performing-arts - The Spectrum

Sophomore dance major Kelsey Wegman practices her craft alone in her own studio.

ARTS

Dance students find unique ways to practice their craft in quarantine

By ANASTASIA WILDS | May 8, 2020

Kelsey Wegman used to never want to share the stage. Like most dancers, she dreamed of big, dramatic solo numbers, dancing center stage, spotlight following her every move. But now the sophomore dance major wants nothing more than to pirouette next to her peers. Her private studio space is lonely, and watching her friends dance from hundreds of miles away during Zoom classes just isn’t the same.Dance students find unique ways to practice their craft in quarantine

The three blue men playing with one of their signature instruments, the drumbone.

ARTS

Bringing the blue to Buffalo

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Mar. 9, 2020

Buffalonians got a taste of absurdity Saturday night when three blue men stormed the stage at Shea’s. The Blue Man Group performed at Shea’s Buffalo for its “Speechless Tour” as the four performers -- Meridian, Mike Brown, Steven Wendt and Adam Zuick -- showed audience members why the performance art company has remained popular ever since it was first started in 1987.

Caiaphas (Alvin Crawford), Annas (Tyce Green) and other priests singing about their plot to kill Jesus Christ.

ARTS

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ brings 50th anniversary tour to Shea’s

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Feb. 13, 2020

When “Jesus Christ Superstar” debuted in the ‘70s, it shocked audiences with its loud rock music, modern themes and non-traditional biblical interpretations. While rock is no longer the radical genre it once was, the latest U.S. tour has updated the revolutionary musical with aspects such as hip-hop choreography to help keep the show relatable for new generations.

The Choir of Gonville & Caius College performed in the Slee Visiting Artist Series, last semester.

ARTS

What to expect at Slee Hall this semester

By ALEX WHETHAM | Feb. 5, 2020

In a musical time where hip-hop and pop dominate arena concerts and punk shows run underground venues, it feels like classical music is underrepresented in the performance scene. But it isn’t hard to find it at UB.

Two Australian magicians, Mike Tyler and Christopher Wayne, star in the world-renowned magic show, ‘The Naked Magicians.’

ARTS

‘The Naked Magicians’ can charm audiences with or without clothes

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Feb. 2, 2020

In most magic shows, magicians will make something seemingly disappear. While that “something” usually doesn’t include their own clothing, two Australian magicians have created a world-renowned show that features magic without pants.

Ballet dancers performing as the Flowers.

ARTS

'The Nutcracker' kicks off holiday season with charm

By ANASTASIA WILDS and ISABELLA FORTUNATO | Dec. 4, 2019

Dancing sweets, giant mice and a Nutcracker came to life –– literally –– and contributed to a magical staple of the holiday season at Shea’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday and Sunday. Locals were able to experience this popular story of “The Nutcracker” performed live in its 11th year in Buffalo, with mystical charm and astute accuracy by some of the best visual and performance artists in the area.

Zodiaque dancers performing to the piece "Kyrie Eleison."

ARTS

Dance transcends beyond the stage

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Oct. 24, 2019

Zodiaque Dance Company doesn’t always have to be on stage to entice its crowds. During this weekend’s performances, Zodiaque won over audiences with “As Within, So Without,” a pre-recorded, on-stage visual display.

Actors and actresses rehearse their part in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie on Monday. The rehearsal is in preparation for the opening show in the CFA Black Box Theatre on Wednesday.

ARTS

1930s Scotland in the Black Box Theatre

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Oct. 24, 2019

You may have heard a few Scottish accents if you passed by the Black Box Theatre this week. But they weren’t all real.

Dr. Seuss characters Sally, Conrad, Thing 1, Thing 2 and The Cat in the Hat on stage.

ARTS

Students perform first children’s theater production at UB

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 29, 2019

Coloring pages and Dr. Seuss books covered tables outside of the Katharine Cornell Theatre Friday, as children and families waited in line to see the first-ever UB-led performance from an iconic cat. UB students performed a theater production of Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” at the theater on Sept. 27-28 as part of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s annual Student Directed Series. The series gives students the opportunity to produce and direct a show on their own and this production was the first-ever children’s theater production at UB, based on the 1957 children’s book of the same name by Dr. Seuss.

ARTS

What would the odd say: A conversation with Guerilla Toss’ Kassie Carlson

By ALEX WHETHAM | Sep. 22, 2019

A backdrop of old VHS tapes and psychedelic visuals set the stage as wild synth patterns clash with violins. NYC band Guerilla Toss has covered everything from ear-splitting punk to ‘80s synthpop. Its gradual evolution has created a satisfying career arc, but one consistent appeal of the group is vocalist Kassie Carlson. Her singing ranges from high-pitched screams to melodic anthem cries, but she always remains the heart and soul of the band’s personality.

Stills from the production of Hairspray now showing at The Kavinoky Theatre.

ARTS

“Hairspray” brings the ‘60s back to Buffalo

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 18, 2019

Buffalo’s production of “Hairspray” brings something to the musical that professional performances don’t typically see. A student-filled cast. “Hairspray,” despite the uncharacteristically young team, radiated an exuberant energy between the cast and audience that resonated throughout the house.

ARTS

UB’s fall musical leads share their audition experiences

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 8, 2019

While audiences won’t see the finished product until later this fall, performers in UB’s upcoming musical have been hard at work since the beginning of May. Even though the actors are students, they receive the same treatment as professionals, and are expected to work just as hard.

“The Threepenny Opera” brings a fresh yet accurate take on the classic play. The UB theatre and dance department will unveil the seminal work runs May 2 through May 4.

ARTS

UB Theatre and Dance prepares ‘The Threepenny Opera’

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Apr. 29, 2019

“The Threepenny Opera” has been pushing boundaries for 91 years. And UB’s Theatre and Dance Department is continuing that push. There will be an advisory sign on the door for “risque” content on the opening night of the play this week.

ChoreoLab’s performance titled “POWER: the preservation of order” had students, faculty and guest artists work together to bring new ideas and technology into the Theatre and Dance Department.

ARTS

Thinking outside the box

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Apr. 14, 2019

ChoreoLab presented a full display of dance, lighting and projections in the CFA’s Black Box Theatre last weekend.

UB’s production of “Julius Caesar” took an updated and modern look at Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. The production was the UB Theatre and Dance department’s first performance on the CFA’s Mainstage.

ARTS

‘Julius Caesar’ opens on the CFA Mainstage

By ANASTASIA WILDS and JULIANNA TRACEY | Mar. 3, 2019

UB’s production of “Julius Caesar” took a modern twist on the classic Shakespearean play.

ARTS

UB students bring ‘Julius Caesar’ show to campus

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Mar. 1, 2019

William Shakespeare is no stranger on a college campus, but students are taking his work one step further with UB’s newest reimagining. UB Theatre & Dance will present Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” at the Center for the Arts. Performances on Friday and Saturday are available to the general public. But the production isn’t without surprises.

ARTS

Sins in heels

By AMANDA LOW | Oct. 22, 2013

Hell awaits a wholesome couple as they wander into a deliciously sinful castle. Brad Majors and Janet Weiss have come out of desperation for shelter from an ongoing storm but have unknowingly entered a world more extreme than the natural disaster that drove them there. Eager phantoms litter the glamorous stage as the couple tries to back away from this madness.

ARTS

Burlesque Made Boring

By Anam Ahmed | Dec. 1, 2010

Grade: C- It's the oldest story in the book. In fact, it's so old, it borders on embarrassing. Ali (Christina Aguilera, Entourage), a wholesome, blue-eyed, blonde, small-town girl, goes to Hollywood in order to find fame and fortune.

FEATURES

Dancing For A Cause

By AMANDA ISEPPON | Nov. 8, 2010

Students were dancing until dawn to raise funds for the Pennies for Peace organization on Friday night in the Student Union. Free prizes, raffles, cotton candy, popcorn, a kick-line, and dancing occupied the SU lobby on Friday night as students crowded for the fourth annual Stay-Up UB fundraiser. "It is an opportunity for students to give back [to the community] and participate in a philanthropic event, while building UB pride and a new tradition," said Terri Budek, the community engagement coordinator for the Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement. The dance-marathon fundraiser displayed the heart of UB pride.

ARTS

The singing dead

By Anam Ahmed | Oct. 17, 2010

Cheerful, uplifting numbers and light-footed dance sequences are all staples of your everyday garden variety musical. However, Evil Dead is different. "It was definitely one of the least infuriating musicals I've seen in a while?might have been because of the zombies," said Bryan Lynch, a 42-year-old accountant from Buffalo. It is deliberately campy, cheesy and outrageously gory.