The fabulous Kathy Najimy (pictured) recently starred off-Broadway in the world premiere of A. R. Gurney’s Heresy, one of the playwright’s one-act political plays. Set in the near future, Heresy is the story of Mary and Joseph, who have arrived at Homeland Security to rescue their protesting son, Chris. Best known on stage for her off-Broadway hit The Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel Lives, in which she starred with Mo Gaffney, Najimy made her Broadway debut in 2001 playing Mae West in Dirty Blonde. She will appear in Barbra Streisand’s upcoming film, The Guilt Trip.

Speaking of Gurney, next February the Obie Award-winning Keen Company will present a newly revised version of his 1991 play, The Old Boy. And in Buffalo later in the season, the New Phoenix will present Gurney’s Buffalo Gal (March 15-April 23), directed by Richard Lambert, staring Mary Moebius, Brittany Kacula, Steve Borowski, Gary Earl Ross, Willy Judson, and Barbara Link LaRou, who earned an Artie Award for her performance in Gurney’s The Grand Manner a couple of seasons ago at the Kavinoky. The New Phoenix continues its season November 23-December 15 with Caryl Churchill’s Cloud 9, directed by Kelli Bocock-Natale, starring Lambert, Chris Kelly, Kelly Ferguson, Steve Copps, and Pamela Rose Mangus.

That time of the season is fast approaching, and O’Connell & Company will bring back A Broadway Christmas Carol (November 23-December 16), now directed by Jeffrey Coyle, with musical direction by Chuck Basil, starring David Butler, Michael Starzynski, and Mary Kate O’Connell. Later in the season, O’Connell will reprise her Artie-winning performance as Florence Foster Jenkins in the comedy Glorious!, which was presented at the Kavinoky several seasons ago. This time under the direction of Joyce Stilson, the production will also star Anne Gayley, Victoria Perez, Darryl Hart, Roger Van Dette, and Kate Olena. Both Gayley and Perez were also in the Kavinoky production.

Mike Randall will bring his one-man show Charles Dickens Presents A Christmas Carol to Niagara University’s Leary Theatre on Sunday, November 25 at 2pm. The production is sponsored by the Friends of Niagara University Theatre.

John Buscaglia returns to Neil Simon with the upcoming production of the playwright’s God’s Favorite, which opens on November 9 at Lancaster Opera House, co-presented by RSDP Productions. Directed by Susan Toomey, the show will also star Dolores Mendolia, Andrew Starr, Jennifer Toomey Starr, Jon Summers, and Adam Yellen.

Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre will present Leonard Gershe’s 1969 hit Broadway comedy, Butterflies Are Free, starring Sean Marciniak, Justyne Harris, Justin Fiordaliso, and Margo Davis, October 27-December 16. In 1970 both Blythe Danner and Eileen Heckart were nominated for a Tony award for Best Featured Actress for their performances in the play. Danner won, and Heckart went on to recreate her performance in the movie, winning an Oscar for it.

Shea’s Smith Theater kicks off its 2012-13 season on November 7 with the one-man show My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m Home for the Holidays. The season will also see the return of Dixie’s Tupperware Party in February, and the latest installment in the Catechism series, Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice! (April 9-21).

Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s 38th season in 2013 will feature Hamlet and Measure for Measure. Coming soon, on November 4 at the Buffalo Seminary, is the reading of Titus Andronicus. Save the date for the annual Fabulous Feast, March 23, 2013.

Torn Space Theater will host its third annual costume ball fundraiser, Prom of the Dead, on Saturday, October 20 at 9pm, in the ballroom of the Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center on Genesee Street. This year’s theme is My Coney Island Baby. For information, visit www.promofthedead.com.

Tonight, October 25 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Mary Seaton room, the Community Music School will present 88 Keys: A New York City Cabaret-Style Show to celebrate the school’s 88th anniversary and also “Voice Coach to the Stars” and school alum Andy Anselmo’s 88th birthday. For tickets or information, visit www.cms-buffalo.org/88keys or call the Community Music School at 884-4887.