Mark your calendars: Friday, September 16 rings in the 30th Anniversary edition of Curtain Up!, the gala opening of the theatre season. Presented by the Theatre District Association of Western New York and M&T Bank, this celebration is a unique Buffalo creation and has expanded over the years, providing a bright spotlight on a Main Street still slowly finding salvation.
And how things have changed since those earlier days! In 1982, Main Street itself was shredded with
construction, as the Light Rail Rapid
Transit replaced automobile traffic. Craters
and miles of orange construction fence made pedestrian navigation challenging,
if not outright dangerous. It looked
more like downtown Baghdad than downtown Buffalo.
The early gala dinners took place under a big tent, pitched
on the Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza. Subject to winds, rain (there was a
mini-flood one year), and frosty nights, the dinner is now located snugly on
the stage at Shea's Buffalo, safe from the vagaries of Mother Nature and
offering a spectacular view of the magnificent theatre. (www.sheas.org)
Main Street itself is
alive now (sometimes)... and with new construction, plentiful
refurbishment, residential projects and so on, there is, at least, potential.
The rapid transit, long hoped to be a pathway to the prosperous northern
suburbs is instead a handy link to the red hot waterfront. In all that time, restaurants came and went, as
did hotel names and innumerable plans to
restore auto traffic, but Curtain Up! remained a constant, bringing the promise
of a new season of live theatre and tracking the steady expansion of theatre in
Western New York .
Many of the now stalwart theatres were in their infancy.
Neal Radice's Alleyway had only been
founded two years before, in 1980. The Kavinoky Theatre had also just
begun in the 1980-81 season. Shea's
Buffalo had only recently escaped the wrecking ball. The
restoration of the great movie palace was still just
beginning, following its placement
on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1975. Shea's now stellar
line-up of Broadway shows was a mere toddler of hit and miss touring shows, but
it was a beginning..
Some theatres were yet to come: The Irish Classical was not
yet a glint in Vincent O'Neill's eye, but arrived ten years later. And, of course,
some theatres are now just a fond memory. The Studio Arena, Buffalo's regional Equity
Theatre, (and the creator of Curtain Up
!) was at its zenith, making national
waves with new works and nationally known artists. Gone, but not forgotten,
there are high hopes that Studio's wonderful theatre space, if not Studio
itself, will re-emerge as a new regional asset in next year, as a vibrant venue for multiple theaters.
What began as a simple homespun and fun gathering of friends
to kick off the new season of a handful of theatres has become a huge event,
involving 16 participating theatres and associated events. And it's only the beginning of a season which
will feature 22 professional theatres, over 170 productions and an astounding
1,600 performances.
Here are the highlights of the 30th Anniversary Edition of CURTAIN UP!:
ACT 1 - Cocktails, Dinner & Entertainment . 5:00 - 5:45
p.m. - A cocktail reception in Shea's
Grand Lobby, cash bar open to the public.
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Gala
Dinner (creative black tie) This event
has sold out every year (except one) since Curtain Up! began. Tickets MUST be purchased in advance - call
847-1410 for Gala Dinner
reservations. $85 per person, $160 per couple, Corporate tables $1,300.
ACT II - Curtains
Rise! Performances at the theatre of
your choice starting at 8:00 p.m. (PLEASE NOTE: Check curtain time with the theatre of your
choice. Tickets should be purchased in advance to guarantee a seat, call the
theatre soon - tickets will start to
sell out quickly so act now.)
ACT III - Party!
Free community celebration on the 600 block of Main Street. Various artists, musicians and performers
entertain the post-show crowds in a street fair atmosphere. Not to be missed! Starts at 10:00 p.m. (For more info : www.TDAofWNY.com)
Here is a partial list of participating theatres and their
Curtain Up! productions. Or the best current information, visit the theatre's
individual web-site or go to the Buffalo Theater Alliance www.theatreallianceofbuffalo.com
ALLEYWAY THEATRE offers a WORLD PREMIERE of THE GHOST OF
FORT NIAGARA, written by Neal Radice, this new musical will appeal to adults
and teens . It tells the gruesome legend of two French military officers who
fight a duel over the love of a beautiful Indian Maid. Killing his rival is not
enough as the victorious solder decapitates his victim, tossing the head into the
Niagara River and stuffing the body down a well within the French Castle. Every school child who has
visited Old Fort Niagara has heard the story of the headless ghost of a young
military officer who haunts the grounds when the moon is full. BOO! Sounds like a winner. For full season information, visit www.alleyway.com.
BUFFALO LABORATORY THEATRE, one of the edgy new theatres
with a good track record, offers INDIVISIBLE, by Taylor Doherty, who also
directs. A political exploration of "The
Arizona Republic" this play is described as part "LOST", part "KAFKA" and part
"LORD OF THE FLIES". An interesting cocktail, made all the better by featuring
stars Ray Boucher and Steve
Vaughn. www.Buffalolabtheatre.com
IRISH CASSICAL THEATRE brings on another of its very
successful restoration comedies under the direction of Fortunato Pezzimente,
only the trick with LE BETE, by David Hirson, is that the play was written in 1991 and had a smash hit run on Broadway
last year. Featuring Brian Mysliwy,
Josephine Hogan and Vincent O'Neill, this ripper promises to " create a world
of comedy and chaos when low art and high art inevitably collide." www.irishclassicaltheatre.com
KALEIDOSCOPE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS celebrates its 10th Anniversary,
opening with a classic American comedy,
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, by Neil Simon.
Starring the talented Andy Herr and Maura Nolan and featuring Buffalo Stage veterans Magro
Davis and John Buscaglia this one will
make for and easy, breezy walk in the park.
This scrappy little theatre company has carved out a nice off-Main
Street niche with its solid productions presented in the Lecture Hall Theatre at the
Medaille College Campus. A modest, but interesting season can be
viewed at www.KaleidascopeTheatreProductions.com
KAVINOKY THEATRE, The Grande Dame of Buffalo's small
professional theatres presents a grand musical, 42nd STREET, by
Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble, Al Dubin and Harry Warren. "Lullaby of Broadway", "We're in the
Money" "42nd Street" and, of
course, "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" Who
could ask for anything more ? How the Kav continually succeeds in producing a
BIG musical on their tiny stage is a mystery, but they do it every year! See their season offerings at www.kavinokytheatre.com
LANCASTER OPERA HOUSE, This venerable venue , opened in
1897, is a joy just to enter. If you've never been there, make the short trip
to Lancaster and treat yourself. This season opens with CINDERELLA, Rogers
& Hammerstein's delightful 1957 production, written for television, it
makes an easy transition to the live stage. Adults will revel in the memories
of the original and kids will be enchanted by the classic tale set to the
toe-tapping waltz-tempo music. Produced
by Coop's Spotlight Productions. www.LancOpera.org
MUSICALFARE THEATRE opens its season with the blockbuster
musical, OLIVER! By Lional Bart. Trust
Randy Kramer and company to find a new and creative way to present a classic
musical. "Consider Yourself" forewarned and act quickly on this one, it will sell out
soon. www.musicalfare.com
NEW PHEONIX THEATRE ON THE PARK. Presents IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY by Sarah Ruhl. This may not sound like the play to take your
mama, but in fact it is an extremely funny Off-Broadway hit skewering the "Modern Medicine" of the 1880's, specifically
the new-fangled electric vibrator machine which was devised to treat female
"hysteria" . Bob Waterhouse directs this WNY premiere. Find more on the New Pheonix season at www.newpheonixtheatre.org
O'CONNELL AND COMPANY opens their new season with ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE, by William Finn. This
musical is described as a "parade of songs, characters and stories that stream
by, stirring our own bittersweet memories."
Now well established in their new home at Gleason Hall on the ECC North
Campus in Williamsville, check out the entire season at www.oconnellandcompany.com
PAUL ROBESON THEATRE offer BLUE COOLS by Mr. Bill Harris,
the story of a 1950's black jazz musician, "B' only needs one initial to be
identified. ( Take THAT Prince ! ) This
one sounds like a really interesting evening as B visits a Royal acquaintance
and spends a weekend musing about his world and his music. www.africanculturalcenter.org
ROAD LESS TRAVLED PRODUCTIONS presents yet another world
premiere: INTERNAL CONTINUITY, a New Play Workshop Selection, a World Premiere Play by Shaun McLaughlin,
directed by Scott Behrend. Starring Matt Witten, Bob Grabowski, Dave Hayes, Sara Kow-Falcone,
Aaron Krygier, and Bethany Sparacio. "It might be the end of the Golden Age for nerdy thirtysomething fanboys
Efrin, Shelby, and Buster when Efrin finally discovers the fairer sex.
Will Shelby and Buster be able to dissuade their lifelong friend from the Dark
Side of the Force? Will tabletop gaming night survive?!" Always a high -quality production, RLT's Curtain
Up! selection of this offbeat counterculture comedy from Emmy Award-winning writer
Shaun McLaughlin promises to be a fun night out with the boys . See the entire
exciting season at www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org.
SHEA'S SMITH THEATRE presents THE MALE INTELECT: AN OXYMORON?
By Robert Dubac. This combination of
theatre and stand-up comedy is perfectly suited for Shea's smaller stage venue,
The Smith Theatre. It also make for a
convenient walk from the Gala at Shea's to your Curtain Up! performance venue. If laughter is on your
dessert menu, check this one out. And
check out Shea's ambitious Broadway Season at www.sheas.org
SUBVERSIVE THEATRE
brings out the beast in us with MARAT/SADE, by Peter Weiss. Based on the historical events, this sweeping
production with a cast of thousands is rarely seen, but usually worth the
wait. Theater founder Kurt Schneiderman
directs this environmental spectacular with live music and a promise to put the
audience smack into the line of
fire. www.subversivettheatre.org
THEATRE OF YOUTH, Buffalo's beloved Children's Theatre
celebrates its 40th Anniversary Season with a fun tale of pink
cupcakes and a pink girl, PINKALICIOUS by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann, and John Gregor. This delightful musical will entertain
everyone and provide kids with a cautionary tale too, a good lesson told in the
way that only TOY can do. Patrons are
urged to "dress for the occasion." Celebrate this special anniversary season at www.theatreofyouth.org
THEATRE PLUS, Main Street Cabaret at the Alleyway
Theatre. Presents RESPECT: The Musical
Journey of Women, by Dr, Dorothy Marcic, this is a "musical journey
illustrating the path of 20th Century women told through Top-40
music..." from codependence to independence".
More at www.alleyway.com
TORN SPACE, perhaps Buffalo's most innovative theatre,
presents PROCESSION, by theatre founder, Dan Shanahan. This exploration of the
rituals of an ancient society which occupies the mysterious interior of a 20th
century church will be a visual extravaganza, produced at the Theosophical
Society of Buffalo in Black Rock. If you
are looking for something unlike anything else offered for Curtain Up! , this
is the one for you. www.tornspacetheatre.com
As mentioned above, Gala Dinner reservations must be
purchased in advance. It is also
advisable to call early for your theatre reservations, and be sure to ask about
theatre packages, there are several good deals available for season
subscriptions and flex passes, etc. So dust off that tux, and remember, this is a
great night to explore, make it an
adventure and try a theatre you have not yet attended.
Buffalo has a remarkable amount of theater for a city of its size and economic status. Very, very impressive.