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Stagefright

Dawn Wells

It won’t be the fabulous Dawn Wells (pictured above) playing Mary Ann in O’Connell & Company’s production of Gilligan’s IslandThe Musical (that would be the also fabulous Susana Breese) which opens this week at Cabaret in the Square, under the direction of Todd Warfield. Based on the popular 1964 (can you believe it?) TV show, the musical version has been having successful runs all over the country. Wells, who was Miss Nevada 1959, has been very active in the theater in recent years, including a stint in Gurney’s Love Letters opposite another TV icon, Adam West.

What a great way to kick off 2006, theatrically speaking. Two Buffalonians, with ample national and Broadway credits are back in town starring in two shows that can’t be missed. Michele Ragusa stars in Bad Dates at Studio Arena (see “Theaterweek” on page 18 in this week’s issue); and Eric Jordan Young stars in Sammy and Me at Musicalfare.

Greg Stuhr

If you visit New York any time soon, don’t miss the hilarious musical, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which now also stars another Buffalonian, Greg Stuhr (pictured middle signing autographs after the show). The show plays at Circle in the Square.

Congratulations to Brother Augustine Towey and Marylin Ciancio who will be honored at the Arts Council Awards Luncheon to be held on Tuesday, March 21 (yes, spring is just around the corner) at the Convention Center. By the way, Towey’s play, Vincent in Heaven, has just been published.

The Broadway musical James Joyce’s the Dead did not get a cast recording, but now the Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre has released a CD of its own production, which was staged in December 2004, starring Buffalo’s own Paul Todaro (who is currently appearing in the Buffalo Irish Classical Theatre – Jewish Repertory Theatre production of Good at the Andrews Theatre).

Acclaimed director Ed Smith returns to Buffalo to direct John Henry Redwood’s No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs which opens at the Paul Robeson Theatre on February 10th.

The musical spectacle BLAST!, winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event, will play Shea’s on January 20th at 8 pm.

Beth Malone and Janet Metz

After playing in several major cities all over the country, Ann Randolph’s one-woman show Squeeze Box, will play the Alleyway Theatre February 2-19. When the show premiered in Los Angeles, it won several major awards, including Best Solo Performance. The local production is presented by Pandora’s Box Theatre Company and Empire State College, and will be directed by Susan Forbes.

After Ring of Fire concluded its run at Studio Arena, cast member Beth Malone headed back to New York to join the off-Broadway production of the musical Bingo! Last week, Malone played her final Bingo! performance in order to begin pre-Broadway rehearsals for Ring of Fire, which starts previews on February 8th at the Barrymore Theatre. Malone’s final performance coincided with her birthday and company members threw a small party, wishing her all the best for her upcoming Broadway debut. Pictured bottom, on the set of Bingo!, Malone with fellow cast member (and Studio Arena alum) Janet Metz.