Author: Peter Hall

Peter Hall continues trying to figure out how "it" all works. For over 20 years, as a producer and program host on WNED Classical (94.5 FM), he's conducted over 1,000 interviews with artists as he asks them to explain, in layman's terms, "what's the big picture here?" These days Peter can be heard regularly on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5. On “Theater Talk” (heard Friday mornings at 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. on WBFO 88.7 FM) his favorite question of co-host Anthony Chase is simply "What's goin' on?" As mentioned recently in Buffalo Spree magazine, Peter's "Buffalo Rising reviews are the no-holds barred 'everyman's' take." A member of Buffalo's Artie Awards Committee, Peter holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from SUNY at Buffalo. For over twenty-five years he was an adjunct professor for Canisius College’s Richard J. Wehle School of Business.

THE BASICS: RENT, the musical by Jonathan Larson, directed by Nicolette Navarro, presented by Bellissima Productions, starring Ben Caldwell as Roger, Aaron Saldana as Mark, Timiyah Love as Mimi, Heather Casseri as Maureen, Sam Crystal as Joanne, El Tyner as Collins, Lio Salazar as Angel, and Augustus Donaldson as Benny. 9/8 – 24, Fri – Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3:00 at the Lorna C. Hill Theatre, 429 Plymouth Ave Suite #2, Buffalo, NY 14213 (716) 218-8530 bellissimaproductions.com Note: Friday 9/22 RENT will start at 8:00 for Curtain Up! RUNTIME: 2-1/2 hours THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Set in the East Village of New York…

Read More

THE BASICS:  THE COLOR PURPLE, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray; book by Marsha Norman, based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker, directed by Sarah Norat Phillips, music direction by Karen Saxon, choreographed by Naila Ansari, starring Gabriella McKinley as Celie, Anika Pace as Nettie, George Brown as Mister, Brian Brown as Harpo, Curtis Lovell as Sophia, Jetaun Louie as Shug Avery, and a dozen others. Co-presented by Second Generation Theatre (SGT), Ujima Company, and Shea’s 710. 9/14 – 10/1, Thu – Fri 7:30, Sat 8:00, Sun 4:00 at Shea’s…

Read More

THE BASICS:  THE ROYALE, a play by Marco Ramirez, directed by Verneice Turner, co-produced by The Paul Robeson Theatre and Revelation Theatre, starring Vincenzo McNeill, Roosevelt Tidwell III, VerNia Sherisse Garvin, David Mitchell, and Matthew Ball.  9/8 – 24 Thur – Sat at 7:30, Sun at 4:00. Thursdays are Buy One, Get One Free. All shows at The Paul Robeson Theatre, 350 Masten Avenue, Buffalo NY 14209. (716) 213 7253, revelationtheatre.org, African American Cultural Center (716) 884-2013 THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  This play was inspired by the real-life story of the 1910 “Johnson–Jeffries riots” after African-American boxer Jack Johnson, the first black World…

Read More

THE BASICS:  WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, a play by Heidi Schreck, directed by Robyn Lee Horn, presented by The Kavinoky Theatre, starring Lindsay Brandon Hunter, Amara Gómez, and Kodi James. 9/8 – 24. Thu – Fri 7:30, Sat 3:30, Sun 2:00. D’Youville University’s Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201 716-829-7668 kavinokytheatre.com RUNTIME: A little over 90 minutes without intermission THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions, in front of mostly older white men at American Legion halls across the United States.  Bouncing back and forth between years, Heidi as played locally…

Read More

THE BASICS:  GUYS AND DOLLS, a musical, based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon, music & lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows, directed by Chris Kelly. Sep 6 – Oct 8, 2023. Wed & Thu at 7pm, Fri at 7:30pm, Sat at 3:30pm & 7:30pm, Sun at 2pm. Note: The performance on Friday, September 22nd (Curtain Up! night) is at 8pm.  All performances at MusicalFare Theatre, c/o Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226 (Tip: Enter off Getzville Road, about 500 yards north of Main Street.) (716) 839-8540 info@musicalfare.com RUNTIME: 2 – ½…

Read More

THE BASICS:  ROMEO & JULIET by William Shakespeare, presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park (SIDP), directed by Chris Kelly, starring Aidan Conklin and Erin Grace Kely in the title roles. July 27 – August 20, Tuesdays-Sundays nightly at 7:15 on “Shakespeare Hill” near the Rose Garden and the casino in Delaware Park.  All performances are FREE, non-ticketed and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted during intermission.  Bring your own chair or blanket, picnics are encouraged. (716) 856-4533 www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org Runtime: 2 – ½ hours with one intermission THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  (from shakespeare.org.uk): An age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed…

Read More

THE BASICS: THE WAY IT IS, a play by Donna Hoke, directed by Sabrina Kahwaty, starring Colleen Pine and Jacob Applegate, opened on July 28 at 7:30 p.m. and continues after a break on Friday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m., then both August 5 and 6 at both 4 and 7:30 each day, at the Alleyway Theatre Cabaret space, 1 Curtain Up Alley in Buffalo (adjacent to Shea’s Buffalo) as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival. No reservation necessary; open seating, all performances FREE of charge (donations accepted; all proceeds go to participating artists).. House opens a half hour before…

Read More

I headed up north, out of the city, for three fine theatrical productions, and one of them was a pleasant surprise, but more on that below.  At The Shaw Festival, or “Shawfest” in Niagara on the Lake, Canada, I saw J.M. Synge’s classic Irish play THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD (through October 7 in the Jackie Maxwell Theatre), with, no surprise, all elements on point – cast, costumes, set, you name it.  It’s about a young man who arrives on the west coast of Ireland claiming to have killed his father and the locals find him fascinating, especially the…

Read More

THE BASICS:  CHICAGO, the 1975 Tony Award-winning musical, with book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, directed and choreographed by Joey Bucheker (inspired by Bob Fosse), presented by O’Connell & Co., starring Nicole Cimato as Roxie Hart, Aimée Walker as Velma Kelly, Gregory Gjurich as Billy Flynn, Mary Coppola Gjurich as Matron “Mama” Morton, Dan Urtz as Amos Hart, and D. Pieffer as Mary Sunshine.  It runs July 7-16, (8 performances only).  Remaining shows are • Saturday, July 8th, 2023 at 3:00 pm• Saturday, July 8th, 2023, at 7:30pm• Thursday, July 13th,…

Read More

THE BASICS:  TWELFTH NIGHT, a 2018 musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub with music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, directed by Susan Drozd, presented by MusicalFare, starring a stellar experienced cast of 16 opened on July 5 and runs to August 6, Wed- Thu at 7:00, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 and 7:30, Sun at 2:00 at MusicalFare Theatre’s Main Stage, on the campus of Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226 (716) 839-8540 www.musicalfare.com  Student tickets are only $20, and with the new “30 for 30 Program” patrons under the age of 30…

Read More