Published: October 01, 2009 10:07 am      

THEATER: A trio of Niagara County shows

By Phil Dzikiy



About three weeks ago, theater season got its official kickoff in the Buffalo area with Curtain Up! 2009. But this weekend seems like the unofficial starting point for Niagara County’s theater year.

Three local shows open tonight or tomorrow. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s taking the stage.



Three Horton Foote one-acts

The Niagara University Theatre season started last week with “Uncommon Women and Others,” and the department’s busy schedule is wasting no time getting to the next show.

NU Theatre will present three one-act plays by the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Texas-born playwright Horton Foote — “The Dearest of Friends,” “Spring Dance” and “The Midnight Caller.”

In addition to being an accomplished playwright, Foote was also a notable screenwriter. He won two Academy Awards for screenplay writing with 1962’s adapted screenplay of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and 1983’s original screenplay, “Tender Mercies.”

The three selected Foote plays will be directed by Amanda Lytle Sharpe and Maureen Anne Porter. It’s a timely selection for the NU Theatre schedule — Foote died this year at age 93.



“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

The Ghostlight Theatre is bringing a tried and true production to its North Tonawanda stage. An adaptation of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” starts tonight and runs through Oct. 18.

Though everyone may be familiar with the “Sleepy Hollow” story, this production features a twist. While the first act is completely faithful to Irving’s story, the second act asks the question: Whatever happened to Ichabod Crane?

As you may have guessed, the production was adapted and directed by Ghostlight impresario L. Don Swartz.



“The Cemetery Club”

The Western Door Playhouse presents a comedy about a trio of Jewish widows who meet at their husbands’ graves once a month. The production will take the stage at the NACC’s Woodbox Theatre.

The adaptation is directed by Sheri Posey. Filmgoers may remember the 1993 film of the same name — it starred Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis and Diane Ladd.