MAME by Jerry Herman, A Co-production of O'Connell & Company and Playhouse of American Classics.

"Collaboration"  seems to be the word of the moment in theatrical circles. Seen as a balm for lost county funding and a path to economic solvency for smaller theatre companies, the concept of collaboration is hardly a new one.

There have been several notable local theatrical collaborations over the years, The Irish Classical Theatre and the Paul Robeson Theatre once created an interesting production of Eugene O'Neill's THE EMPEROR JONES ( with a substantial grant

Second Chance Sheltering Network, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit animal rescue group serving the Western New York area.  Their goal is to help place homeless animals while simultaneously helping interested individuals find a new furry companion.  Every Sunday, we will be running a homeless pet spotlight to help these animals find a good home with a loving family.

Won't Someone Please Love Me?

Older is better when you are a human as well as an animal.  You have developed who you are, how you act and what you will do well with.  The

Tonight, Queen City Gallery will host the opening reception for local artist Patrick Willett's latest show "Patrick Willett, Recent Work". This exhibition features a selection of Willett's work mainly from the last two years. Willett, a self-taught artist, tells us that his "recent works involve an exploration of the boundless energy of our natural environment as well as the decay and transience of our existence."

These recent works involve an exploration of the boundless energy of our natural environment as well as the decay and transience of our existence. Many of Willett's latest

If Harold Camping is right, this will be my last submission to Buffalo Rising.

Now, I have no problem with going on record in saying ahead of time that Camping is not only wrong in his date (I know--risky, right?) but in his whole understanding of eschatology (the study of "Last Things").

That, however, is not my primary concern.  What's interesting to me is that rarely is there such a clear test of whether people believe

To raise money for an upcoming music festival in Buffalo, Steak and Cake Records is putting on an artist's showcase at The Vault on Main Street. This will include entertainment from Becca Ryskalczyk, Leah Loefke, and Brandon Schlia. The fundraiser will be held at 6pm on Sunday May 29th, at The Vault on Main Street.
 
The upcoming music festival in the making will be called the Bidwell Indie 5000, to be held in August, and will feature about ten local artists. Musician Brandon Schlia is the brains behind the festival and Steak and Cake records, and he will be playing at the fundraiser.

Fashion Maniac: Cheryl Gorski, Managing Editor - May 2011 - Keeping tabs on Buffalo's fashion industry, including models, catwalks, retailers, designers, stylists, visual merchandisers and jewelers.
 
The FASHION MANIAC Team:
Features Editor: Cassie Elsaesser
Managing Editor & All Photography: Cheryl Gorski
Copy Editor: Chris Alfiero
Stylists: Cassie Elsaesser & Cameron Richard
Guest Make Up:  Andrew Brown
Hair Stylist: Whitney Curry
Casting Director: Kimberly Cohen
Prop Stylist: Todd Warfield, Lucy Mancuso, Michael

The Foo Fighters have announced their 2011 concert schedule and Buffalo is one of the stops. On September 25, 2011, The Foo Fighters will play HSBC Arena. Tickets go on sale May 20th.  
The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots on the same day so make your travel arrangements accordingly as Buffalo is going to be busy. 
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By Michelle Perkins:

For a lot of us, the phrase "I'm going to the dance" hasn't passed our lips since high school. But Rob Leach, an instructor with Swing Buffalo, says there are plenty of good reasons to think about saying it again. Dances, after all, have always been about more than dancing.  "Social dance, for many of us, is a way of life. The bonds and friendships you form with other dancers can last a lifetime--many of us have met some of the most important people in our lives through swing dance. We celebrate each other's birthdays and momentous occasions, support

The Kavinoky Theatre knows its mission and its audience, and it has hit the bull's eye with THE GRAND MANNER. The Kav has mounted a lush production for the Buffalo- Niagara premiere of A. R. Gurney's ode to the glory days of Broadway, and to our fair city's considerable contribution to the Great White Way in the form of the "First Lady of the Theater", actress Katherine Cornell.  

Mr. Gurney is himself, of course, Buffalo's most esteemed contribution to the art of playwriting. A celebrated author, Mr. Gurney has received a roomful of awards for his 35 or so plays. From early in

Buffalo's cultural ambassador (see this May 6 review in the Toronto Star), celebrates its 75th Anniversary Season in 2010-2011.  Since 1940, the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's permanent home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Site with an international reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the United States.  While orchestras in many cities are under financial stress (see this recent

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Patricia Covley:

A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Buffalo native Lawrence Block marks the return of Matt Scudder, former police detective turned private investigator.  For those of us who are Scudder fans, it's been a long six years since the previous Scudder novel, All the Flowers Are Dying.

A Drop of the Hard Stuff opens with longtime recovering alcoholic Scudder reminiscing with lifetime criminal Mick Ballou.  Ballou asks Scudder if there was ever a chance that Scudder's life could

Second Chance Sheltering Network, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit animal rescue group serving the Western New York area.  Their goal is to help place homeless animals while simultaneously helping interested individuals find a new furry companion.  Every Sunday, we will be running a homeless pet spotlight to help these animals find a good home with a loving family.

Gertie was another product of irresponsible pet ownership.  She and her kittens came to us from a home with too many unaltered  cat and as a result she became a mother at a young age.  This

The Jewish Repertory Theatre opens "Lebensraum" at Alleyway Theatre. (This article is based upon a preview performance)

Lebensraum is a witty, knowing, thoughtful and engrossing play. It is also a quirky play, as if the title doesn't clue you into that fact.

Excuse the preamble here, but to understand the play one must also appreciate a bit of its history.

Prolific playwright Israel Horovitz turns the historic phrase "Lebensraum" (Living Space), which was Hitler's excuse for eastward expansion, on its head. Hitler first used the term in 1933 in a speech to military

Attention all Buffalo runners - the 3rd Annual Pinnacle 5K and one mile fun run/walk is being held on Friday, May 20 at 6 p.m. Not a runner? Not a problem. Supporters can participate in Pinnacle's Sponsor-a-Student program which helps a student train for and run the 5K. Without this type of support, many students would not have the necessary funds or equipment needed to run in this type of race.

Proceeds from Sponsor-a-Student will not only help the health and wellness of that particular student, but of his/her families as well. The sponsorship includes participation in Pinnacle's Health

One of Buffalo's most celebrated musicians, Jim Kurzdorfer, recently passed away, leaving behind a legacy that included playing with Thelonius Monk and Herbie Hancock, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and all of Eric Clapton's bands. His Villa Maria College students called him Mister K. This weekend he will be posthumously granted Professor Emeritus. If you were in Buffalo in the late 1970s you would have seen the Buffalo jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra rocket to international superstardom, thanks in part to original member Jim Kurzdorfer, who has now lost his battle with cancer.

Upon entering

Western New Yorkers are blessed with a vibrant improvisational community.  Improvisational comedy, performing comedy without a script, was made widely popular by the television show Whose Line is it Anyway? and there are as many flavors of improv as there are of any art.  If you are a fan of improv, consider yourself encouraged to sample as many as possible as each has something different to offer. 

One group, Defiant Monkey Improv, is a flavor temptation you should definitely not miss.  Why?  One reason is because it's the only local improv comedy duo. 

Because I have the pleasure of leaving for work early on Sunday morning, I just might be the participant out for "Buffalo Bike to Work Week," next week.  For me, Bike to Work Week begins when Lafayette Church celebrates "Bike to Church Sunday," and hosts the "Blessing of the Bikes."

Is there a theological foundation for my choice to bike more and drive less?

Of course!

Bikes build community.  And Community is important to people of faith, who

By Patti Harris:

The Buffalo Society of Artists is celebrating its 120th Anniversary this year, with the Spring Exhibition launching this historic milestone. The Society announced awards at the Spring Show opening reception on Friday, May 6th. For those who may not be aware, our organization boasts 23 living past presidents who graciously created the Past President's Award, which is our prestigious First Place award for this show.

First  place was awarded to James Sedwick, Self Portrait with Amaryllis, Photography. Additional awards were

A dream come true for two life-long friends and fellow musicians, JeMi Production is the brainchild of Buffalo-born producers Jeremy Wells and Michael Vealey. The two first joined forces in their teens for impromptu jam sessions in a hot, sweaty, South Buffalo attic. Their primary focus has always been the same: the song.

"We believe a great song evokes an emotion and a feeling that keeps the listener coming back for more." They have taken their combined 40 years of experience

Second Chance Sheltering Network, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit animal rescue group serving the Western New York area.  Their goal is to help place homeless animals while simultaneously helping interested individuals find a new furry companion.  Every Sunday, we will be running a homeless pet spotlight to help these animals find a good home with a loving family.
Tree of Life... Kittens, kittens everywhere and not enough good homes to go around!  As you can see, Second Chance has all shapes, sizes and colors of kittens up for adoption