On this episode of WNY Soundstage, Host Daniel Lendzian speaks with Chris J Handley, executive artistic director of The Alleyway Theatre. The first guest to return to the podcast, Chris highlights the last year of Alleyway, and details the newest edition of Buffalo Quickies, a short play festival in its 32nd iteration.
Alleyway Theatre is a professional theatre company and collaborative incubator for bold, visceral new theatre. Founded in 1980, the company currently occupies the 1941 former Greyhound Bus Terminal in Buffalo’s historic Theatre District. Their programming embraces fearlessness, theatricality, humanity, and authenticity.
This interview includes:
- The evolution of the space and the programming over the last two years
- Audience responses
- The shifting format of Quickies
- The importance of creative experimentation
- The necessity of community at theatre spaces
- The vision for Alleyway’s future
In addition to speaking with Chris, we also speak with the playwrights of this year’s Quickies: Rosa Fernandez, Justin Karcher, Shawn Adiletta, Thomas Bellavigna, Bella Poynton, and Chris Woodworth.
These interviews include:
- How playwrights will approach this unique opportunity
- What audiences may take away after Buffalo Quickies
- The importance the artistic community in Buffalo
- The need for local venues that produce new works
- The joy in seeing new plays