William Mutimer, head of Northampton Community College's Theatre Department, has announced the department's plans for its next production of the 22-23 school year season. David Mamet's dark comedy American Buffalo, in its Lehigh Valley premiere, will be presented live in person in the college's Norman R. Roberts Lab Theatre.
Directed by Mutimer, the show will be presented on Thursday, Jan. 26 - Saturday, Jan. 28 and on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. It is recommended for mature audiences.
In a Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to rob a man of his coin collection, the showpiece of which is a valuable "Buffalo nickel." These high-minded grifters fancy themselves businessmen pursuing legitimate free enterprise. But Donny, the oafish junk shop owner, Bobby, a young junkie Donny has taken under his wing, and "Teach," a violently paranoid braggart, are merely pawns caught up in their own game of last-chance, dead-end, empty pipe dreams.
American Buffalo premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York City on February 16, 1977. Directed by Ulu Grosbard, the production featured Robert Duvall, Kenneth McMillan and John Savage. The play returned to Broadway three times: A 1983 revival starred Al Pacino, and a 2008 revival starred John Leguizamo. In March 2022, a new production of American Buffalo opened at Circle in the Square Theatre, directed by Neil Pepe and starring Laurence Fishburn, Sam Rockwell and Darren Criss.
The cast includes Jason Ferguson as Donny, Andy Van Antwerp as Bobby, and Max Wetherhold as Teach. All three are students at NCC.
Tickets are on sale at ncctix.org or by calling the Box Office at 484-484-3412. Those with a valid NCC ID can attend at no charge with a donation of a non-perishable food item for NCC's HOPE Food Pantry for students. Tickets for all others are $5 each. Seating is general admission. For more information, visit ncctix.org.