Épisodes

  • Theater Talk: Special guest Michele Ragusa to sing with BPO; Curtain Up! is tonight with five shows on Main Street to add to the excitment. See listings.

    Theater Talk: Special guest Michele Ragusa to sing with BPO; Curtain Up! is tonight with five shows on Main Street to add to the excitment. See listings.
    Sep 19 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk with a special guest, Buffalo's Michele Ragusa, a Broadway star, coming home to sing with Jay Dref and the BPO, one night only, Saturday September 27 at 7:30. (Michele advises get your tickets only through bpo.org.) They also talk about Curtain Up! tonight! This Friday, September 19 and the street party on Main Street at 10 pm with audiences spilling out from THE OUTSIDERS at Shea's, THE COTTAGE at The Alleyway, OR, at Irish Classical, DREAMGIRLS at Shea's 710, and THE BOOK OF WILL at Road Less Traveled Productions. Away from Main, THE LAST CROISSANT with BUA is at the Compass PAC, GODSPELL closes at Ujima, and short plays by Tom Dudzik continue at Desiderios. Click through to see complete listings of what's on stage below!For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot…
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    5 min
  • Theater Talk: So many shows, including THE OUTSIDERS at Shea's and DREAMGIRLS at Shea's 710. For plays think THE COTTAGE (check for cancellations) at Alleyway or OR, at Irish Classical, or away from Main Street, THE LAST CROISSANT, with BUA at 545 Elmwood, or TOM DUDZIK'S short plays at Desiderio's, and GODSPELL, the musical, at Ujima and one day only, Wagner's opera THE FLYING DUTCHMAN at Artpark in Lewiston, Saturday, September 13 at 3:00 pm (note new start time).

    Theater Talk: So many shows, including THE OUTSIDERS at Shea's and DREAMGIRLS at Shea's 710. For plays think THE COTTAGE (check for cancellations) at Alleyway or OR, at Irish Classical, or away from Main Street, THE LAST CROISSANT, with BUA at 545 Elmwood, or TOM DUDZIK'S short plays at Desiderio's, and GODSPELL, the musical, at Ujima and one day only, Wagner's opera THE FLYING DUTCHMAN at Artpark in Lewiston, Saturday, September 13 at 3:00 pm (note new start time).
    Sep 12 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about the installation of local favorite Anne Gayley's star on the plaza of the stars (in front of Shea's 710) Monday 9/15 at 5:30, in advance of Curtain Up! (this year Friday, September 19) where the street party at 10pm should be grand with THE OUTSIDERS touring Shea's. GODSPELL at Ujima Co. proved to be a high-energy affair, as was DREAMGIRLS (SaxonAnsari Productions), and a modern play, a fast-paced historical fiction about the 1660s Restoration playwright Aphra Behn, and THE LAST CROISSANT with BUA at the Compass PAC. Three short plays by Buffalo's Tom Dudzick continue at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre. Click through to see complete listings of what's on stage below!For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western…
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    5 min
  • Current season opens in advance of Curtain Up! (September 19): GODSPELL at Ujima, DREAMGIRLS at 710, Tom Dudzik's three short plays at Desiderio's, THE COTTAGE at The Alleway, a mixed-up historical fiction called OR at Irish Classical, and THE LAST CROISSANT with BUA at the Compass PAC. Click through to see complete listings.

    Current season opens in advance of Curtain Up! (September 19): GODSPELL at Ujima, DREAMGIRLS at 710, Tom Dudzik's three short plays at Desiderio's, THE COTTAGE at The Alleway, a mixed-up historical fiction called OR at Irish Classical, and THE LAST CROISSANT with BUA at the Compass PAC. Click through to see complete listings.
    Sep 5 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about the current season opening well in advance of Curtain Up! (this year Friday, September 19). There's GODSPELL at Ujima Co., DREAMGIRLS (SaxonAnsari Productions), Tom Dudziks three short plays at Desiderio's in Cheektowaga, THE COTTAGE (a farce) at The Alleway, and a modern play, an historical fiction about the 1660s Restoration playwright Aphra Behn, and THE LAST CROISSANT with BUA at the Compass PAC. Click through to see complete listings of what's on stage below!For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes excellence in Western New York theater and…
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    5 min
  • Theater Talk: ONCE IN MY LIFETIME at Lancaster Opera House will have you Bill-ieve, MURDER ON THE LAKE very funny at Shawfest, Ujima's GODSPELL to concentrate on "the outsider," and Shea's Broadway season highly anticipated (esp. THE OUTSIDERS and KIMBERLY AKIMBO)

    Theater Talk: ONCE IN MY LIFETIME at Lancaster Opera House will have you Bill-ieve, MURDER ON THE LAKE very funny at Shawfest, Ujima's GODSPELL to concentrate on "the outsider," and Shea's Broadway season highly anticipated (esp. THE OUTSIDERS and KIMBERLY AKIMBO)
    Aug 29 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter appreciate the upcoming Shea's lineup, particularly THE OUTSIDERS and KIMBERLY AKIMBO. The new season is already underway with Donna Hoke's ONCE IN MY LIFETIME, a Buffalo Bills Super Bowl fantasy (spoiler: we win!) at the Lancaster Opera House, and Ujima Theater Co. also opens early on 9/5 with GODSPELL and the theme of the outsider. The Shaw Festival is running strong all the way through October 5, including a very entertaining MURDER ON THE LAKE, where an audience member takes on the role of detective on stage with several favorite Shaw actors improvising their roles. Very funny.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the…
    Voir plus Voir moins
    5 min
  • Theater Talk: RIP Artie Award-winning actor Hugh Davis; all-Black production (author, director, cast) of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY stunning at Shawfest; African-American playwright C.A. Johnson's THE WITNESSES closes this weekend at Chautauqua; Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST magnificent at Shea's (what a cast!) closes this Sunday.

    Theater Talk: RIP Artie Award-winning actor Hugh Davis; all-Black production (author, director, cast) of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY stunning at Shawfest; African-American playwright C.A. Johnson's THE WITNESSES closes this weekend at Chautauqua; Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST magnificent at Shea's (what a cast!) closes this Sunday.
    Aug 22 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter remember Artie Award-winning Buffalo actor Hugh Davis, who died under tragic circumstances last week and who gave us more than three decades of solid performances, mostly in roles by African American playwrights, mostly at Ujima Company and the Paul Robeson Theatres, but all over town. He will be missed. For an in-depth look, visit Anthony's blog theatertalkbuffalo.com. An all-Black (author, director, cast) production of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY delivers a superior experience in the Jackie Maxwell Theatre at the Shaw Festival. It's been 25 years since BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was the first Disney animated film to be made into a musical, and the touring production at Shea's is stunning, with excellent performances. This weekend the Chautauqua Theater Company closes the premiere of C.A. Johnson's play THE WITNESSES.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with…
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    5 min
  • Theater Talk: Anthony's talk at Shaw a success; preview of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY had added delight; Chautauqua has two openings; and Veanne Cox has three shows in development (fingers crossed for WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT)

    Theater Talk: Anthony's talk at Shaw a success; preview of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY had added delight; Chautauqua has two openings; and Veanne Cox has three shows in development (fingers crossed for WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT)
    Aug 15 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about “Anecdotes & Stories from the Theater” at the Shaw Festival when Anthony had a fun-filled conversation with director Philip Akin, and actors Fiona Byrne and Neil Barclay. And he's been invited back next year! After the discussion, they went to the nearby Jackie Maxwell Theatre for a preview of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY with the director, Kimberly Rampersad, filling in last minute with script in hand. Again, a reminder that the Chautauqua Theater Company is premiering C.A. Johnson's play THE WITNESSES, as well as the CTC's New Play Workshop presenting BEST FOR BABY Sat- Sun 8/16-17. Anthony visited his friend, Broadway actor Veanne Cox, who is in on the ground floor of the development of three potential Broadway shows: a musical version of MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS, a version of "Summer Stock" to be called GET HAPPY (after one of the shows most famous songs), and, saving the best (or wildest) for last, a jukebox musical using the plot of Henry Fielding's novel "Tom Jones" using songs by the Welsh pop singer Tom Jones, to be called WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center…
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    5 min
  • Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's RICHARD III very clear and timely, Anthony in NYC for Charles Busch reunion, Jean Smart's CALL ME IZZY, and MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. At the Shawfest, DEAR LIAR is engaging, ANYTHING GOES is over-the-top wonderful, and MAJOR BARBARA beautifully cast, including Fiona Byrne, who joins Anthony (and Neil Barclay and Philip Aiken) for the roundtable Saturday, August 9, at 10am in the Spiegeltent. Get your tickets today!

    Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's RICHARD III very clear and timely, Anthony in NYC for Charles Busch reunion, Jean Smart's CALL ME IZZY, and MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. At the Shawfest, DEAR LIAR is engaging, ANYTHING GOES is over-the-top wonderful, and MAJOR BARBARA beautifully cast, including Fiona Byrne, who joins Anthony (and Neil Barclay and Philip Aiken) for the roundtable Saturday, August 9, at 10am in the Spiegeltent. Get your tickets today!
    Aug 1 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Shakespeare in Delaware Park's 50th season opening of RICHARD III very clear and timely, Anthony in NYC for Charles Busch reunion, Jean Smart's CALL ME IZZY, and MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. At the Shawfest, DEAR LIAR is engaging, ANYTHING GOES is over-the-top wonderful, and MAJOR BARBARA beautifully cast, including Fiona Byrne, who join Anthony (and Neil Barclay and Philip Aiken) for the roundtable Saturday, August 9, at 10am in the Spiegeltent. Get your tickets today! (Complete Shaw listings below/attached.)For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes…
    Voir plus Voir moins
    5 min
  • Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's 50th anniversary opens RICHARD III while the traveling, edited ROMEO AND JULIET, highly entertaining, continues. At the Shaw Festival, GNIT is engaging and funny as will be Anthony on August 9th, speaking in the Spiegeltent at Shawfest, after which we'll see BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY.

    Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's 50th anniversary opens RICHARD III while the traveling, edited ROMEO AND JULIET, highly entertaining, continues. At the Shaw Festival, GNIT is engaging and funny as will be Anthony on August 9th, speaking in the Spiegeltent at Shawfest, after which we'll see BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY.
    Jul 25 2025
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Shakespeare in Delaware Park's 50th season opening of RICHARD III and the continuing, traveling, edited, excellent ROMEO AND JULIET. At the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake GNIT is a very entertaining take on PEER GYNT and a reminder that Saturday, August 9, at 10 am Anthony will be speaking in the "Spiegeltent" and then at 1 pm enjoying BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY (about the end of the Harlem Renaissance) at the adjacent Jackie Maxwell Theatre. (Complete Shaw listings below/attached.)For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes excellence in…
    Voir plus Voir moins
    5 min