Since our show opens next week, we thought it would be fun to start meeting the cast and crew of Tom Griffin’s The Boys Next Door! First up is ITOWNY newcomer, Daniel Barone who plays the role of Barry! Daniel Keith Barone is thrilled to be back on stage with ITOWNY in The Boys Next Door. Some of his past theatrical credits include: Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello, D.D.S.), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pharaoh), Every Christmas Story Ever Told and Then Some (Dan), Batman Thrill Spectacular (The Joker), Mary Poppins (Policeman), Wonder (Wonder), Bright Star (Max), Dearly Departed (Ray-Bud), Miracle On 34th Street (Halloran), It’s a Wonderful Life (Harry/Sam). Film/TV credits: Outsiders (WGN-TV), Free Fallers, Before Christmas, The American Side, Let Them Have Their Way, The Romans. In 2004, he completed an on-camera workshop in NYC for the Soap Opera All My Children. Daniel also enjoys Performer Flying. He has been trained by ZFX Flying Effects for theatrical shows. Endless thanks to God, his family & friends for their love and support. Welcome Dan!!! The Boys Next Door runs April 13-16 & 21-21 at St Mary’s High School in Lancaster! Ticket available here:https://m.bpt.me/event/5737324?fbclid=IwAR0cq5u8NZtgphfaB9AiGlv-Z77fr6_9lb6h-sWzeAeGNG9SMYbb9eXjSI4 ! Hope to see you there! #inclusivethesterofwny#itowny#theboysnextdoor#inclusionrevolution Photo credit: Christopher Jarmark

Inclusive Theater of WNY (ITOWNY) Presents Powerful Play by Tom Griffin, The Boys Next Door

Inclusive Theater of WNY, in collaboration with St. Mary’s High School, Lancaster, proudly presents Tom Griffin’s THE BOYS NEXT DOOR.  Performances take place April 13-16 & 21-23, 2023 at St. Mary’s High School in Lancaster.  THE BOYS NEXT DOOR is the story of four men with various disabilities who live in a group home. One has anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder and works as a janitor, another works in a donut shop and has a prized collection of keys, a third cannot read but proudly shows off his library card along with a stack of books he has borrowed, and the fourth, who has schizophrenia, believes that he is a pro golfer.

The play, written in the 1980s, is set in modern day and illuminates issues that are still relevant today in a world of labor shortages, low-paid work, and staffing fatigue that impact the lives of persons with disabilities and those who work with and for them. The play is appropriate for teens and older.

Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these four men, where “little things” sometimes become big ones (and are often quite funny), are moments of great poignancy when, with touching effectiveness, we are reminded that persons with disabilities, like the rest of us, want only to love and laugh and find meaning and purpose in their lives. THE BOYS NEXT DOOR explores friendship, love, and loss in ways universal to us all.

Directed by Matt Boyle and produced by Inclusive Theater of WNY with rights secured through Dramatists Play Service, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR includes veteran WNY actors Bob Bozek as Arnold, Dan Barone as Barry, Dallas Taylor as Lucien, Steven Branch as Norman, Jason Gonser as Jack, Penny Striker as Sheila, Stacy Kowal as “the women,” Bill Baldwin as “the men,” and Tony Shannon as Mr. Klemper.

General admission tickets are priced at $15; Seniors/student tickets are $10. Tickets available online https://m.bpt.me/event/5737324?fbclid=IwAR3PeA-Dg1onOh584P1PoF41YIpBoOP2wpmudW2wtlgzZwTl1kK-D_pzW5I and will also be sold at the box office starting an hour prior to show time.

MISSION OF ITOWNY: Inclusive Theater of WNY (ITOWNY) seeks to reimagine our society through producing original scripts in our ongoing writing group and writing workshops, utilizing existing plays, and through the production and performance of those scripts with actors who are chosen solely on their ability and passion.  Our dream is not only to be a place where diversity is the norm, but also to challenge societal perceptions of difference and begin to create a world in which people are accepted and encouraged to contribute to society, no matter their age, physical condition, race, nationality, or gender.

Are you a writer? Know a writer? Aspire to be a writer? Want to take a stab at writing? The Voices Project seeks submissions from storytellers, actors, poets, and writers (storytellers of ALL kinds!) that focus on our first theme – “Compassion” – and why it is important now more than ever. ALL levels of experience are welcome and encouraged to submit your work.

Stories will be shared online as part of an ongoing and innovative project and may be expanded for future projects (with authors credited and included, of course!). Submissions can be any length – including short pieces or paragraphs. The deadline for “Compassion” submissions is May 1, 2023.

For more information or to email submissions contact thevoicesproject2023@gmail.com.

Happy Writing!

Inclusive Theater of WNY (ITOWNY), in collaboration with St. Mary’s High School, is looking for actors for our July 2023 production – Shakespeare in the Parking Lot – Twelfth Night at St. Mary’s High School in Lancaster, NY.

Auditions will be held on WEDNESDAY, February 15, 2023 from 6pm-9pm and on SUNDAY, February 19, 2023 from 1pm-4pm. We welcome you to prepare a monologue. Sides will also be available at the auditions. Email inclusivetheaterofwny@gmail.com with your preferred time slots (please include two-time options). Please also include a headshot/resume if you have them. Auditions are open to those who are age 13 and up.

If you are unable to audition at either time, please contact us to make alternative arrangements.

The show will take place July 14, 15, 16 at St. Mary’s High School in Lancaster (142 Laverack). The production will take place outdoors (unless there is inclement weather). Rehearsals for the show will begin in mid-May.

Inclusive Theater of WNY is committed to diversity at all levels: on our stage, in our audience, on our staff, and within our leadership. We want our stage to represent the amazing diversity of the Buffalo community. We strongly encourage candidates of diverse backgrounds to participate. ALL are welcome to audition!

The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin has been POSTPONED due to the snowstorm. Join us April 13-16 & April 21-23, 2023 at St. Mary’s High School for the show. See you then!

Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5597370?fbclid=IwAR14fN51LUV2IeFeLODb8AeRrii16VqOG_vS-MDD3MbueReqO4jqSQPSLE4

Next is the darling and versatile, Bekki Sliwa!

Bekki is excited to perform in her first show with Inclusive Theatre of WNY! A graduate from the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Theatre, Bekki has been acting and doing theatre since the age of six. She was last seen at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre as Sarah in God’s Favorite. Some other favorite credits include: Stevie/Steve in the Artie-nominated She Kills Monsters (Subversive Theatre), Andie in Honky (Subversive Theatre), Daisy in Biloxi Blues (Desiderio’s), Annie in King O’ the Moon (Lancaster Regional Players), and Essie in You Can’t Take It With You (The Aurora Players). Come see what it’s Bekki’s paper bag this weekend! Friday and Saturday at 730pm and Sunday at 2pm. St Mary’s High School in Lancaster. Tickets Only $10 at the door! #itowny #inclusivetheaterofwny #inclusion #inclusionrevolution #wnyplaywrights