Stagefright

The fabulous Cindy Williams (pictured above) will be making her Broadway debut this week in the Tony Award winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which is playing at the Marquis Theatre. Best known for her turn as Shirley Feeney in the long-running TV show Laverne & Shirley, Williams will be playing Mrs. Tottendale, the role originated by Georgia Engel, and most recently played by JoAnne Worley. Engel is currently starring in the touring production of the show which will play Shea’s March 4-9. TV star Bob Saget (Full House, America’s Funniest Home Videos) is also currently starring in the Broadway production.

Jim Maloy will be joining Saul Elkin in the upcoming Jewish Repertory Theatre production of Halpern & Johnson, the comedy-drama by Lionel Goldstein which opens at the Alleyway on February 21. The production will be under the direction of Peter Palmisano.

Lou Colaiacovo, Ellen Horst and Marc Sacco will star in the world premiere of Victory: The Father Baker Story at Musicalfare, March 5-April 6. This new musical by Randy Kramer (music and lyrics) and Heather Violanti (book and lyrics) is about the Buffalo-born religious icon, Father Nelson Baker. Kramer will also direct, with music direction by Jason Bravo. Victory is part of the Jack Cullen New Musicals Series. Violanti is also the author of last season’s A Rainbow Journey: The Harold Arlen Story.

Carlo Goldoni’s comedy The Servant of Two Masters, adapted by Jeffrey Hartcher, will be the next production at the Irish Classical Theatre. Directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, the play will star Brian Mysliwy, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Peter Palmisano, Todd Benzin, Joe Wiens, Christopher Standart, Chris LaBanca and Andy Moss. The show opens January 11.

Alleyway Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol, which runs December 13-22, turns 25 this year. John Smeathers returns as Scrooge, with Neal Radice as Charles Dickens. The show also features Kim Piazza, Gary Sage, Christopher Parada, Peter Maier and Syndi Starr. Joyce Stilson plays the roles of Christmas Past and Mrs. Cratchit.

Richard Maltby and David Shire’s new musical Take Flight will be released on CD in January. The musical, about aviation pioneers, was produced in London this past summer, and had been in development in the US for several years. Earlier this year Studio Arena presented Maltby and Shire’s revue A Time for Love: Songs from Marriage.

Speaking of CDs, last season’s Broadway musical LoveMusik, about the relationship of Lotte Lenya and Kurt Weill, has already been released. The show starred Donna Murphy, Michael Cerveris and Buffalo’s John Scherer. By the way, Scherer recently completed the run of Simeon’s Gift, the new musical based on the children’s book written by Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton. The show was produced at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor. Andrews’ recorded voice served as the narrator.

Matthew LaChiusa’s Axeman’s Jazz, which had a successful staged reading at the Buffalo Infringement Festival this past summer, will return as a full production in January. Presented by LaChiusa’s newly formed American Repertory Theater, the play will run January 10-26 at Rust Belt Books. Other plays announced for the company’s 2007-08 season include Mark Medoff’s When Ya Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?, Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo and Moliere’s Tartuffe.

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play Proof will be presented January 25-February 9 by Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions. Directed by Beth Gerardi, the production will star Erin M. Sabia, Keith Wharton, Ed Tormay and Tara Potzler. Kaleidoscope performs at the Marie Maday Theatre on the Canisius College campus.

Congratulations to poet/writer Alexis DeVeaux and Talking Leaves Bookstore founder/owner Jonathon Welch (pictured below), who were honored this year by Just Buffalo at their annual fundraiser An Evening to Celebrate Buffalo’s Literary Legacy. The celebratory event was quite a success. Save the date for next year: the second Friday after Thanksgiving.