Theatre
Why, you dirty rotten scoundrels!

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" comes to Shea's Performing Arts Center March 20-25.

The scamming, scheming, double-crossing hit Broadway musical, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," cons its way into Shea's Performing Arts Center March 20-25.

Based on the popular 1988 MGM film, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" centers on two con men living on the French Riviera - the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson, who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money; and a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, who, more humbly, swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health.

After meeting on a train, they unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. So they make a bet: The first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress, triumphs and the other must leave town. What follows are a series of schemes, masquerades and double-crosses in which nothing may ever by exactly what it seems.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, March 20-22; 8 p.m. Friday, March 23; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 25.

Tickets are $24.50-$57.50 and are available through the box office at 650 Main St., Buffalo, through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 852-5000.
March 15
Betty's Summer Vacation
Christopher Durang's comedy, presented
by the Buffalo State College Theater
Department and Casting Hall Productions,
      opens at 8 p.m. Thursday, March
15 and runs through Saturday, March 24
at Buffalo State College's Warren Enters
Theatre, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.
Call 878-3005 or visit www.buffalo
state.edu/theater for more information.
March 16
The Mystery of Irma Vep
Charles Ludlam's hysterical spoof opens
8 p.m. Friday, March 16 and continues
8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
evenings, 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m.
Sunday matinees, 7 p.m. Tuesday and
Sunday evenings, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays,
through Saturday, April 7 at Studio Arena
  Theatre, 710 Main St., Buffalo. Call
856-5650 or visit www.studioareana.org
for more information.
March 16
Night Watch
Lucille Fletcher's play concerning
whether or not Elaine Wheeler sees
dead people in the windows across from
her Manhattan townhouse or is she going
    crazy, opens 8 p.m. Friday, March
16, under the direction of Erik Oehler.
The Aurora Players show continues 8
p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
evenings through Saturday, March 31 at
The Roycroft Pavilion, Hamlin Park,
East Aurora. Call 687-6727 or visit

www.auroraplayers.com for more information.
March 22
Buffalo Quickies
Festival of one-act plays under the direction
    of Joyce Stilson opens 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 22 and continues 7:30
p.m. Thursday evenings, 4 and 8 p.m.
Saturdays through Saturday, April 7 at
Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley,
    Buffalo. Call 852-2600 or visit
www.alleyway.com for more information.
March 22
Gilgamesh
The world's oldest recorded story of
heroism, friendship and the Flood.
Frank LaVoie and Robert Waterhouse
present a new version, inspired by Indonesian
          puppetry at the New Phoenix
Theatre, 95 Johnson Park, Buffalo.
Opens 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22 and
runs 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
    evenings through Saturday, April 14.
Call 853-1334 or visit www.new
phoenixtheatre.com for more information.
Continuing
now-March 17
Based on a Totally True
Story
Main Street Cabaret, One Curtain Up
Alley, Buffalo. 886-9239, www.buf
falobua.org
now-March 17
Embody
New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park,

Buffalo. 853-1334,
www.newphoenixtheatre.com
now-March 18
Brooklyn Boy
Alleyway Theatre, 1 Curtain Up Alley,
Buffalo. 688-4114 x334,
www.jewishrepertor ytheatre.com
now-March 18
Wild Women Don't Get the
Blues
Cabaret in the Square Theatre, 4476
Main St., Snyder. 839-3949,
www.oconnellandcompany.com
now-March 24
1776 - The Musical
The Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St.,
North Tonawanda. 692-2413,
www.niagaratheatre.com
now-March 31
Endgame
Adam Mickiewicz Dramatic Circle &
Library, 612 Fillmore Ave., Buffalo.
847-0839, www.tornspacetheater.com