This year proved that the Art & Culture Industry is resilient and strong in Western New York. After navigating the global pandemic that shut down stages and live events, this list demonstrates the vibrance, perseverance, diversity, and depth of art, theatre, music, history, and culture in our region. Given the amount of articles we wrote in 2022 covering these topics, we decided to compile this massive list of nearly 50 articles to help reacquaint you with these businesses, artists, and organizations, and offer our readers just a taste of what makes our community special.
Here are our most read stories of 2022 in the areas of Theatre, Music, Art & Culture!
Theatre
Josh Cohen has no girlfriend and no prospects for a Valentine’s date. He’s broke, and his New York City apartment’s just been robbed of everything but a Neil Diamond CD. It seems that Josh is a good guy caught in a lifelong battle with bad luck. But, in the middle of his pity party, a mysterious letter arrives that changes his life forever. This fast-paced romantic comedy features a six-member on-stage ensemble of very talented musician-singer-actors who can do it all….read more
15. FALL FROM THE GRACE OF GOD at A.R.T. assembles 10 local shorts inspired by Irish punk band The Pogues
14. Starring Buffalo’s EVITA brings together Broadway and Buffalo’s biggest stars
13. BURST at Alleyway, a new play, is wonderfully Shakespearean
12. STAGE KISS lets Irish Classical shine with one of their strengths – a well-directed, well-acted, high class farce.
11. GRINDR MOM, the comedy at Alleyway Cabaret, offers a new twist on coming out stories just in time for Pride Week
10. ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, the first-ever Shea’s production is a non-stop 90-minute glory
9. MY FAIR LADY at Shea’s brings lush Bartlett Sher production to the big stage
8. AS YOU LIKE IT (Shakespeare in Delaware Park) provides a comedy suitable for all
7. Alleyway Theatre’s The Oregon Trail whisks audiences back and forth through time
6. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM is finally here at Shakespeare in Delaware Park, fun for the whole family
5. Three WNY theatres team up to produce ‘The Color Purple the Musical’ in 2023
4. Alleyway Theatre premieres Berserker, a dark comedy that finds humor in some of life’s biggest questions
3. Road Less Traveled Presents “Little Women…Now”
2. ROCK OF AGES at the Kavinoky delivers non-stop high-energy fun
After almost two years of Covid-19 cancellations, postponements, and re-casting, CABARET is finally here! Second Generation Theatre’s production of the timeless musical theater classic that was originally slated for production in June 2020 makes its grand debut on the Shea’s Smith Theatre stage on Friday, June 10, 2022…read more
Music & Comedy
Elmwood Summerfest heats up local music scene and celebrates all things Summer in Buffalo
As if having some of the hottest bars and restaurants in the Elmwood Village wasn’t enough, the unstoppable teams behind the Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit, and Breezy Burrito Bar are heating up the summer with the debut of Elmwood Summerfest. Experience the Elmwood Village like never before with this fun in the sun festival happening just weeks away on Sunday, June 26th 2022….read more
15. 2022 Borderland Music + Arts Festival
14. Inaugural WoofStock Music Festival at Como Lake Park
13. The Colored Musicians Club presents George Scott’s Big Band Bash @ The Buffalo History Museum
12. 6th Annual Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration @ The Central Terminal
11. WNY holiday tradition, BPO presents Handel’s MESSIAH @ Our Lady of Victory Basilica
10. Best concert this season? It could be. BPO at Kleinhans
9. 2022 Music is Art: 20 Year Anniversary
8. The Colored Musicians Club at the 18th Annual Queen City Jazz Festival
7. Interview: Gregg Turkington (Neil Hamburger)
6. The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame introduces the Class of 2022
5. 2022 Cobblestone Live is back for its best year yet!
4. Bring a Date: Big Bands are Back in Buffalo
3. Elmwood Summerfest heats up local music scene and celebrates all things Summer in Buffalo
2. 2022 Porchfests are a lot more than “porches and bands”
It took two days and a long time in airports and airplanes to get here, but globe-trotting pianist Alexander Malofeev is young (he turns 21 this October) and full of energy, and so you’d have no idea of all that as he marched across the stage at Kleinhans Music Hall and sat so confidently at the BPO’s Steinway piano. No fussiness, no adjustment of the chair, JoAnn gave him a quick glance, then signaled for the nice musical introduction by clarinet, joined by second clarinet, flute, violins, then all the strings rapidly accelerating like a steam engine and BAM!…read more
Art, Film & Culture
The next time that you pass by 1048 Niagara Street, slow down and look to the west. There, you will see a beautiful old brick building facing the street. But did you even notice the narrow alleyways that lead towards the rear of the building, on either side? These alleyways are home to a number of designers, makers, and producers, including Andy Morin, who recently launched a stage studio called Avenir Cine….read more
15. 16th Annual Buffalo Int’l Film Festival
14. 2022 Lawyers for the Arts
13. Slideshow | Karle Norman
12. Architecture Photographer Kim Smith is nominated for an +Architizer award
11. Julia Bottoms selected to design statue honoring the late Shirley Chisholm
10. Small Business Spotlight: Artist Mark DiVincenzo finds his “Perfect Natural Rhythm”
9. UB Arts Collaboratory’s Artist Creates Labyrinth at Silo City
8. Mural Alert: Queen City by Adeyemi Adegbesan
7. Mural Alert: Beau Stanton in Allentown
6. Buffalo, through the eyes (and lens) of Painkiller
5. Introducing the C Stuart and Jane H Hunt Gallery
4. PLAY/GROUND is back and better than ever
3. Patti Smith and Snoop Dogg Murals by Philip Burke & Zoom Copy @ Town Ballroom
2. Art and Holiday Cheer @ The Firehouse and Moriarty Café & Bar
Later today (Friday, July 15), at 5pm, The Budweiser Clydesdales will be paying a visit to Hertel Avenue, courtesy Try-It Distributing. The adored Budweiser mascots will be participating in a short parade, that will take place at the intersection of Shoshone Street and Hertel Avenue, weather permitting….read more