BTE Open's 2026 with Paul Slade Smith's "Unnecessary Farce" Jan. 29-March 1

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), presents Paul Slade Smith’s “Unnecessary Farce” directed by BTE Ensemble Member Kurt Naebig, Thursday, Jan. 29 – Sunday, March 1. There will be a preview at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. Press opening is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan 30. “All kinds of absurd choices and circumstances throughout add up to such great fun that ‘Unnecessary Farce’ took me back to the feeling of the last ten minutes of the best of “I Love Lucy” episodes – except that we’re in that zone for most of the show,” says Stage and Cinema.

A pair of inept police officers set up a sting operation to trap an embezzling mayor meeting his female accountant…in a pair of matching hotel rooms, what could go wrong? Confusion fills the stage with doors slamming, clothes flying, bagpipes bleating and lots of donuts, all of which adds up to an over-the-top tale of mix-ups… who took the money, who hired a hitman and why does the accountant keep taking her clothes off?! The Post-Standard calls it, "The funniest two hours of theater I have seen in several years;” and City Pulse calls it, “Dazzlingly funny.”

“Unnecessary Farce” received its premiere at the BoarsHead Theater in Lansing, Mich. in 2006, under the direction of Kristine Thatcher, and has had more than 350 productions to date throughout the U.S. and in Great Britain, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland (in a Swiss German translation), Iceland (in Icelandic) and Canada (in both English and French).

Naebig previously directed Slade’s “The Outsider” which opened BTE’s 2024-2025 season. “I had a blast directing ‘The Outsider’ so I am really looking forward to working on this play,” says Naebig. “Paul is an internationally acclaimed playwright with a spot-on sense of what’s funny. Given his early career as an actor and performing with BTE, it’s as if he is already attuned to our wavelength and vice versa before the rehearsal process has begun. The play requires a cast with perfect comedic timing. We definitely have that cast, and BTE has a long history of strong performances of farce. Audiences are in for a wild and crazy ride.”

The cast features Bryan Burke+ * (Agent Frank), Lisa Dawn+ (Karen Brown), Doreen Dawson (Mary Meekly), Rob Koon (Todd), Brad Lawrence (Eric Sheridan), Frank Nall (Mayor Meekly) and Laura Leonardo Ownby+ (Billie Dwyer). Director is Kurt Naebig+*. The design team includes Sarah Lewis (Scenic Design), Aly Greaves Amidei+^ (Costume Design), Garrett Bell (Lighting Design), Christopher Kriz+^ (Composer and Sound Design) and Kimberly Morris (Properties Design). Stage Manager is Caitlin I. Quinn*. Assistant Stage Manager is Chris Yee. Morgan Erickson is Student ASM (BTE Scholar).

Paul Slade Smith (playwright) is a writer and actor based in Brooklyn, N.Y. He is thrilled to have a second work performed by Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, where he appeared in the dual roles of Victor-Emanuel Chandebise and Poche both in the 1993 world premiere and the 1996 revival of “Hotel D’amour,” a musical based on Georges Feydeau’s “A Flea in Her Ear.” As an actor, Smith’s 15 years of Chicago credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Marriott Lincolnshire. His New York credits include the original Broadway casts of “Finding Neverland,” “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory” and the Lincoln Center revival of “My Fair Lady.” Following its Broadway run, Smith starred as Willy Wonka in the Australian premiere of “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.” His national touring credits include “Wicked,” “The Phantom of The Opera” and “My Fair Lady.” Smith is the author of three plays, “Unnecessary Farce,” “The Outsider,” and “Theatre People, or The Angel Next Door,” which have collectively received more than 500 productions.

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble presents “Unnecessary Farce” by Paul Slade Smith, directed by BTE Ensemble member Kurt Naebig at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Jan. 29-March 1. There will be a preview performance 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 29. Press opening is 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $45.

For tickets or more information visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. The Box Office is open noon – 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and two hours prior to performance. Please note: this play contains adult themes and language.

Related Events:

• Pre-show Discussion with the Director: 6:45-7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 in MAC Room 117
• Post-show Discussion with the Director and Cast Members: Friday, Feb. 6

There is an ASL performance at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19.