ignite a … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope’ at The Paul Robeson Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Far Away’ at Torn Space Theater
The opening scene of the Torn Space production of Caryl Churchill’s "Far Away" is the most engrossing. In it, a young girl named Joan (Allison Barsi) approaches her aunt Harper (Bonnie Jean Taylor) to tell her that she cannot sleep. TST mainstay Taylor is particularly strong, her performance, characterized by restraint as well as range, … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Far Away’ at Torn Space Theater
Theatre Review: ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ at MusicalFare Theatre
There's a certain advantage to attending a show you know very little about -- there are no preconceived notions, and the intent is simply to enjoy the performance. MusicalFare's production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" certainly delivered a knockout performance for their audience. This musical revue is an enjoyable mix of high-energy ensemble pieces and slower, … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ at MusicalFare Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Over The Tavern’ by Lancaster Regional Players at Lancaster Opera House
Tom Dudzick’s “Over the Tavern” recalls a time when the comedic violence of Woody Woodpecker and the shoot-‘em-up heroics of The Lone Ranger flickered on an absurdly futuristic black and white television set. . . .impressive and entertaining. . . A time when juvenile delinquency amounted to crude and simple street graffiti, smuggled and concealed … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Over The Tavern’ by Lancaster Regional Players at Lancaster Opera House
Theatre Review: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Theatre of Youth
Theatre of Youth’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a delight. Charles M. Schultz’s beloved holiday story, based on his “Peanuts” comic strip, debuted as an animated television special program in 1965, and quickly became as representative of the season as Scrooge and eggnog. Its sophisticated anti-commercialism nods and winks – revolutionary then for a children’s … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Theatre of Youth
Theatre Review: ‘Painting Churches’ at O’Connell & Company
“Painting Churches” follows the story of Fanny and Gardiner Church and their daughter, Mags, as they prepare to pack up and move from their home in Boston to Cape Cod year-round. As can be expected with any family dynamic, the strains between characters are there – but what the actors show the audience is the … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Painting Churches’ at O’Connell & Company