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Stagefright

The fabulous Julianna Margulies (pictured left), who is currently enjoying great success in her TV show The Good Wife, is on the lookout for a theater project. She gets along marvelously well with her co-star, Buffalonian Christine Baranski. Margulies hasn’t been on stage since she made her Broadway debut in 2006 in the play Festen. Two-time Tony Award winner Baranski hasn’t been on Broadway since 2008 when she starred in the revival of the British farce Boeing Boeing. Good Wife co-stars Alan Cumming and Nathan Lane are both now on Broadway starring, respectively, in Macbeth and The Nance.

And speaking of famous Buffalonians, Michele Ragusa will return to the Kleinhans stage on April 27 to appear in Cole Porter’s classic Kiss Me Kate. Ragusa originated the part of nightclub singer Corinna in the delightful musical Adrift in Macao, a fine parody of film noir movies written by none other than Christopher Durang. After a couple of regional stops, the musical played New York in 2007 and will finally make its Buffalo premiere as part of MusicalFare’s 2013-14 season.

MusicalFare will conclude its current season with the world premiere musical Talk to Me Now (July 10-August 17). Conceived and written by Randall Kramer and Theresa Quinn, the musical features the songs of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, and other contemporary songwriters. With direction by Kramer and music direction by Quinn, the musical will star Phil Farugia, Robert Insana, John Kaczorowski, and Renee Landrigan.

Congratulations to Eclectic Improv Company (Peter Cumbo, Don Gervasi, John Kreuzer, and Todd Benzin) on celebrating its 15th anniversary. There will be a special show April 4 at 8pm at Helium Comedy Club in the Cobblestone District.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley opens on May 10 at Theatre of Youth, for a run through June 2. Directed and choreographed by Michael Walline, the musical will star Beth Donohue, Robert Insana, Kerrykate Abel, Christopher Quinn, and Michael Zito.

Bloody Sunday and Then Monday is a new play reading series presented by Albert Invincible Theatre and Talk Back Theatre at Buffalo East on Main St. near Utica. The series kicks off with Frank Canino’s 16671 on Sunday, April 14 at 4pm, and then on Monday, April 15 at 7pm. The cast will feature Kathleen Betsko Yale, Hugh Davis, Adam Rath, David Hayes, and Jon Elston. Admission is free.

Oedipus Rex: A Fabulous Travesty in One Act!, a world premiere comedic adaptation of the Greek tragedy by Buffalo playwright Michael O’Donohoe, will be presented by Brazen-Faced Varlets May 2-18 at Rust Belt Books. Directed by Lara D. Haberberger, the production will star Kelly M. Beuth as Oedipus, Brittany Kucala as Jocasta, Mike Beiter as Kreon, and a Greek chorus consisting of Theresa DiMuro Wilber, Diane McNamara, and Jenny Gembka.

The sci-fi extravaganza, Blood on the Cat’s Neck by R. W. Fassbinder, will be up next at Torn Space, directed by Dan Shanahan and starring Jessica Wegrzyn as Phoebe Zeitgeist, the heroine of the 1960s comic strip. The production runs April 25-May 19 and also stars Angie Shriner, Diane Gaidry, Becky Globus Christopher Standart, Johnny Toohill, Andy Kottler, James Wilde, Ivan Rodriguez, and Bonnie Jean Taylor.

Katie White directs the next offering at Buffalo Laboratory Theatre, John Cariani’s Almost, Maine a series of nine absurdist vignettes about love. Opening April 12, the production stars Jacob Kahn, John Kaczarowski, Tara Kaczarowski, Kelsey Mogenson, Mary Ryan, and Shawn William Smith.

The super-fabulous actress/director Judith Ivey (pictured below) was in town last week to attend a performance of Clarence Darrow at Subversive Theatre, which starred her marvelously talented brother James Ivey as the iconic defense attorney. Mr. Ivey is a member of the theater faculty at SUNY Fredonia. Ms. Ivey is a favorite for a Tony nomination this year for her performance in The Heiress.