On the Boards is presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company. To be considered for On the Boards, submissions must be received by 5pm on Wednesday one week prior to publication. Send notice VIA e-mail to: ontheboards@artvoice.com.

OPENING:

Opening Shots: Legally Blonde at Shea's Performing Arts Center Albert Nocciolino, Shea's presenter and one of the producers of Legally Blonde, with Buffalo's own Adam Zelasko, who plays Nikos and Padamadan in the tour, with remarkable Becky Gulsvig, who stars as Elle Woods. D.B. Bonds, who plays Emmett Forrest, with Shea's corporate and group sales specialist Mary Oshei, and Ken Land, who plays nasty Professor Callahan.

IT IS NO DESERT, one-man show by Dan Stroeh, presented by Niagara University Theatre. Oct 17 & 18 at 7:30. The Church in Lewiston, 415 Plain St., Lewiston (286-8685).

THE MOUSETRAP, murder mystery by Agatha Christie presented by the Mystery Company, directed by Jerry S. Kelly, starring Katherine Ventresca, Irma Lewis, Ed Kowalczewski, Keith Fronczak, Suzie Marranca, Robert Wagner, Caryn Hufford, Marc Lippman, Andrea Dudziak. Oct 16-26, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2, plus Oct 23 at 2. Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413).

TWELFTH NIGHT, comedy by Shakespeare presented by UB Department of Theatre and Dance, directed by Robert Knopf. Oct 16-19, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2. Drama Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, Amherst (645-ARTS).

ONGOING:

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN by Barbara Field, adapted from the novels by Gertrude Chandler Warner, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Meg Quinn, starring Ryan Berkun, Arlene Clement, Max Marko, Tim Newell, Kaila-Rose Proulx, Bill Schmidt, Linda Stein, Madeline Williams. Through Oct 26, Sat & Sun at 2. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884-4400).

DOUBT, drama by John Patrick Shanley presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Javier Bustillos, starring Lisa Ludwig, Louis Colaiacovo, Katie White, Arianna Boykins. Through Oct 25, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Oct 12 at 7. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (886-9239).

IN DE BEGINNIN’, musical by Oscar Brown Junior presented by Ujima Company, directed by Lorna C. Hill, starring Beverly Dove, Rodney Appleby, Philip Knoerzer, Bradd Marquis, Davida Tolbert, Shanntina Moore. Through Nov 16, Thu-Fri at 8, Sun at 6. TheaterLoft, 545 Elmwood Ave. (883-0380).

LEGALLY BLONDE, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Al Nocciolino. Through Oct 19, Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2 & 7. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (852-5000).

NO CHILD, one-woman show by Nilaja Sun, presented by Theatre Plus, directed by Kim Piazza, starring Victoria Perez. Through Oct 25, Thu-Sat at 8. Main Street Cabaret, 625 Main St. (852-2600)

CLOSING:

BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, musical by Alan Janes and Rob Bettinson, directed by Lisa Ludwig, starring Joe Wiens, Todd Benzin, Philip Farugia, Paschal Frisina III, Greg Gjurich, Billy Horn, Robert “Ernie” Insana, Adrienne Lewis, Debbie Pappas, Lia Sumerano. Held over through Oct 19, Wed at 7, Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540).

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN by Martin McDonagh, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Gregory Fletcher. Through Oct 19. The Church in Lewiston, 415 Plain St., Lewiston (286-8685)

A NIGHT OF DARK INTENT, world premiere thriller by L. Don Swartz, starring Mollie McDermott, Joann Mis, Colleen Neumann, Sharon Priest, Julie Senko, Vanessa Stipkovits, Justine Swartz, Joy Ann Wrona. Through Oct 19 Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614).

OVER THE TAVERN, comedy by Tom Dudzick, presented by Western Door Playhouse, directed by Robert Priest. Through Oct 19, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. Woodbox Theater in the NACC, 1201 Pine at Portage, Niagara Falls (297 5910).

OVER THE TAVERN, comedy by Tom Dudzick presented by Lancaster Regional Players, directed by David Hall, starring June Caputi, Adam Lukasik,Greg Reggie, Eileen Stevic, Nick Sitarski, Lauren Messina, Ben Alessi. Through Oct 19, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776).

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

ECLECTIC BOOGALOO, improvisational comedy presented by Eclectic Improv Company. Oct 25 at 8. Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main St. (847-1410).

GOD’S FAVORITE, comedy by Neil Simon, dinner starring John Buscaglia, John Kreuzer, Debra Spragge, Frank Campofelice, Andy and Jennifer Toomey Starr, Dolores Mendolia. Through Nov 9, Thu & Sat dinner at 6, show at 8; Sun dinner at 5, show at 7. Desiderio’s Restaurant, 5827 Broadway, Lancaster (683-7767).

MURDER SQUARED, reading of a play by Gary Earl Ross, directed by Doug Zschiegner, part of Road Less Traveled Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop. Oct 20 at 7:30. The Flexible Theatre, Donald Savage Theatre Building, Buffalo State College (629-3069).

OH MY GOD CABARET!, evening of songs performed by Adam Zelasko and members of the cast of the touring production of Legally Blonde to benefit AIDS Community Services. Oct 17 at 11 p.m. Shea’s Smith Theatre, 660 Main St.

STRANGE CABARET, variety show presented by the ALT Performance Group, written and directed by David Butler and Drew McCabe, starring Erin Bahn, David Butler, Candice Kogut, Andy Liegl, Amy Taravella, James Wild. Oct 17-Nov 2, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 7. ALT Theater, 255, Great Arrow Dr.

UPCOMING:

AREA, written and directed by Dan Shanahan, presented by Torn Space. Oct 24-Nov 15, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Nov 16 at 8. Adam Mickiewicz Dramatic Circle (812-5733).

THE CAVALCADERS by Billy Roche, presented by the Irish Classical Theater Company, directed by Derek Campbell. Oct 24-Nov 23, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC).

LAUGHING WILD, comedy by Christopher Durang, starring Bethany Sparacio and Nick Dostal. Oct 24-26, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St. (885-9535).

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, musical by Menken and Ashman presented by BGD Productions, directed by Bret Runyon, starring Matt Mooney, Susan Breese, Casey Denton, Chris Andreanna, Zoe Scruggs, Shanel Chavers, Whitney Walker. Oct 24-Nov 2, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776).

MARAT/SADE by Peter Weiss, presented by SUNY Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance, directed by James Ivey. Oct 24-Nov 1,Thu-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Bartlett Theatre, Rockefeller Arts Center, SUNY Fredonia, 280 Central Ave., Fredonia (1-866-441-4928).

METAMORPHOSIS, staged reading of Kafka’s novella adapted by Steven Berkoff, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Steve Vaughan. Oct 23-26, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. The Castelani Art Museum, Niagara University campus (286-8685).

ON THE TOWN, classic Broadway musical presented by UB Department of Theatre & Dance, directed by Nathan Matthews. Oct 22-26, Wed-Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2. Black Box Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, Amherst (645-ARTS).

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY by Edgar Lee Masters, presented byTheatre in the Mist. Oct 24-26, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Stella Niagara Theater, corner of Pletcher and Lower River Roads, Lewiston. (1-877-856-0694).

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, drama by Mitch Albion and Jeffrey Hatcher presented by the Niagara Regional Theater Guild, directed by Les Bailey, starring Doug Smith, Timothy Voit. Oct 24-Nov 1, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Oct 26 at 3. Cardinal O’Hara Performing Arts Center, 39 O’Hara Rd., Tonawanda (284-6358).