Actor George Takei (pictured above), best known to TV audiences for playing Lt. Hikaru Sulu in the original “Star Trek” TV series, just finished playing psychiatrist Martin Dysart in the East West Players company production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus. Based in Los Angeles, the company, which is now celebrating its 40th anniversary, is the nation’s pre-eminent Asian American troupe. During the run of the show, Takei made national headlines by openly discussing his gay private life.

Road Less Traveled Productions has postponed the mounting of Lisa Vitrano’s new play, The Smoking Room, which was scheduled for March. In its place, the company will present Conor McPherson’s one-man play, The Good Thief, starring Brian Riggs and directed by Kelli Bocock-Natale. The show will run March 10th–April 2nd at the New Phoenix.

Kelly Ann Krupski will play the title role in the upcoming Kavinoky production of Always, Patsy Cline which opens January 6th. Originally from Lockport, Krupski was recently seen as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the Palace Theater.

First there was Lunch Theatre, and now there is Happy Hour Theatre. The Irish Classical Theatre is presenting David Sedaris’s The Santaland Diaries, Wednesdays through Fridays through December 16th at 6 pm. The theater’s Chris O’Neill Lounge will open at 5 pm, and tickets to the show include one free beverage.

A Christmas Carol returns to the Alleyway stage, and it opens tonight December 8th with a special opening night gala featuring refreshments and live music before the show an old fashioned Christmas party following the performance. Performances continue through December 18th. BUA’s production of Naked Boys Singing! will play two additional performances, on December 11th and 18th at 8 pm.

UB graduate Adam Zelasko, who appeared in Musicalfare’s A Girl in the Frame and Artpark’s And the World Goes Round and Cole, has been cast as Jimmy (oh, Jimmy!) in the national tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

The touring production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby arrives at Shea’s in February after making several stops all over the country. The show is now playing through December 30th at The Theater in New York’s Madison Square Garden. James Clow has replaced Howard McGillin in the roles of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. Clow was most recently on Broadway in Assassins and was last seen at Shea’s in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Howard McGillin is now back on Broadway playing the title character in The Phantom of the Opera. On January 9th 2006, the show will play its 7,486 performance making it Broadway’s longest-running show. The Phantom opened on Broadway on January 26th, 1988.

The fabulous Michele Ragusa (pictured below) has had a very busy year. She just finished the run of Christopher Durang’s Adrift in Macao at the Philadelphia Theater Company (the show will probably go to New York next year), and after a brief break she will start rehearsals for Bad Dates, which begins performances at Studio Arena on January 8th. By the way, welcome to Studio Arena’s new staff members, Director of Development Don Elick, and Public Relations Director Elizabeth A. Smith.