fri. 3

Ben Franklin’s Apprentice — Long before the Declaration of Independence, Ben Franklin was a scientist who was relentless in his pursuit of knowledge and was not afraid to take risks. However, in the early 1700s, new ideas were considered dangerous and met with extreme skepticism. Theatre of Youth presents Laurie Brooks play starring Robert J. Cook, Beth Donohue, Cassie Gorniewicz, Patrick Cameron, Adam Roth, Roger Keicher and Gerry Maher under the direction of Meg Quinn. Opening night 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St., Buffalo; $. 884-4400 ext. 304, www.theatreofyouth.org

Burtonesque — A Road Less Traveled Productions presents a musical based on the works of director Tim Burton featuring the music of Danny Elfman and Stephen Soundheim starring J.R. Finan, Jenny Kulwicki and Chris Parada under the direction of Drew McCabe, 10:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays Friday, Feb. 3 through Saturday, Feb. 18 at Road Less Traveled Theater in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Center, 639 Main St., Buffalo; $. 629-3069, www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org

mon. 9

Frankenstein — Starry Night Theatre Inc. will present a world premiere adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic classic “Frankenstein.” Opening night 7 p.m. Feb. 9. Performances: 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25; 2 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St. in North Tonawanda; 743-1614, www.starrynighttheatre.com

ongoing: now - Feb. 3

A Chorus Line — The 1975 NY Drama Critics’ Circle, Tony and Theatre World Award-winning, plus the 1976 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays from now through Feb. 3. The closing performance is 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster; $. 683-1776, www.LancOpera.org

now - Feb. 5

The Hostage — The Irish Classical Theatre Company presents Brendan Behan’s drama under the direction of Greg Natale. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday, now through Sunday, Feb. 5 at Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St., Buffalo; $. 853-4282, www.irishclassicaltheatre.com

Hedwig and the Angry Inch — John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s Broadway smash rock musical has been extended under the direction of Michael Walline. Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, now through Saturday, Feb. 5 at ALT Theatre, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Buffalo; $. 868-6847, www.alttheatre.com

now - Feb. 11

The Gin Game — The American Repertory Theatre of WNY presents D.L. Coburn’s comedy under the direction of Michael Lodick. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, now through Saturday, Feb. 11 at Buffalo East, 1410 Main St., Buffalo; $. 634-1102

True West — Sam Shepard’s drama about sibling rivalry under the direction of Beth Gerardi-Wharton. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Saturdays, now through Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Kaleidoscope Theatre at Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle (Main Bldg.), Buffalo; $. 479-1587, www.kaleidoscopetheatreproduc tions.com

now - Feb. 12

Nunsense A-Men! — Dan Goggin’s musical with a twist... Boy, oh, boy there is a change of habit as O’Connell & Company presents this spoof about the misadventures of five nuns trying to manage a fundraiser under the direction of Mary Kate O’Connell. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sunday now through Sunday, Feb. 12 at Erie Community College’s Gleasner Auditorium, ECC North Campus, Williamsville; $. 848-0800, www.oconnellandcompany.com

St. Nicholas — Conor McPherson’s one-man play under the direction of Scott Behrend. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; plus 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at Road Less Traveled Theater in the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St., Buffalo; $. 629-3069, www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org

You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up — Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahns comedy presented by Albert Nocciolino and Shea’s, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 & 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 & 6 p.m. Sundays at Shea’s Smith Theatre, 660 Main St., Buffalo; $. 847-0850, www.sheas.org

now - Feb. 25

A Raisin in the Sun — The Subversive Theatre Collective performs Lorraine Hansberry’s civil rights-era classic based on a African-American family’s experiences in the Washington Park subdivision of Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, now through Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave. - 3rd Floor, Buffalo; $. 408-0499, www.subversivetheatre.org

now - March 4

Avenue Q — A show about trying to make it in NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account under the direction of Doug Weyand. Adults only. Performances: 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 4 & 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday now through Sunday, March 4 at the MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst; $. 839-8540, www.musicalfare.com