Theater Dish: December 2025

STAGEFRIGHT: Theater News for Buffalo and Beyond

By Javier

With Idina Menzel

It has been a Wicked time in Buffalo with the musical playing three weeks at Shea’s featuring a first-rate cast. Now on their way to Syracuse, they will be in Rochester in February. The movie Wicked: For Good also opened in Buffalo last month, apparently breaking box office records. Can you believe Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003, confirming the bona fide Broadway superstar status of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. The industry has changed so much over the years. Menzel’s latest Broadway outing, Redwood, closed before completing its limited engagement. Chenoweth, now starring in Queen of Versailles (also by Stephen Schwartz), will close after three months. Queen of Versailles was sensational and Kristin was terrific, giving 100%. Hopefully, the show will tour, and it’s highly unlikely, but maybe, as occasionally happened in the good old days, the tour will feature its original star.

With Eileen T'Kaye who played Madame Morrible in Wicked at Shea's. Among the highlights of her impressive career, T'Kaye originated the role of Ruth Bader Ginsberg in Jonathan Shapiro's Sisters in Law when it had its world premiere at Phoenix Theatre Company in 2019. At Buffalo's JRT, the role was played by Christina Rausa, opposite Priscilla Young-Anker as Sandra Day O'Connor.

So speaking of tours, it was just announced that Just in Time, the Bobby Darin musical, will go on a national tour. It is such a wonderful show!  Original star Jonathan Groff is staying on Broadway until March; no replacement announced yet. So, still speaking of tours, rumor has it that Shea’s will open the season with The Buena Vista Social Club, the glorious Grammy winning musical. And what perfect timing! September-October is Hispanic Heritage Month.

On Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State will present famed comedic actress and SNL alum Ana Gasteyer in her Sugar & Booze Holiday Spectacular. This tour supports her recent album of holiday favorites, Sugar and Booze. And since we mentioned Wicked, Gasteyer originated the role of Elphaba in the Chicago production in 2005. She later reprised the role in the Broadway production from October 10, 2006, through January 7, 2007, replacing Eden Espinosa.

It is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas, theater-wise. There are at least three productions of A Christmas Carol coming our way. Neal Radice’s traditional adaptation of the Dickens classic, now in its 43^rd year, is back but at a different and larger venue: Buffalo State University’s Rockwell Hall, two performances only on Saturday December 20^th at 5 and 8 p.m. As is tradition with this production, the Victorian Carolers begin caroling twenty minutes before the show. Almost the entire cast from the 42^nd year production is back, plus a few new faces: David Mitchell as Scrooge, Darryl Hart, Luke Przybylak, Trevor Dugan, Madeline Allard-Dugan, Bill Lovern, Andrew Brown, Kaylie Horowitz, Gayle Petri, Bob Bozek, Rylie Stang, and Maximilian Bielecki as Tiny Tim.  This production is under the umbrella of Imagine Theatre, a newly formed company headed by Radice who couldn’t keep idle after he retired from the Alleyway.

So, what’s happening at the Alleyway for Christmas now?  Theater maker/actor/director/professor Daniel Lendzian has written a new adaptation of the classic holiday tale “into a joyful new production for our time, bringing a fresh new spirit to our longstanding holiday tradition!” Directed by Chris Handley, this production is set to star Mike Garvey as Scrooge, Marty Gartz, VerNia Sharisse Garvin, Andrew Giandomenico, Zoe Goñez, Sara Kow-Falcone, Steven Maiseke, Gigi McCann, Gerald Ramsey, and Kathleen Rooney. Puppets by Elizabeth Dapo. Scenic design is by Justin and Christopher Swader, costumes by Ann R. Emo, lighting and sound by

Emma Schimminger.

And, at the Kenan Center in Lockport, yet another new adaptation of A Christmas Carol written by Neil Wechsler and his daughter Sasha, which is billed as “a Fast-Paced, Heartfelt, and Darkly Funny Reimagining” of the classic. Directed by Kevin Leary, the show stars Stan Klimecko as Scrooge, Sarah Teplitsky, Madeline Rehm, and Quinn McGillion. Sets and costumes by Collin Ranney, lighting by Matt DiVita, both of whom have become the new go-to people in their areas. Add the magic of the puppets by Michele Costa. The production runs December 5-14. Tickets https://kenancenter.org/theatre

Adding to the holiday spirit, Musicalfare is presenting the movie turned into stage musical White Christmas at Shea’s 710. Directed by Chris Kelly, with musical direction by Theresa Quinn, the musical stars Samantha Campbell, Jack Catena, Bobby Cooke, Thomas Evans, David P. Eve, Gregory Gjurich, Mary Coppola Gjurich, Arden Kacala, John Kaczorowski, Cassidy Kreuzer, Kristen-Marie Lopez, Natasha McCandless, Alexandra Montesano, Maria Pedro, Matt Refermat, Sean Ryan, Dan Urtz, Emily Weber and David Wysocki. The production runs December 4-21.

By the way, both A Christmas Carol and Irving Berlin's White Christmas are also playing at the Shaw Festival through December 21st!

With Artie winners and former onstage spouses Vanna Deux and Kris Bartolomeo, who will be making the Yuletide gay at the Terrace at Delaware Park this month.

Artie winner Vanna Deux is presenting a Christmas Cabaret at the Terrace at Delaware Park this month on Tuesdays, December 9^th and 16^th, featuring some of Buffalo’s best musical theater talent. Kris Bartolomeo, Michele Roberts, and Sean Ryan on the 9^th. Kevin Deese, Austin Marshall, and Penelope Sergi on the 16^th. Lily Jones and Molly Hennessy on both days. The evening begins at 6 p.m. and the ticket price includes a full three course meal. The event promises to make the Yuletide Gay, with a night of camp, cheer, and cocktails!

So it is now official, The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew Lopez has been announced for the Torn Space Theater main stage “featuring the one-and-only Jimmy Janowski with Anthony Alcocer and Michael Blasdell.” The show, about an Elvis impersonator thrust into the world of drag will open on May 29 and run through June 20, 2026 -- just in time for Pride Month!

after the show at Matinee with some of The Golden Girls cast: David Haefner, Brant Adamczyk, Michael Seitz, Joey Buchecker, and Matt Rittler. An unabashed, lowbrow, R-rated laugh riot.

And speaking of drag, The Golden Girls are back until December 7th at Shea's Smith Theater, presented by O'Connell & Company. Joey Buchecker is living his best life as Rose Nylund – honestly, good luck getting him out of that wig and shoulder pads when the run ends. This is the role he was born to play – but you can only see it through this weekend!

Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s annual December fundraiser returns on Monday, December 8^th at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre. Dinner and shopping start at 6 p.m. The show is at 7:30 p.m.  This year is A Midwinter’s Night Carol, set at the SDP Tavern, where Benedick MacScrooge is visited by the ghosts of Jaques, Falstaff, and Richard III. The show stars Chris Avery, Todd Benzin, Gretchen Didio, Jeremy Kreuzer, Sandra Roberts, and Norm Sham.  For tickets call (716) 856-4533. This event may already be sold out. Sorry for the late notice. November just flew by.

Second Generation Theatre Free Reading Series continues with the play Hurricane Diane written by Madeleine George, directed by Lily Jones. George’s play The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence, was a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for drama and was produced by Road Last Traveled last year. Produced off-Broadway in 2019, Hurricane Diane deals with climate change by using some Greek tragedy elements. The reading will feature Marrow Bones, Kristen Tripp Kelley, Smirna Mercedes, Davida Evette Tolbert, and Camilla Maxwell and will be held on Monday, December 8^th at 7 p.m.  By the way, George is married to playwright/actress Lisa Kron who was also a 2014 Pulitzer Prize finalist for the musical Fun Home for which she wrote the book and lyrics. It was certainly a good year for the couple who celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary this year.

With the cast of Rajiv Joseph's Mr. Wolf at Road Less Traveled: Dave Hayes, Camilla Maxwell, Lauren Farrow, Kristin Bentley, and Peter Horn.

And it has certainly been a very good 2025 for playwright Rajiv Joseph. The off-Broadway revival of his play, Gruesome Playground Injuries, officially opened last week at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, starring two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young and three-time Emmy Award nominee Nicholas Braun (of Succession fame). The play was first produced off-Broadway in 2011. Also playing now off-Broadway as part of Roundabout Theater Company's 2025-26 season is the New York premiere of his 2017 play Archduke, which had a public reading at Buffalo State in January 2017, directed by Kyle LoConti as part of Joseph’s residency with Road Less Traveled that year. Last, but not least, Road Less Traveled is now presenting Joseph’s 2015 psychological thriller Mr. Wolf in a superb production directed by Peter Palmisano, with a stellar cast and newcomer Lauren Farrow. The play runs through December 14, 2025.

Rajiv Joseph and the 2017 Road Less Traveled company of his play, Archduke, a comic imagining of the events leading up to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the start of World War I: Mary Jakiel, Jesse Tiebor, Doug Zschiegner, Scott Behrend, Rajiv Joseph, Jon Elston, Matt Witten, Anthony Alcocer, and Kate LoConti.

The fabulous Sheena Easton (winner of two Grammy Awards) will be appearing in the music show Home For the Holidays at the Seneca Resorts and Casino on December 6^th.  The show will also star two-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Academy Award winner Peabo Bryson, American Idol winner and Grammy Award nominee Ruben Studdard, and international trumpet prodigy Ilya Serov. Easton starred as Aldonza in the 1992 Broadway revival of Man of LaMancha opposite Raul Julia. She also played Rizzo in the 1994 Broadway revival of Grease.

With Jimmy Calire, former member of the band, Raven, and composer of the current off-Broadway musical, Reunions.

Some of you (meaning us elder folks) may remember Jimmy Calire, a member and principal writer for the legendary Buffalo based band Raven. At some point, Calire played with the band America when they toured worldwide. He wrote words and music for Beggars, The Musical, a musical based on The Beggar’s Opera and A Christmas Carol (anyone for something different December 2026?). He has also written the music for the new musical Reunion, which is now running off-Broadway.  A delightful chamber musical by Calire! Who knew?  The show stars Chip Zien and Joanna Glushak.

The Jewish Repertory Theatre will present A Salute to Sondheim, a one-night-only fundraiser on Monday, December 15^th at 6:00 at the Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center in Williamsville. The evening will feature selections from Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved works, starring Brittany Bassett, Steve Copps, Lou Colaiacovo, Arin Lee Dandes, Joe Isgar, Ricky Needham, Emily Yancey, and Adam Yellen. The performance is at 7 p.m. with light refreshments, drinks & raffle sign-up beginning at 6 p.m.

With actor, singer, American hero, and now political candidate Kevin Deese and early show-folk supporters: Kris Bartolomeo, Anna Fernandez, and Lizzie Arnold at his canal-side campaign launch.

Actor Kevin Deese is taking a leave from his theatrical duties (he had been cast in the musical Lucky Stiff  at Lancaster Opera House coming up in February) because he needs to focus on his campaign to be the Democratic Party candidate for the 149th district of the New York State Assembly. He launched his campaign last week at Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, and some familiar faces showed up to support him.

Meanwhile, Lancaster Opera House is celebrating the holidays again this year with the return of Broadway star and native son John Sherer as grown-up Ralph in A Christmas Story, the comedy adapted by Philip Grecian based on the movie.  Joining him once again is Carter Riccio as young Ralphie, and Ray Boucher as The Old Man. This year, Tara Kaczorowski plays Mother, Bryce J. Echevarria is Randy, Emily Yancey is Miss Shields, Dominic Patti is Flick, Samuel Houseman is Schwartz, Charlotte Reisdorf is Esther Jane Alberry, Penelope Campisi is Helen Weathers, and Liam Hulsman is Scut Farkus. David Bondrow has directed the production, which plays through December 14^th.

with Anthony Chase, Marie Kalinowski, and Jay Desiderio, at Bobby J's after a matinee of Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre.

The legendary Marie Kalinowski of Flynn’s fame, made an appearance at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre in Cheektowaga to have lunch and watch a performance of Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy. Marie declared the show "Fantastic!" and all of the actors "Excellent." She lingered at the bar with friends, but declined to ignite a "Doctor Pepper." For decades (and long before Matinee was even thought of), Flynn's was the hangout for Buffalo theater folk. Marie was behind the bar, the walls were lined with the headshots of local actors, the doors closed at 4 a.m., the juke box was loaded with retro-favorites, including an upbeat rendition of "Happy Birthday" that was Marie's signature tune.