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Stagefright

Roseanne star Johnny Galecki (pictured above) is back on prime time TV starring in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory (channel 4, Mondays at 8:30pm). The show has become the season’s first new comedy to get a full-season pickup. Galecki made his Broadway debut last season in Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed and received a Theater World Award for his performance. The show was also nominated for a Tony for best play and its female lead, Julie White, won the Tony award for lead actress in a play. BUA will present the Western New York premiere of the play in January at the Alleyway Theatre. Auditions for both male leads will be held on Saturday (check out AV bulletins for information). As previously announced, the female leads will be played by Catilin Coleman and Rebecca Elkin.

Another Tony nominee for best play is coming our way. The New Phoenix Theatre will present the area premiere of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman (nominated in 2005), scheduled to open on November 15. Directed by Robert Waterhouse, the production will star Peter Jaskowiak, Richard Lambert, Jeff Coyle, Gary Marz, Kevin Cain and Sacha Shaffer.

The winner of the Tony award for best play in 2005 was John Patrick Shanley’s brilliant Doubt. The play is now on stage at Geva Theatre in Rochester through November 4. Shanley has adapted and will direct his play for the big screen, which is set to star Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Now in its fifth season, Torn Space returns to Rainer Werner Fassbinder and will present his play The Bitter Tears of Petra Van Kant, November 9-December 1, at the Adam Mickiewicz Dramatic Circle. Directed by Dan Shanahan, the production will star Kelly Meg Brennan, Kara Gabrielle McKenney, Anna Maria Gillespie, Sharon Strait, Rebecca Globus and Katie White. Five years ago, the company presented Fassbinder’s Garbage, The City, and Death.

Yet another new professional company arrives in Buffalo’s theater scene. Helmed by Stephen Henderson, Taylor Doherty, Teal and Golde, the Buffalo Laboratory Theatre will present A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia beginning October 26 at the William E. Swan Auditorium on the campus of Hilbert College. Directed by Doherty, the comedy will star Lona Geiser, Tom LaChiusa, Dana Block and Linda Stein.

The Playhouse of American Classics will present Why Marry?, the first drama to win a Pulitzer Prize, November 9-11, at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Directed by Terence McDonald, the cast includes Kate LoConti, Phil Knoerzer, Robb Zahm, Paul Bene, Kristin Bentley, William Laurie and Golde.

Shakespeare in Delaware Park will hold its second annual Fall Fundraiser on November 10 at 7pm at the Buffalo Seminary. The evening will feature a solo performance by Mike Randall, Charles Dickens Presents A Christmas Carol. Randall was also featured in last year’s fundraiser in which he performed Mark Twain Live! For tickets, call 856-4533.

Speaking of Twain, his play Is He Dead? will make its Broadway debut this fall. Performances begin November 8 at the Lyceum Theatre. Twain wrote this comedy in 1898, but it remained undiscovered until 2002 when it was found by a scholar.

Ray Boucher joins the cast of Kindertransport, which the Jewish Repertory Theatre will present at Road Less Traveled Theatre, November 29-December 22. Directed by Saul Elkin, the production also stars Anne Gayley, Eileen Dugan, Lisa Ludwig, Anne Roaldi and Rebecca Elkin.

Niagara University Theatre will present Sondheim’s Company, November 8-18, at the Leary Theatre. The production will be directed by associate director Doug Zschiegner.

The cast of Some Men (pictured below) will play their final performance this Friday and Saturday at the Alleyway Theatre.