On the Boards is presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company. To be considered for On the Boards, submissions must be received by 5pm on Wednesday one week prior to publication. Send notice VIA e-mail to: ontheboards@artvoice.com.

Opening

BLITHE SPIRIT, comedy by Noel Coward presented by the Niagara Regional Theatre, directed by Fran Newton, starring Chris Best, Carolyn Quigley, Andrea Letcher, Dianna Kolek. May 6-21, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3. The Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 550 Ellicott Creek Rd, Tonawanda (284-6358).

DEARLY DEPARTED, comedy by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, directed by L. Don Swartz, starring Chris Fire, Mark Woomer, Michelle Fox, Debby Koszelak Swartz, Carolyn Woomer, Lynn Metzger, Sarah Averill. May 5 at 7, May 6-21, Fri & Sat at 8, plus May 22 at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614).

FILLMORE, world premiere musical by Richard Lambert and Steve Borowski, directed by Drew McCabe, starring Kathleen Ashwill, Wendy Hall, Mary Moebius, Marshall Maxwell, Crescenzo Scipione, Marshall Maxwell, Carmen Swans, Jenny Kulwicki. May 5-28, Thu-Sat at 8, plus May 22 at 7:30. New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). Read more in this week's Theaterweek.

LEBENSRAUM (Living Space), drama by Israel Horovitz presented by Jewish Repertory Theatre, directed by Saul Elkin, starring Tim Newell, Megan Callahan, Nathan Winkelstein. May 5-29, Thu at 7:30, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (688-4114 x 391). Read more in this week's Theaterweek.

MEDEA, adaptation of the Greek tragedy presented by New Alt Performance Group, directed by David Lundy, starring Morgan Chard, Patrick Caughill, Brittany Kucala, James Heffron, Norman Daniels, Richard Hummert, Alice Cunningham, Meghan Morono, Megan Callahan, Russ Papia, Amy Taravella. May 5-28, Thu-Sat at 8, plus May 15 at 7. ALT Theatre, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (868-6847). Read more in this week's Theaterweek.

PERFECT TIMING, comedy by Kristi Kane presented by RSDP Productions,directed by Peter Palmisano, starring Palmisano, Susan Toomey, Dolores Mendolia, Jon Summers,Ron Swick, Jennifer Toomey Starr, Andrew Starr. May 6-15, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776). Read more in this week's Theaterweek.

SERENATA D’AMORE, written and directed by Linda Silvestri, presented by the Western Door Playhouse, starring Dede Secic, Gloria McNitt, Tom Turici, Lynda LaGreca, Diane McNamara, Sharon Priest, Chris Mongielo, Sarah Waechter, Lisa Mazurek, Sami Granieri, Stefanie Goodwin, Cassandra Grizanti. May 6-22, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun. at 2:30 (no performance May 8). Woodbox Theatre, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave. at Portage Road (297-5910).

TICK, TICK…BOOM, musical by Jonathan Larson presented by Subversive Theatre in association with the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, performed & collaboratively co-directed by Daniel Henderson, Vanessa Elder, Connor Graham. May 6-22, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 6. Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave. third floor (408-0499). Read more in this week's Theaterweek.

Ongoing

FIT TO BE TIED, comedy by Nicky Silver presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Javier Bustillos, starring Kurt Erb, Darryl Hart, Lisa Ludwig, Michael Seitz. Throuhg May 21, Fri & Sat at 8. BUA Theater, 119 Chippewa St. (886-9239). Read more in last week's Theaterweek.

THE GRAND MANNER, comedy by A. R. Gurney directed by Robert Waterhouse, starring Barbara Link LaRue, Richard Lambert, Eileen Dugan, Andy Herr. Through May 29, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668). Read more in last week's Theaterweek.

JAR THE FLOOR, comedy-drama by Cheryl L. West, directed by Paulette Harris, starring Betty Stone, Debbi Davis, Daigi-Ann Thompson, Kaitlynd Brzostowicz, June L. Saunders Duell. Through May 22, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 4. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave. (884-2013). Read more in last week's Theaterweek.

THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, play by Stephen Adly Guirgis directed by Scott Behrend, starring Lisa Vitrano, Brian Riggs, Jay Pichardo, David Oliver, Jim Maloy, Rolando Gomez, Philip Davis, David Hayes, Adrienne Lewis, Victoria Perez, Kristen Tripp Kelley, Verneice Turner, Barry Williams. Through May 22, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, 639 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). Read more in last week's Theaterweek.

SHINING CITY, thriller by Conor McPherson presented by Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Gordon McCall starring Vincent O’Neill, Chris Kelly, Kelly Meg Brennan, Michael Renna. Apr 28-May 22, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC). Read more in last week's Theaterweek.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, musical by William Finn, directed by Greg Stuhr, starring Todd Benzin, Nicole Marrale Cimato, John N. Kaczorowski, Nicholas Lama, Debbie Pappas, Michele Marie Roberts, Marc Sacco, Norman Sham, Sara Elizabeth States. Through May 15, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540).

WICKED, touring production of the Broadway show presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Through May 22, Tue-Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 1 & 6:30, plus Apr 28 at 2. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000).

Closing

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Amanda Lytle Sharpe. Through May 8, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall, on the NU campus (286-8685).

Special Presentations

DIVA BY DIVA: A Celebration of Women, presented by O’Connell & Company, open-ended run, Wed at 7:30. Erie Community College- North Campus, 6205 Main St., Williamsville (848-0800).

RETURN ENGAGEMENTS, comedy by Bernard Slade, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Tilke Hill, Margo Davis, Marc John Donahue, Aaron Krygier, Joe Cassidy, Lisa Hinca, Justyne Harris, Nickalaus Koziura. Through May 15, Thu & Sat, dinner at 6, show at 8; Sun dinner at 5, show at 7. Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, 5827 Broadway, Lancaster (683-7767).

Upcoming

A COMEDY OF QUEERERS! world premiere of a play by Shawn Northrip presented by Brazen-Faced Varlets, directed by Lara Haberberger, starring Kelly M. Beuth, Heather Fangsrud, Theresa DiMuro Wilber, Amy Wrzos. May 19-Jun 4, Thu-Sat at 8. Rust Belt Books, Allen & Elmwood.

HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, musical based on the book by Melinda Long, directed by Michael Walline, starring Leah Russo, Marc-Jon Filippone, Kurt Guba, David Butler, Adam Rath, Hanna Lipkind. May 13 at 7. May 14-22, Sat & Sun at 2. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884-4400).

MAME, musical by Jerry Herman presented by O’Connell & Company and Playhouse of American Classics, directed by Terence McDonald, starring Mary Kate O’Connell, Pamela Rose Mangus, Mark Burgasser, Patrick Cooke, Jennifer Fitzery, Joey Bucheker, Matthew Mooney, Paul Bene, Jenn Stafford. May 12-Jun 5, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Erie Community College- North Campus, 6205 Main St., Williamsville (848-0800).

THE MURDER ROOM, comedy farce by Jack Sharkey, presented by Aurora Players, directed by Peter C. Bisuito, starring Brendan J. Cunningham, Amanda Wilcox, Ann Grimaldi, Jeff Maris, Catherine Burkhart, Monish Bhattacharyya. May 13-28. Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. Roycroft Pavilion, South Grove St. and Prospect Ave. East Aurora (687-6727).