Justin Collette (Beetlejuice) at Tour Company of "Beetlejuice." Photo by Michael Murphy 2022. A visual spectacle of elaborate lighting and effects matched with superb talent and absurd comedy, Beetlejuice opened at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre last evening. Whether or not you are a fan of the original movie, you’re in luck: Beetlejuice the musical is so … Continue reading “Beetlejuice” at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong Gets It Absolutely Right
Here’s what I love about the WNY theatre community: there are the classics; there are the thought-provoking in-your-head-dramas; there are the social justice productions; there are soul-lifting musicals galore; and then there are the shows that are so silly and funny you laugh all the way home. And that, my friends, is The Play That … Continue reading The Play That Goes Wrong Gets It Absolutely Right
Every Brilliant Thing Sparks Joy at Shea’s Smith Theatre
Kids with a parent who is living with a mental illness diagnosis develop an intriguing set of social skills. They quickly intuit to whom they can confide, how to disappear into the woodwork during challenging moments, and how to fend for themselves if need be. They also learn how to love with a whole albeit … Continue reading Every Brilliant Thing Sparks Joy at Shea’s Smith Theatre
BPO and ICTC Join Forces for a Storm Surge of Artistry
Irish Classical Theatre Company and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra built a beautiful model for collaboration with this series of theatre-set-to-music productions. The 2023 installment was Shakespeare’s The Tempest with Jean Sibelius’ incidental music and it was a lush and lavish visual and aural feast. First of all, the music. It was stunning, and it helped … Continue reading BPO and ICTC Join Forces for a Storm Surge of Artistry
Suspense on Stage at RLTP
Remember “Long Distance Call,” that episode of the incredible and timeless TV classic The Twilight Zone, where Billy Mumy’s grandmother gives him a play telephone and then she dies the next day? Whenever he picks up the phone, his grandma is talking to him. The Thin Place, the new production at Road Less Traveled Theater, … Continue reading Suspense on Stage at RLTP
Hadestown at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
The North American Tour of Hadestown. Photo by T. Charles Erickson. If Hadestown proves anything to the audience, it’s that music is power….and so is silence. Hadestown opened at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre last evening and continues to run through February 26th. This was my first time seeing the show, but I was no stranger to … Continue reading Hadestown at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
Sir Andrew’s Back in Town at MusicalFare
It takes a lot of stage presence to command a stage solo for more than an hour. And that's exactly what Leah Berst does in Tell Me on a Sunday, onstage now at MusicalFare Theatre. Berst has the power (and the chops) to sing her way through this Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black one-woman … Continue reading Sir Andrew’s Back in Town at MusicalFare
A World Premiere at Alleyway
The connection between a mom and her daughter can run deep. Especially when it’s only the two of you, you’re tight in each other’s orbit, your worlds intersect in inextricable ways. And that is Nicky and Naomi, the mother-daughter duo at the heart of The Aleph Complex, now on stage at Alleyway Theatre. This is … Continue reading A World Premiere at Alleyway
The Mai on Stage at ICTC
“I’m not drunk, I’m trapped.” That single line sums up the key to The Mai, presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company. Playwright Marina Carr examines the lives of seven women over four generations, each with their triumphs and tragedies that knit their family story. The Mai (Kate LoConti Alcocer) is at the center: a … Continue reading The Mai on Stage at ICTC
All Is Calm is Elegant Theatre
We learn the most important lessons from the most devastating moments. Reflecting on a moment in World War I’s history is a poignant reminder of humanity and the power of simple kindness. MusicalFare Theatre’s reprised production of All Is Calm at Shea’s 710 Theatre is just as stunning as its 2021 staging. The same production … Continue reading All Is Calm is Elegant Theatre
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