CURTAIN UP! Returns

CURTAIN UP!, Buffalo's annual celebration opening the theatre season, roars back on Friday, September 10th for its 29th edition. This year's extravaganza features a locally connected Broadway star as the Honorary Chairman and no less than sixteen participating professional theatres.
 
Buffalo's professional theatre scene blasts off each September with the nationally recognized CURTAIN UP! celebration. It offers a creative black-tie Gala Dinner on the stage of Shea's Buffalo, though many choose to spend the evening at one of the many downtown restaurants that are eager to welcome back the theatre crowd.

Tony-nominated actor Stephen McKinley Henderson returns to Buffalo to serve as the Honorary Chair of this year's CURTAIN UP! He is here fresh from his critically-acclaimed success in the New York production of Fences starring Denzel Washington. A long time favorite of playwright August Wilson, Mr. Henderson received this year's prestigious Richard Seff Award from Actor's Equity for his Broadway performance. Mr. Henderson, who is also an honored faculty member of the SUNY Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance, has many other Broadway credits and has graced many local stages (and not a few episodes of Law & Order on NBC).

The dinner, which serves as the "Act I" of the evening, is followed by "Act II", attending an opening night performance at the theatre of one's choice. There really is a palpable electricity on any given opening night, derived from the uncertainty and anticipation surrounding a new production. However, multiply that electricity by 16 productions and you get some idea of the level of excitement shared by hundreds of patrons mingling on Main Street.
 
The theatre performance of "Act II" is followed by "Act III", a rocking street party featuring live music, magicians and street performers who will entertain late into the night. People have also been known to wander in and out of the local drinking emporiums. It's a great party and if you have never participated, you should give it some thought.
 
CURTAIN UP!, and the theatre scene generally, represent a bright spot in the local economy. Buffalo may suffer the slings and arrows of multiple Peace Bridge designs, we may lose a decade long game of waterfront rope-a-dope with Bass Pro, and wilt with every Stanley Cup playoff. We may light candles for the continued good health of nonagenarian Ralph Wilson even while the lights go out at the Statler, but by Jove, we have got us some theatre in this town. And every autumn, like swallows unto Capistrano's spring, the theatres come back full of vigor and promise.
 
Started in 1981, CURTAIN UP! represents a thriving community of actors, producers, directors, dancers, musicians, and technicians who bring life to the area's stages. They do so against the economic odds, and in a number of theatres and productions which are quite out of proportion to the size of the local population.

It's a shame more is not made of this regional asset as an economic and tourist attraction. Theatre here is a largely organic creation, sprouting more from the ingenuity, labor and dedication of the practitioners than from urban planners or substantial government investment (although such funding remains an important component to the continued success of many theatres).
 
Just as Indy has its 500, Seattle has coffee, New Orleans has jazz, and Nashville has the Opry, Buffalo has live theatre. It might be nice to be known for more than chicken wings. Thousands of people cross the Canadian border to attend plays at the Shaw Festival, thousands more head for the Stratford Festival and Toronto. Just a fraction of those theatre devotees, if properly enticed,  could warm many seats in Buffalo's theatres, restaurants, hotels and other cultural attractions.

Well, it's a thought.

Our theatres here are wonderfully varied, and offer a smorgasbord of good plays, new productions and old chestnuts this time around. CURTAIN UP! Patrons should go directly to their theatre of choice to buy their CURTAIN UP! theatre tickets. 

For a complete list of participating theatres, the available CURTAIN UP! productions, theatre websites and contact information,  and for information about tickets for the Gala Dinner (sold separately) go to: www.theatreallianceofbuffalo.com and click the CURTAIN UP! bar at the top of the page.

While Shea's Buffalo does not present a main-stage CURTAIN UP! production, the Theatre District's Crown Jewel does serve as the site for the Gala Dinner, and if you have never tread the boards of Shea's magnificent stage, it is a terrific experience. The incredible view of the house from the stage is worth the price of admission.

Shea's 85th Anniversary Season will not commence until mid-October with the opening of the Broadway musical Mary Poppins, which will be followed by an array of first class Broadway touring shows. Shea's has already sold a remarkable 12,200 seats in advance of the season, so you may want to investigate that line-up early (www.sheas.org).

The following is a partial list of the shows which are offered for CURTAIN UP! 2010.

If you are looking for comedy, consider The Eclectic Improv Co., the city's premiere improvisational troupe, which kicks off its lucky 13th season at the Smith Theatre, Shea's "second stage" located right next door to the big theatre on Main Street. (Ticket info also at www.sheas.org).

Alleyway Theatre, 1 CURTAIN UP! Alley, presents Mookie Cranks the Tater!, a world premiere which also happens to be an adult comedy. Theatre Plus, in the Main Street Cabaret at 672 Main Street, offers Bring on the Men, a gender-bending musical cabaret, which creator Todd Warfield unofficially dedicated to " the Bea Arthur in us all." Information for both shows can be found at www.alleyway.com. (Note: ticket buyers will usually avoid a service charge by purchasing their tickets directly from a theatre online.)

Once starved for sophisticated New York-style musical revues, Buffalo gets even more great cabaret at BUA, which continues its acclaimed Cabaret Series offering Basil & the Broad, starring Chuck Basil and the fabulous Ms. Kerrykate Able, and featuring the music of Bonnie Raitt, Craig Carnelia, Jerry Garcia, Billie Holiday and more. See BUA's entire season at www.buffalobua.org.

Not up for song and dance? Alt Theatre presents Cheapjack Shakespeare: The Non-Musical by Shaun McLaughlin, based upon his graphic novel. This story of a collegiate Shakespeare company's summer adventures is in the  "Animal House" mode and should prove very entertaining. 

Theatre of Youth, in their splendid restored Allendale Theatre on Allen Street, offers Frank & Ella: Together Again, a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, starring Paul Maisano,(who also directs) and the wonderful Joyce Carolyn. This is a very limited engagement, get there if you can. TOY is a real treasure, best known for exceptional children's theatre, so check out the entire season at www.theatreofyouth.org.

CURTAIN UP! is not confined to the city's limits. The highly inventive and visually creative Buffalo Laboratory Theatre, based at Hilbert College in Hamburg, presents Terra Nova by Ted Tally. This production deals with the ill-fated Antarctic expedition of Robert Scott, and promises ingenious design elements to capture the essence of the early twentieth century hero-explorer. A Gala Champagne reception will precede.  

A little to the north, O'Connell & Company weighs in with Working, the well-known musical by Stephen Schwarz, based upon Stud Terkel's great stories of America's working class, and featuring songs by James Taylor, Mary Rogers and others. At their new home at the ECC North Campus in Williamsville find the entire new season at www.oconnellandcompany.com.

Also anchored in the 'burbs, the ever popular Musicalfare Theatre on Main Street in Amherst offers an evening of the best pop songs from London of the 60's in SHOUT! The Mod Musical. I confess, "Downtown", "To Sir with Love", "Goldfinger"  and "Son of a Preacher Man" still stop me in my tracks whenever I hear them on the radio. 

Completing the suburban contingent, The Lancaster Opera House presents The Fantasticks, the eternal and beloved fable of young love. Go see why it became the world's longest running production. ("Try To Remember".) 

Back into the city, The Kavinoky Theatre opens with Forever Plaid, which is more than just a musical revue. The acclaimed off-Broadway hit will have you singing the songs you heard as a kid, (or your parents heard as kids, but you'll still know every one of them). The Kavinoky is a jewel box of a theatre, if you have never seen it, go treat yourself. It's at the D'Youville Campus on Porter Avenue.

The Irish Classical Theatre, at the Andrews Theatre on Main Street will present the much anticipated world premiere of The Cant by Shay Linehan. This not-to-be-missed winner of the McGuire International Playwriting Competition, is a comedy-drama which tells the tale of Ireland's mysterious "traveling people". (If you can't get CURTAIN UP! seats, be sure to come another time.) Check out the excellent 20th Season line up at www.irishclassicaltheatre.com.

At the New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, the ever clever Joseph Natale directs In a Dark House by Neal LaBute, a WNY premiere of off-Broadway's hottest new playwright, this psychological drama which features Richard Lambert and Drew Kahn (yes, that Drew Kahn, who is also a very talented actor/director). This one promises to keep you in suspense and wide awake after your Gala dinner. 

Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions, located at Medaille College, also offers a mystery, Art of Murder by Joe DiPietro (who also wrote the hilarious "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change").  This one's a suspenseful thriller with plenty of laughs, and will keep the audience guessing 'til the end. Find out more about Kaleidoscope's season and Medaille College's 135th Anniversary events at www.KaleidoscopeTheatreProductions.com.   

Road Less Traveled Productions at the Market Arcade Theatre on Main Street presents The Couple Next Door, a New Play Workshop Selection by Buffalo's own Donna Hoke. Yet another world premiere, and yet another adult-themed comedy. This story of a hum-drum marriage set a-sizzling with a swinger's twist is directed by Scott Behrend. RLTP rarely misses, so be confident in this selection. 

And finally, Subversive Theatre presents The Furies of Mother Jones, a "working class musical" by Obie Award-winning author Maxine Klein. This bluegrass-steeped story tells the true tale of labor's great rabble-rouser, union organizer Mary Harris Jones. Directed by Megan Callahan, legendary local actress Sharon Strait portrays "Mother Jones", with The Erie Lackawanna Railroad Band. this show is playing at the Manny Fried Playhouse on Great Arrow. 


Consider CURTAIN UP! the appetizer. There are so many great productions to be seen this season, one hardly knows where to begin, but start now. A little planning will get you the best seats, the best prices and the best shows. Check out those websites for season packages, dinner packages and gift packages for the holidays. We are so lucky to have this treasure trove of theatre in Buffalo. "Life is a banquet," said Auntie Mame "and most poor bastards are starving to death!"


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Neil Garvey, attorney/actor/writer, is a native East Auroran and 30 year resident of Buffalo's Elmwood neighborhood. Long involved in the cultural & civic life of Buffalo, he has served on several theaters & civic boards, including the Delaware Park Steering Committee. The first board chair of Shakespeare in Delaware Park, he served as the company's first CEO and appeared in or produced some 25 Shakespeare plays. Stage credits include Shea's, Studio Arena, The Kavinoky, The Irish Classical, Road Less Traveled, and played Santa Claus for the BPO Holiday Pops for the past eight seasons.

Curtain Up! poster image designed by Wynne Creative Design.