UB to Present Western New York Premiere of Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo's Department of Theatre and Dance will present a fully mounted student production of Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party," Nov. 14-17 and Nov. 21-24 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. The production is sponsored by WBFO-FM.

Lippa's widely acclaimed musical, "The Wild Party" was one of two productions based on the epic 1920s poem by the same name by Joseph Moncure March that opened in New York during the 2000 season. UB's production will be the first and only non-equity production seen this year as Lippa prepares to remount the show in New York in an upcoming season. This Western New York premiere will be one of only five productions nationally.

Lippa is the author of book, music and lyrics for "The Wild Party," winner of this season's Outer Circle Critics Award for "Most Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical." Lippa also won a Drama Desk award for Outstanding Music for "The Wild Party," which was produced by The Manhattan Theater Club. Lippa's other works include three new songs for the recent Broadway revival of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and the Off-Broadway hit "john & jen."

"The Wild Party will be directed and choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel-Formato with musical direction by Michael Hake, and will feature a cast of UB Department of Theatre and Dance musical-theater majors.

Performance will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets for are $12 for the general public and $5 for UB students and seniors. Tickets are available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS or visit the Web site at http://www.arts.buffalo.edu. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.