THEATRE
'Tick, Tick...Boom!'

MusicalFare Theatre's "Tick, Tick... Boom!" features Louis Colaiacovo, Marc Sacco and Michele Marie Roberts. Photo by Chris Cavanagh

MusicalFare Theatre presents Jonathan Larson's autobiographical look at the courage it takes to follow your dreams when "Tick, Tick...Boom!" explodes Feb. 28-April 1.

Set in 1990, the production is filled with appealing melodies and a unique and upbeat blend of pop and musical theatre styles. Audiences will relate to this uplifting tale of holding onto your dreams through life's most difficult challenges. Larson is the late creator of the popular musical " Rent."

The regional premier of "Tick, Tick...Boom!" is directed by Randall Kramer and features Louis Colaiacovo, Michele Marie Roberts and Marc Sacco. Choreography is by Kathy Weese and Michael G. Hake is the musical director.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays at MusicalFare Theatre at Daemen College, 4380 Main St., Amherst. Meet-the-cast talkbacks take place after Wednesday performances except Feb. 28.

Mary Craig stars in "Wild Women Don't Get the Blues," Feb. 22-March 18 at the Cabaret in the Square Theatre. The musical features the songs of well-known vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith and others.

Tickets are $28 for Wednesday, Thursday, 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday performances, and $32 for Friday and Saturday nights, and are available by calling 839-8540. Openings Feb. 22

Brooklyn Boy

Donald Margulies' rich, funny and deeply moving play presented by the Jewish Repertory Theatre under the direction of Scott Behrend. Play concerns a novelist who's finally hit the big time with a best-selling book primed for a Hollywood adaptation. But when his father's health brings him back to Brooklyn, he is forced to reconcile the boy he was with the successful man he has become. Opens 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 and runs 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sunday, March 18 at Alleyway Theatre, 1 Curtain Up Alley, Buffalo. Call 688-4114, x334, or visit www.jewishrepertorytheatre. com for more information.

Tools Errand

Stephen McKinley Henderson and The Buffalo Laboratory Theatre production of Taylor Doherty's play presented by Hilbert College. Show opens 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 and runs through 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4 at the William E. Swan Auditorium, 5200 South Park Ave., Hamburg. Call 926-8856 or visit www.buffalotheatre.org for more information.

Feb. 23 Based on a Totally True Story

Buffalo United Artists present Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's romantic gay comedy directed by Chris Kelley about Ethan Keene, a young playwright and comic book writer on the verge of breaking through. The play opens 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 and continues at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Saturday, March 17 at the Main Street Cabaret, One Curtain Up Alley, Buffalo. Call 886-9239 or visit www.buffalobua.org for more information. March 1

As You Like It

William Shakespeare's romantic comedy under the direction of Steve Vaughn, beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1 at Niagara University's Leary Theatre, Clet Hall. The show runs through Sunday, March 11. Call 286-8622 or visit www./www.niagara.edu for more information.

The Exonerated

Controversial award-winning play presented by the Department of Theatre & Dance at the University at Buffalo. Opens 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1 and runs 8 p.m. Thursday Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Sunday, March 4 at the Black Box Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, UB north campus, Amherst. Call 645-2787 or visit www.ubcfa.org for more information.

Embody

Lauren Gunderson's play stars Robert Tucker, Kara Gabrille McKenney, Michael Votta, Chris Standart and John F. Kennedy, under the direction of Matthew LaChiusa at the New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park, Buffalo. Through March 17. Call 853-1334 or visit www.newphoenixtheatre.com for more information.

Continuing now-Feb. 24

Dark of the Moon

The Amherst Players at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Snyder. 866-2173

now-Feb. 25

Mule Bone

Paul Robeson Theatre, 350 Masten Ave., Buffalo. Call 884-2013 or visit www2.pcom.net/aacc for more information.

now-Feb. 25 Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage

Black Box Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, UB north campus, Amherst. Call 645-2787 or visit www.ubcfa.org for more information.

now-Feb. 25

The Odd Couple

Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster. 683-1776, www.lancoper a.org

now-March 4

Marvin's Room

Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda. 743-1614, www.starr ynighttheatre.com

now-March 4

Of Mice and Men

Studio Arena Theatre, 710 Main St., Buffalo. 856-5650, www. studioareana. org

now-March 11

Late Nite Catechism

Shea's Smith Theatre, 660 Main St., Buffalo. 847-1410, www. sheas. org

now-March 18 Wild Women Don't Get the Blues

O'Connell & Company production at Cabaret in the Square Theatre, 4476 Main St., Williamsville. 839-3949, www.oconnellandcompany.com

Special Presentations Diva by Diva: A Celebration of Women

Presented by O'Connell & Company, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Cabaret in the Square Theatre, 4476 Main St., Snyder; $20. 839-3949, www.cabaretinthesquare.com Some wild women

Join O'Connell & Company in celebrating Black history, women's history and some legendary music-makers when "Wild Women Don't Get The Blues" is on stage Feb. 22-March 18 at The Cabaret in the Square Theatre, Snyder.

"Wild Women Don't Get the Blues" features Mary Craig with pianist and musical director Dan Schroeder. It features the songs of Ida Cox, Ella Fitzgerald, Lucille Hegamin, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Alberta Hunter, Etta James, Eartha Kitt, Carmen McRae, Ma Rainey, Nina Simone, Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, KoKo Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, Sophie Tucker, Sarah Vaughan, Sippie Wallace, Dinah Washington and Ethel Waters. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays at 4476 Main St., at Harlem Road, Snyder Square, Snyder. Tickets are $20 for Thursdays and Sundays, and $25 for Fridays and Saturdays, and are available by calling 839-3949 or at www.OConnellandCompany.com.