Carolyn McCormick

The fabulous Carolyn McCormick is currently starring in Black Tie, the latest A. R. Gurney play, which opened in New York on February 8 and has just been extended through March 27. McCormick, who was last seen on Broadway in the revival of Equus, is best known to TV audiences for her many years playing Dr. Olivet in the original Law & Order. In a special curtain call announcement after the opening night performance, February 8 was proclaimed “A. R. Gurney Day” by the City of Buffalo. Actor Greg Edelman presented the official proclamation on behalf of the city.

And back in Buffalo, Gurney’s Screen Play will have its local premiere at Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) on March 4. Directed by Scott Behrend, the production will star Bob Grabowski, Jay Pichardo, Natalie Mack, Carlton Franklin, Jermain Cooper, Jonathan Shuey, and David Hayes, who starred last year in the company’s production of Gurney’s A Light Lunch.

And on April 30, RLTP will present a special event, An Evening with Stephen McKinley Henderson, featuring an intimate look into Henderson’s life and career. Henderson was slated to appear in the company’s upcoming production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, recreating the part he originated off-Broadway, but due to a filming scheduling conflict, he will no longer be available. Rolando Gomez will step into the part, joining cast members Brian Riggs and Lisa Vitrano.

Joe Natale has joined the cast of the upcoming New Phoenix/Subversive Theatre co-production of the classic Inherit the Wind, which is set to star Gary Darling, Greg Natale, and Richard Lambert. Directed by Kurt Schneiderman, who also helmed the co-production of Waiting for Lefty a couple of years ago, Inherit the Wind will open on March 17. The cast includes, among others, Jess Abel, Betsy Bittar, Diane Cammarata, Gary Earl Ross, Larry Rowswell, and Tom Scahill.

Chautauqua Theater Company will present Chekhov’s Three Sisters and Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost as part of its 2011 season which kicks off on July 6th.

Up next for the Irish Classical Theatre Company, The Mandrake, a comedy by Niccolo Machiavelli, translated by Peter Constantine and directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti. Opening on March on March 3, the production will star David Autovino, Gerry Maher, Brian Riggs, Peter Palmisano, Lisa Vitrano, Morgan Chard, and Tim Newell. On February 22 at 7pm, the company will present an open rehearsal and discussion with translator Peter Constantine. Pezzimenti will lead the rehearsal and discussion. The event is free and open to the public.

"Next Fall" stars (top row): Dan Walker, Mary Moebius, Kevin Keleher; (bottom row): Danny Beason, Darryl Hart, Stephanie Bax

Rebecca Ritchie’s In the Beginning was the first winner of the Alleyway Theatre Maxim Mazumdar New Play Competition back in 1992 and had its premiere performance in the first year of the Buffalo Quickies. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Quickies will feature Ritchie’s delightful play once again, among several other one-acts. The production opens March 3.

Buffalo’s Eric Jordan Young has just released his debut solo album, Once in a Lifetime. The album takes a new spin on the classic songs made famous by Sammy Davis, Jr. Young starred in his show Sammy & Me a couple of years ago at MusicalFare. The show was presented at the prestigious Alliance Theatre in Atlanta last fall.

And Next Fall comes this spring at BUA. The Tony-nominated play about two gay lovers with conflicting beliefs opens March 11 and stars Dan Walker, Mary Moebius, Kevin Keleher, Danny Beason, Darryl Hart, and Stephanie Bax.