Theater Talk

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about RIDE THE CYCLONE last week at Buff State with a tip to go to our local universities for high-quality affordable theater. The Broadway tour of the corny musical SHUCKED starts at Shea's on Tuesday. Stephen Schwart's (WICKED, GODSPELL) musical PIPPIN opens tonight at O'Connell & Co. (on Bailey Ave.). Second Generation's annual fundraiser called BUCKET LIST will feature an A-list group of performers Sunday night at Shea's Smith. THE INFORMER by Matthew LaChiusa continues at ART of WNY (545 Elmwood), a well-crafted adaptation of Liam O’Flaherty’s novel. Also tonight, one night only CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD, an LGBTQ+ oratorio opens at Westminster Presbyterian about the 21-year-old brutally attacked near Laramie, Wyoming (see listings).For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about THE INFORMER by Matthew LaChiusa, which opened last night at ART of WNY, an adaptation of Liam O’Flaherty’s novel; NOW AND THEN has big role for Steve Jakiel at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre in Cheektowaga; Next week consider CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD, an LGBTQ+ oratorio at Westminster Presbyterian about the 21 year old brutally attacked near Laramie, Wyoming; and we get two musicals on tour this month at Shea's, including SHUCKED, while the excellent OUR LADY OF 121st STREET by Stephen Adly Guirgis continues at RLTP. For more about upcoming local shows, please see the listings.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk the joys of seeing a play or musical again, such as MOTHERS AND SONS at Niagara University or THE WIZ at Shea's, and the special joy of seeing a play twice with the same cast which they enjoyed at Irish Classical for THE LOVED ONES. There's humor mixed with drama in GOODNIGHT TYLER at Ujima's Lorna C. Hill Theatre, and, of course, THE WIZ is a classic. Please see listings belowFor more about upcoming local shows, please see the listings.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about top-tier talent all across the area in NEXT TO NORMAL, OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET, and BLACK BEAR ISLAND at The Alleyway. Opening tonight is GOODNIGHT TYLER at Ujima's Lorna C. Hill Theatre, and opening tomorrow, we have THE HOBBIT. See the listings below. Also, Shakespeare in Delaware Park has their annual fundraising "feast" (5-course meal) on the Ides of March (3/15/2025) at Rich's Atrium. Visit shakespeareindelawarepark.org/2025-fabulous-feast/ for details. The cutoff is 3/3 this Monday. Please see the listings for more about closing, continuing, and upcoming local shows. For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45 pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE at Torn Space, THE LOVED ONES at Irish Classical, THE NICETIES (Second Generation) at Shea's Smith Theatre. All shows on stages this week have all-star casts. See listings attached.For more about upcoming local shows, please see the listings.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about THE WANDERERS at Jewish Repertory Theatre as well as local playwright Bella Poynton's new play, THE MIGHTIE MAISIE at A.R.T. and closing this week is the hilarious FORBIDDEN BROADWAY in the comfortable Shea's 710 Theatre. Next week we'll talk about SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE at Torn Space, THE LOVED ONES at Irish Classical, THE NICETIES (Second Generation) at Shea's Smith Theatre. See listings attached.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony remembers Kathleen Betsko Yale (1939-2025) a fierce advocate for women in theater leading into Anthony and Peter talking about new plays in Buffalo by women including Donna Hoke, Wendy-Marie Martin, Bella Poynton, Anna Ziegler and more to come with plays opening every week in February. See listings attached.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week Anthony and Peter discuss the most recent Buffalo Toronto Public Media bus trip to Broadway where the group saw five musicals in three days. And, locally, another Donna Hoak play opened. For more about upcoming local shows, please see the listings.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about KHAN!!! A PARODY TREK-TACULA, a musical send-up of the Star Trek franchise produced by O'Connell & Co. at Shea's Smith Theatre. And, also a comedy, but with a thoughtful side, THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY a new play produced by First Look Buffalo which just opened at the Canterbury Woods performance space.For more about upcoming local shows, please see the listings.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.