Stage and TV star John Mahoney has returned to his theatrical roots in Chicago, where he is currently starring in the Steppenwolf Theatre production of The Seafarer. Widely known for his role in the long-running TV show Frasier, Mahoney was asked to join the prestigious Chicago company by John Malkovich back in 1977. Mahoney, who won a Tony award in 1986 for his performance in The House of Blue Leaves, was most recently seen on Broadway last year in the revival of Prelude to a Kiss. Incidentally, The Seafarer is a very popular play around the country this season. The local production, presented by the New Phoenix Theater, co-directed by Joe Natale and Robert Waterhouse, plays its final performances this weekend.

John Mahoney

As part of its annual Plus and Beyond series, Theatre Plus will be presenting Real Fantasy, five new intertwined short plays by Buffalo playwright Beth Geyer. Directed by Victoria Perez, the production will run January 15-31 at the Main Street Cabaret.

Frank Canino’s The Swan Queen & The Radical Faerie will have a reading sponsored by the First Draft Theatre Company in Toronto. The reading will take place on February 23 at 7pm at Café Epicure, 502 Queen Street West. Canino’s The Angelina Project, seen at the Alleyway last season, will have two productions in Texas in 2009.

Coming up next at Road Less Traveled New Play Workshop Readings, Michael Fanelli’s The First Degree, directed by Virginia Brannon, starring Norm Sham and James Wild. The reading will be held on Monday, December 15 at 7:30pm at the Flexible Theater in the Donald Savage Building on the Buffalo State College campus. Admission is free.

Andy Liegl is back in town and his Totally Liegl Productions will be presenting Moliere’s Such Foolish Affected Ladies December 26-31 at the ALT Theatre located in the Great Arrow Building. Directed by Liegl, with live music by the Nepenthe, mask design by Drew Mcabe, and choreography by Christine Cali, the production will star Candice Kogut, James Wild, Charlie Wahl, Brian Cheverie, Jake Albarella, Lindsay Salamone, Kevin Craig, and Pam Umpierrez.

Loraine O’Donnell, Wendy Hall, Kurt Guba, Tim Newell, and Don Gervasi will star in the Jewish Repertory Theater Company production of Hello, Muddah! Hello, Fadduh! which opens February 26th at the Road Less Traveled Theatre. The musical will be directed by Tom Dooney, with musical direction by Theresa Quinn. The company is now performing the brilliant Awake and Sing at the Andrews Theatre through December 28.

Jeff Denman

A new national tour of Rent will kick off January 6, 2009 in Cleveland and will play Shea’s January 13-18. Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Gwen Stewart, who were all in the original Broadway cast, will reprise their roles for the tour. Rent opened on Broadway in 1996 and just closed this past September.

Broadway star Jodi Benson will be appearing in this year’s Holiday Pops with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, December 19-21. Benson was nominated for a Tony award in 1992 for her performance in Crazy for You. She is also the voice of Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid movies.

Buffalo’s Jeff Denman is back on Broadway starring in the musical Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, which is playing a limited engagement at the Marquis through January 4. Happy Holidays!