Year in and year out, some of the most celebrated cultural events in Buffalo take place in the city's theaters. A spectrum of theater and performing arts has steadily grown to be the touchstone of Buffalo's thriving arts and entertainment community. On any given weekend, there are comedies, dramas, musicals, multi-media and interactive theatrical offerings available to take audiences from the ordinaries of daily life to the extraordinary world of theater.
The biggest and brightest productions take place downtown, in the city's flourishing theater district. Once home to a dozen grand movie palaces, downtown now features smaller, intimate venues, as well some larger houses.
Shea's Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., is the city's flagship theater, hosting national touring companies of Broadway musicals as well as its annual film series. In its heyday, Shea's was one of the northeast's most popular vaudeville houses, and was later a large screen movie house. Famous performers like Bob Hope and George Burns were regulars at the historic theater when it opened in 1926.
Next door to Shea's, Studio Arena Theater, 710 Main St., is also known for its famous slate of stars. The only professional regional theater in Buffalo, the stage at Studio continually produces the most heralded plays by national and Buffalo-born playwrights. Film and stage stars like Glenn Close, John Goodman, Betty Buckley and Kelsey Grammer have all appeared onstage at Studio.
The Irish Classical Theatre, across the street at 625 Main St., continually produces the best and most famous Irish and American plays. Under the artistic direction of Vincent O'Neill, chair of UB's department of theater and dance, the company's new Andrews Theater is yet another first-class venue in the heart of downtown.
A few blocks down from Main Street, the Kavinoky Theater, located on the D'Youville College campus at 320 Porter Ave., presents the classics. Offering a varied season of musicals, classic comedies and chilling dramas, the Kavinoky is known for its Victorian-style architecture and charm.
No longer just for plazas and malls, Amherst has built itself as a venerable extension to downtown's popular theater. While the city's historic venues tend to draw the biggest audiences for its bigger budget-productions, Amherst's theater is more intimate and personal.
The Musicalfare Theater, 4380 Main St., is one of only a few all-musical professional companies in the Buffalo-Niagara region. The theater's growth from a traveling troupe in the early 1990s, to its current permanent home on the Daemen College campus has contributed greatly to the suburban theater and business communities. The majority of their season is comprised of Western New York and world premieres.
Next door, Cabaret-in-the-Square, located in the Snyder Square at 4476 Main St., is home to O'Connell & Company, a relatively new cabaret and musical revue company. The theater also presents the city's longest-running theatrical production celebrating women, "Diva by Diva."
UB's own Center for the Arts, directly next to Alumni Arena on the North Campus, is not only one of the largest performing arts complexes on the East Coast, but is also home to UB's art, theater & dance, and media study departments. The 1,774-seat Mainstage Theater regularly hosts the nation's most celebrated musicians and dance companies, while the 400-seat Drama Theater and versatile Black Box Theater both feature productions from the department of theater and dance. The Atrium, also available to groups for rent, is another great space in this contemporary arts center.
The great thing about getting around in Buffalo is that most venues are centrally located, making them easy to find. Both the city and suburban theater districts are mostly on Main Street, making them easily accessible by either the Metro subway or bus. Students on the North Campus can take the bus to the South Campus rail station and then connect to either the subway or a Metro bus.
Getting to the theater is one task, but gaining admission is another. Almost every theater in Western New York offers a reduced student rate. Downtown theaters like Shea's and Studio Arena offer same-day student rush tickets, and prices range from $10 to $20. From time to time, there are also special student or discounted rates on theater Web sites or at www.ticketmaster.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
