May Is turning out to be a sensational month for theatre! Many theatres’ seasons are coming to a close and it seems that everyone wanted to make sure to end their season with a bang. And it looks like they did! Here’s a rundown for the month:

Shows that opened in April and continue through May include two irreverent musical spoofs: at the Alleyway Theatre KRAGTAR: THE AMERICAN MONSTER MUSICAL closes on May 13th. KRAGTAR…is about two scientists (who are former lovers) and their attempt to save the world from a creature unlike any other. (Think Godzilla as a starting point…) At MusicalFare, their critically acclaimed and selling out production of DISASTER! closes on May 14th. MusicalFare even got a social media shout out about the production from DISASTER co-author and Sirius Radio Host, the A-mah-zing Seth Rudetsky! Closing on May 7th is the national tour of SIX on the mainstage at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. May 14th features the final performance of NETWORK at The Kavinoky Theatre. NETWORK is a play based on the 1976 movie and featured Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) in its 2018 Broadway debut. Cranston won the 2019 Tony for his performance. At the Jewish repertory Theatre, Neil Simon’s BAREFOOT IN THE PARK has its concluding performance on May 21st.

Openings in May include the MusicalFare Theatre production of KINKY BOOTS at Shea’s 710 Theatre on May 4th. KINKY BOOTS premiered on Broadway in 2013 and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It features a musical score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein with both authors winning Tony Awards for their work on KINKY BOOTS. The following night, May 5th, SUNSET BOULEVARD at O’Connell & Company hits the boards. SUNSET BOULEVARD is based on the 1950 Billy Wilder film. The final opening in May is on the 19th with the Second Generation production of Jonathna Larson’s (“Rent”) TICK, TICK… BOOM! At Shea’s Smith Theatre. TICK, TICK…BOOM! had a wonderful streaming production on Netflix in 2021.

Finally, I want to give you a heads up on an unusual production that is attracting a lot of attention: DRUNK PETER PAN has been playing in March and April at Buffalo Riverworks to very enthusiastic crowds. (Please note: the production is attended for audiences 21 and over.) While they haven’t announced any new dates yet, I will keep you updated in future columns.

Go see some theatre!
Randall Kramer is the Artistic and Executive Director of MusicalFare Theatre, a Past President of the Boards of Arts Services Initiative and the Theatre Alliance of Buffalo, and a steering committee member of the Greater Buffalo Cultural Alliance.