| In
1995, 95 Johnson Park was a boarded-up, former soup kitchen with a vaudeville
past. But, like the mythological bird, it has risen from the ashes. Within minutes
of asking for the doors to be pried open to the sunlight, Rick resolved to sell
his Allentown home to purchase the building. Ever
since, in our unique, historic home (and on land deeded by Ebenezer Johnson, Buffalo's
first mayor), we've been offering Buffalo's only consistent blend of inter-disciplinary,
alternative theatre, ranging from free programs in Johnson Park to the best from
off-Broadway or the London fringe to original work developed by Buffalo's emerging
artists. At the heart of our mission is collaboration: it begins in the chemistry
between actors and other artists, and it continues in the collaborative spirit
of audience-and-performance. We're
therefore proud that Cathy Skora's Folkloric Dance Company continues their residence
in the building, as does Kurt Schneiderman's experimental group, Subversive Theatre
. All this in addition to a full calendar of classes and visiting artists. 2008-2009
Season  DUSTY
SPRINGFIELD... WITH YOU
September 17 - October 11
(Press
Previews September 17&18; Opens September 19 for CURTAIN UP! 2008)
STARRING
LORRAINE O'DONNELL
Devised
and directed by RICHARD LAMBERT Buffalo's
favorite Lorraine O'Donnell stars as the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul in
the 90 minute, re-imagined version of the singer's iconic life, told through the
music that made her famous.
A must see-event!
 |  THE
SEAFARER
November
13 - December 13
No
Performance Thanksgiving Day November 27, 2008
By
Conor McPherson
Directed
by Robert Waterhouse and featuring Richard Lambert Fresh
from London's Royal National Theatre (and a multi-Tony-nominated run on Broadway)
comes THE SEAFARER by Conor McPherson. A chilling tale of buried secrets, this
incisively funny drama centers on a group of hard-drinking Irishmen who gather
for a game of cards on Christmas Eve, and find a Joker in their midst.
|  THE
BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
February
12 - March 7 2009
By
Martin McDonagh
With
Betsy Bittar and Mary Loftus From
the author of THE PILLOWMAN and the hit film IN BRUGES, this triple award-winning,
startling portrait of a middle-aged virgin battling her aging mother for a chance
for love is alternately poignant, shocking, and darkly funny.
|  BLACKBIRD
April
2 - April 25
By
David Harrower
Directed
by Kelli Bocock-Natale & Starring Richard Lambert A
middle-aged man is reunited with his lover who was aged only 12 during their affair.
This beautifully written, poetic play is a hauntingly vivid portrait of a taboo
relationship that challenges and tests our preconceptions again and again.
|  FREUD
AND THE SANDMAN
May 7 - May 30
Based
on "The Sandman" by E.T.A. Hoffman and "The Uncanny" by Sigmund
Freud
Directed
and devised by Robert Waterhouse
Music
by Paul Kozlowski As
World War 1 draws to a close, Sigmund Freud returns to a hidden manuscript that
attempts to reason with the spells cast by a childhood tale that won't relinquish
its uncanny secrets.
|  ERIC
BENTLEY NEW PLAY & WORKSHOP SERIES
June 11 - June 27
The
Eric Bentley contest is a national search for new works that explore the boundaries
of gender, identity, and/or theatricality. Previous winners have included
EMBODY by Lauren Gunderson and ORGANIC MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIR AND PITCHER by Tim
McPeek.
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