Stage and movie star Stark Sands (pictured left) returns to Broadway this season to appear in the new musical American Idiot, which begins previews this week at the St. James. Based on the hit album by the rock trio Green Day, the musical had its world premiere last fall at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California. Sands is best known for his role in the HBO series Six Feet Under and the mini-series Generation Kill. He most recently starred in the musical adaptation of Bonnie & Clyde at the LaJolla Playhouse.

Buffalo’s own Brian Charles Johnson is playing in the ensemble of American Idiot and has been involved with the show since the original workshop and its Berkeley production. Johnson made his Broadway debut in the acclaimed musical Spring Awakening. Both musicals were directed by Tony award winner Michael Mayer.

Up next for Playhouse of American Classics, Paul Osborn’s classic Morning’s at Seven. Directed by Roger Paolini, the production will star Jeanne Cairns, Guy Tomassi, Robert Wagner, Paul O’Hern, Suzanne L. Zbrzezny, Mary Moebius, Diane M. Cammaratta, Jon Summers, and Tess Spangler. The play runs April 23-26 at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

The final show of the ALT season (April 22-May 8) is the world premiere of (NOT), written and directed by Drew McCabe, starring Candice Kogut, Jeffrey Coyle, Lisa Dee, and Michael Renna. According to McCabe, “(NOT) is a new absurdist comedy that tells the tale of a time traveler who crosses paths with a Viking-dolphin trainer on a revenge mission, a girl dealing with her pregnant superhero boyfriend, and a circus run by a group of lusty vampires.”

Matthew Crehan Higgins will read his new one-man play Relapse on March 26 at 7pm at 464 Gallery on Amherst Street.

Dancer/choreographer Matthew Clark has created a new dance company that will premiere his work on a European tour. The Matthew Clark Dancers will perform TapReloaded in several countries including Malta, Germany, and Austria.

Joyce Carolyn and Kathleen Betsko-Yale are the Cows, Jen Fitzery is the Hen, Tim Newell is the Farmer, and James Heffron is the Duck in the upcoming TOY production of Click Clack Moo—Cows That Type. Choreographed by Michael Walline, the show is scheduled to open May 14.

MusicalFare will present the classic My Fair Lady this upcoming summer. The new 10-person, two-piano version of the musical will run July 7-August 7. In other interesting season news, Greg Stuhr will return to Buffalo to direct the company’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which opens in April. Stuhr starred in the Broadway production at Circle in the Square.

The cast of Grease (which is at Shea’s through this Sunday) will perform a cabaret show, tonight, Thursday, March 25 at 10:30pm at Shea’s Smith Theater. General admission is $20, VIP seating is $35. All proceeds benefit AIDS Community Services of WNY.

Gordon Tashjian, Adam Rath, Beth Donohue, and J.R. Finan (pictured right) star in the upcoming BUA production of Slipping by Daniel Talbott. The play, which tells the story of one boy’s coming of age and another’s coming out, premiered in New York last August. Directed by Chris Kelly, the BUA production opens April 16.