Say what you will about our chicken wings, state university and sports teams. There's another reason to come to Buffalo: one of the best theater seasons this side of the Hudson. Rich with landmark theaters and full of talented performers, there has never been a shortage of diverse drama in Buffalo. This fall is no exception. Blockbuster musicals, American classics and world premieres are just the beginning of what's in store for the stage.
Studio Arena Theater, located in the heart of downtown, will begin its 38th season with Tennessee Williams's "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Sept. 8 - Oct. 13). Last produced at Studio in 1975, this production will complete the theater's five-year Williams retrospective. In conjunction with this landmark drama, Studio plans to offer a five-week series of readings, discussions and presentations on Williams' work.
Dale Wasserman's adaptation of "One Flew Over A Cuckoo's Nest" (Sept. 12 - Oct. 13), based on the Ken Kesey novel that spawned the 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson, premieres at the Kavinoky Theatre at D'Youville College, featuring UB's own Distinguished Service Professor Saul Elkin of the Theater and Dance Department.
The Andrews Theater, home of the Irish Classical Theatre Company, will present Oliver Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" (Sept. 12 - Oct. 20) on their intimate, square stage.
Providing lighter fare than the aforementioned dramas, dancing queens and tapping feet will fill Shea's Performing Arts Center this fall. The former vaudeville and movie house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is the region's premiere theater for touring Broadway productions and popular music concerts.
For example, shuffling back to Buffalo is "42nd Street" (Oct. 15 - 20), the tap-dancing backstage musical currently in revival on Broadway. One of the world's newest hits, "Mamma Mia" (Dec. 9 - 22), featuring the songs of Swedish rock group ABBA, is expected to be the highlight of Shea's season.
And coming back for the ninth time is the now classic (and closed) Andrew Lloyd Weber musical "Cats" (Nov. 8 - 10), the longest continuously running touring show in U.S. history.
At the Ujima Theater on Main Street, "Everybody's Ruby" will run Sept. 20 - Oct. 13, and Buffalo United Artists will be presenting "Servicemen" Sept. 27 - Oct. 19 at their "Upstairs Cabinet."
While national tours and perennial dramas are favorites, other anticipated productions each season are the premieres. Alleyway Theatre, which is devoted primarily to new and unproduced work, will present the world debut of Michael Bettencourt's "A Question of Color" (Sept. 12 - Oct. 6), the recent winner of the Maxim Mazumdar New Play Competition.
At UB, the Theater and Dance department will be the first amateur group to perform Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party" (Nov. 14 - 17) at The Center for the Arts. Jazz, lust, booze and betrayal have never been so sexy as in this new production. Created Off-Broadway in 2000 and written by one of musical theater's newest talents, "The Wild Party" is an exciting part of the department's schedule.
Reading about these plays is one thing; actually seeing them is another. Studio Arena, Shea's, Alleyway and the Andrews, all on Main Street in the theater district, are easily accessible by taking the subway from South Campus. Transfers from North Campus run several times an hour, and an updated schedule can be found on MyUB.
Most theaters offer student rush tickets, with discounted prices on the house's best seats, the day of performance. For directions and discount information for each theater, contact their Web sites or call the box office. For a more complete listing, visit http://www.buffalo.com/Arts_Entertainment/Theater_26.asp.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
