OK, I’ll say it; I’m afraid of Amy Jakiel. In Second Generation Theatre’s production of Cabaret last season, her character ratted out her neighbors to the Nazis. In this season’s WNY Premiere of Kragtar! The American Monster Musical, now onstage at Alleyway Theatre, she’s pure evil as a woman nicknamed Beard who beckons her husband … Continue reading Kragtar Slays at Alleyway
Kinky Boots Raises You Up at Shea’s 710
Well, Buffalo is a factory town. Road Less Traveled’s recent production of Sweat gave us a grim reminder of what happens when a factory is on the brink. Suffice it to say, that Buffalo hasn’t seen the likes of Price & Son, the factory at the soul of Kinky Boots, MusicalFare Theatre’s production on stage … Continue reading Kinky Boots Raises You Up at Shea’s 710
It was Good as Hell and I Want More! Network at Kav Has Me Ranting!
When the film Network was released in 1976, I was a freshman in college majoring in communications and was a total news junkie. Cable TV was in its infancy here, the word ‘infotainment’ was unheard of, and reality TV wasn’t invented yet. The idea that a network news anchor would be fired, lose his cool … Continue reading It was Good as Hell and I Want More! Network at Kav Has Me Ranting!
Sweat Packs a Punch at RLTP
In Buffalo, we know what it’s like to live in a factory town. In some families, working at the plant is part of your legacy. Maybe it’s your father or uncle who put in the word that got you that job, just as his uncle or father did for him. You expect the security of … Continue reading Sweat Packs a Punch at RLTP
Disaster! Feels So Good at MusicalFare
A pretty buttoned up reporter. A nightclub owner with daddy issues. A ditzy disco diva and her twin children. A nun with a gambling problem. What happens when they meet on a poorly constructed off-shore casino with a problematic pier? It’s sure to be a Disaster! Disaster!, the brain-child of Broadway divo Seth Rudetsky, is … Continue reading Disaster! Feels So Good at MusicalFare
History Takes Center Stage at Irish Classical
You feel his power, his presence, as soon as he sets foot on the stage. Detroit actor Brian Marable has immediate, full command of your attention in Thurgood, presented by Irish Classical Theatre now until April 16. A stellar one-actor show, Thurgood is the self-narrated story of Supreme County Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first person … Continue reading History Takes Center Stage at Irish Classical
All Aboard for a Murder!
Sometimes you have to stick with the classics. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express was published as a novel in 1934, made into films twice, and most recently was adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. Over time and all these permutations, the story has retained its intricate web of mystery, deceit, sardonic wit, … Continue reading All Aboard for a Murder!
“Beetlejuice” at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
Justin Collette (Beetlejuice) at Tour Company of "Beetlejuice." Photo by Michael Murphy 2022. A visual spectacle of elaborate lighting and effects matched with superb talent and absurd comedy, Beetlejuice opened at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre last evening. Whether or not you are a fan of the original movie, you’re in luck: Beetlejuice the musical is so … Continue reading “Beetlejuice” at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong Gets It Absolutely Right
Here’s what I love about the WNY theatre community: there are the classics; there are the thought-provoking in-your-head-dramas; there are the social justice productions; there are soul-lifting musicals galore; and then there are the shows that are so silly and funny you laugh all the way home. And that, my friends, is The Play That … Continue reading The Play That Goes Wrong Gets It Absolutely Right
Every Brilliant Thing Sparks Joy at Shea’s Smith Theatre
Kids with a parent who is living with a mental illness diagnosis develop an intriguing set of social skills. They quickly intuit to whom they can confide, how to disappear into the woodwork during challenging moments, and how to fend for themselves if need be. They also learn how to love with a whole albeit … Continue reading Every Brilliant Thing Sparks Joy at Shea’s Smith Theatre
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