Rainy season

Studio Arena Theatre's "Three Days of Rain" features Eric Martin Brown, Sara Surrey and Michael Laurence.

Studio Arena Theatre's Artistic Director Kathleen Gaffney makes her directorial debut in the contemporary drama "Three Days of Rain," on stage Friday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 12, at Studio Arena Theatre.

"Three Days of Rain" is a personal favorite," said Gaffney. "How fortunate to make my directing debut here with a show that is full of sharp and stinging language, arresting images and deep insight. It's no surprise that the play was short listed for the Pulitzer Prize."

"Three Days of Rain" is a complex story spanning two generations, starting in the first act with Walker, his sister Nan and their childhood friend, Pip, as they meet to divide the legacy of their late fathers who were partners in a renowned architecture firm. As these three thirty-somethings grapple with their own lives, they search for clues to unravel the mystery of what transpired between their fathers and the woman in their lives, decades before. Then the story dramatically shifts to 35 years earlier, with the same three actors portraying the previous generation.

Written by Richard Greenberg, the production of "Three Days of Rain" will be the first at a regional theatre since the show was staged on Broadway starring Julia Roberts in the spring of 2006. Written in 1997, "Three Days of Rain" won the L.A. Drama Critics Award, was a runner up for the Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for the Olivier, Drama Desk and Hull-Warriner awards.

Preview performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, and Saturday, Oct. 21; 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25; and 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26.

Opening night is at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Regular performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays at 710 Main St., Buffalo. Tickets are $26-$40 for preview shows and $33-$54 for regular shows, and are available by calling 856-5650 or 1-800-77STAGE or the box office.