Martha Plimpton

The fabulous Martha Plimpton was part of the New York Philharmonic’s concert production of Sondheim’s Company, which ran last weekend at Avery Fisher Hall. Also starring Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby and Patti LuPone as Joanne, the concert was taped and is scheduled to be released in selected movie theaters in mid June. Plimpton, who is now the star of Fox channel’s Raising Home, was nominated for a Tony in 2009 for her performance in Pal Joey. She was also in the original Broadway cast of Shining City, in the role that will be performed by Kelly Meg Brennan in the upcoming Irish Classical Theatre production.

The Paul Robeson Theatre will conclude its season with a remount of Cheryl West’s comedy-drama, Jar the Floor. Directed by Paulette Harris, the production will star Betty Stone, Debbi Davis, Daigi-Ann Thompson, Kaitlynd Brzostowicz, and June L. Saunders Duell, recreating her 1997 Artie-nominated performance. The play runs April 29-May 22. On Sunday, May 8, the Robeson will hold its 15th annual Mother’s Day Soul Food Dinner Theater.

On Friday, May 13, TOY will open the musical production How I Became a Pirate. Directed by Michael Walline, with vocal direction by Michael Hake, the production will star Leah Russo, Marc-Jon Filippone, Kurt Guba, David Butler, Adam Rath, and Hanna Lipkind. There will be a special performance on May 15 featuring a pirate-themed brunch at the Quaker Bonnet and a scavenger hunt on Allen Street.

Radio Golf, August Wilson’s final play in his 10-play Pittsburgh Cycle, is now in its final week at the Geva Theatre in Rochester. The play stars original Law & Order cast member Richard Brooks. Coming up next at Geva, April 27- June 5, The Music Man with Cass Morgan as Mrs. Paroo. Morgan just left the Broadway production of Memphis and was last seen in Buffalo in Ring of Fire at Studio Arena.

Kurt Erb, Michael Seitz, and Darryl Hart with Lisa Ludwig

The 50th season of the Shaw Festival began last week with previews of Shaw’s Candida at the Royal George Theatre. Candida was the first full-length production performed during the festival’s first season in 1962. A special 50th season two-day event, The Speed of Ideas—A Theatrical Forum featuring American playwrights Tony Kushner and Suzan-Lori Parks, will take place July 23 and 24.

Subversive Theatre will join forces with the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts to present Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical Tick, Tick…Boom! The show is performed and collaboratively co-directed by Academy students Daniel Henderson, Vanessa Elder, and Connor Graham. The production, which is sponsored by Academy alum Jesse L. Martin, will run May 6-22 at the Manny Fried Playhouse.

Back in March 1998, BUA presented Nicky Silver’s comedy Fit to be Tied starring Lisa Ludwig as Nessa, the 46-year-old, fast-talking, heavy-drinking, promiscuous mother of a 28-year-old. Now much closer in age to play the part, Ludwig will reprise the role in BUA’s upcoming revival, which also stars Kurt Erb, Michael Seitz, and Darryl Hart , as characters originally played at BUA by Chris Kelly, Ray Ganoe, and Dennis Keefe. The production kicks off the celebration of BUA’s 20th anniversary.