Theater Talk

Arts & Culture Podcasts

For 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on BTPM NPR, 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...

Episodes

Theater Talk: Shawfest in Niagara-on-the-Lake presents HEARTBREAK HOUSE which Shaw called his "fantasia in the Russian [Chekhov] manner on English themes.” Tim Carroll directs an all-star cast. Heading to Broadway? Anthony suggests reading the NYTimes and Playbill.com to keep in the know.

Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's PERICLES makes for a fun 2 hour picnic outing, Shawfest is up and running and so is the Stratford Festival for some first rate theater right over the border.

Theater Talk: PERICLES at SiDP off to a fun start; A FEW GOOD MEN and GIRL ON AN ALTAR, both excellent, close this weekend; YALLA BITCH continues a touring show; deadline to join Anthony at Shawfest for FUNNY GIRL is July 8; deadline to enter drawing to see Broadway's Josh Groban in Canandaigua is June 30 (see listings for details).

Theater Talk: Anna Fernandez stars in HIS GIRL WATSON at the Alleyway, A FEW GOOD MEN (Road Less Traveled at Shea's 710) stays true to Sorkin's original script, the stunning GIRL ON AN ALTAR (Irish Classical) shows Clytemnestra as the wronged party, and THE BOOK OF MORMON opens a short run tonight at Shea's.

Theater Talk: What a week! Pride, Tonys, Arties! Shakespeare has touring show FOOLS & FOES up and in neighborhoods, PERICLES opens soon. Both Marina Carr's GIRL ON AN ALTAR and Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN open, and THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE continues at Torn Space.

Theater Talk: Artie Awards (Buffalo's "Tonys") Monday, June 8 at Babeville. BUA & Torn Space's THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE is a great story just in time for Pride month, and SUFFS, the Broadway musical at Shea's, also gets its point across with a lot of sass. Both highly recommended. Happy Pride! See you at the Arties!

Theater Talk: 35 annual Artie Nominations announced (Awards are June 8 at Babeville) and there's merch! (To pre-order Tee scroll down.) Bellissima's GHOST THE MUSICAL very entertaining, but closes this weekend. THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE opens tonight at Torn Space. Anthony has seen SUFFS (coming to Shea's) and declares "It's a gorgeous show!"

Theater Talk: It's award season! Tony nominations are in, Arties return to Babeville, June 8th; JUST FOR US at Jewish Rep is timely and funny; younger stars to watch these days include Quinn McGillion, Glen Chitty (HAIRSPRAY thru 5/24), and Alex Reiser with Heather Casseri in GHOST (thru 5/30); GEORGIA MCBRIDE opens 5/29.

Theater Talk: Anthony is one-upped by his baby sister; winning shows continue, HAIRSPRAY (MusicalFare at Shea's 710) with a cast of 22 and JUST FOR US (Jewish Repertory) with a cast of 1. Last weekend to see CURTAINS (O'Connell & Co.), CORDUROY at Theatre of Youth, GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY (Stephen King & John Mellencamp musical at Road Less Traveled), and PURE GLITTER (2nd Gen at Shea's Smith).

Theater Talk: So many shows to choose from! MusicalFare's HAIRSPRAY, Starring Buffalo's RENT, O'Connell's CURTAINS, Theater of Youth's CORDUROY, Kenan's COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE, and 2nd Generation's PURE GLITTER. Click and scroll for complete listings.

Theater Talk: Opera-Lytes' YEOMEN OF THE GUARD by Gilbert & Sullivan up through this week might be their best ever; Theater of Youth presents a charming CORDUROY (for 3+); Anthony talks about an event to support Kevin Dees running for the 149th Assembly District with drag performers from Ru Paul's Drag Race; O'Connell to open CURTAINS, a musical by Kander & Ebb.

Theater Talk: R.I.P. Lancaster's David Bondrow; Buffalo's own Jonathan Young wows at Paper Mill Playhouse; GHOST BROTHERS so good, so true to RLTP's artistic vision; last weekend to catch ISLANDER at Irish Classical, LAUGHING TROLL CAFE (BUA at Compass, 345 Elmwood), while ON A FIRST NAME BASIS continues at Desiderio's. See listings.

Theater Talk: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Shea's so exciting; LAUGHING TROLL CAFE (BUA at 545 Elmwood) so funny; THINGS WITH FRIENDS at the Alleyway such a great cast; ISLANDER at Irish's two woman Celtic musical enchanting and audiences love it. Note: Lancaster Opera House's David Bondrow passed suddenly. See listings re ticket situation.

Theater Talk: A conversation with Kristoffer Diaz about his play THINGS WITH FRIENDS at the Alleyway; Broadway tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS opens Tuesday at Shea's,

Theater Talk: 2nd Gen's Broadway Bucket List "best ever," so much talent in Buffalo; see some at MusicalFare's JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR at Shea's 710 through 4/19; BUA's LAUGHING TROLL CAFE opens next week with intriguing (and timely) plot. Many openings next week, see listings.

Theater Talk: Excellent AN IRISH PLAY only up tonight and tomorrow features actors in top form. Don't miss it. (See listings.) Running into May, ON A FIRST NAME BASIS at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre also features a stellar cast.

Theater Talk: 2023 Tony "Best Musical" KIMBERLY AKIMBO makes it to Shea's Buffalo putting the "fun" in dysfunctional; ON A FIRST NAME BASIS hilarious at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre; EXIT STRATEGY at Road Less Traveled closes Sunday.

Anthony goes to NY, sees ABOUT TIME and TWO STRANGERS CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK, which will undoubtedly come to Buffalo, while KIMBERLY AKIMBO does open at Shea's on Tuesday. THE BROTHERS SIZE (Ujima) extended, GOD OF CARNAGE (2nd Gen) closes Sunday, EXIT STRATEGY (RLTP) goes through 3/22.

Theater Talk: GOD OF CARNAGE (2nd Gen), DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (Theatre of Youth), and THE BROTHERS SIZE (Ujima) all worth checking out. (See listings attached).

Theatre Talk: Four solid shows close this weekend, including PRECIOUS LITTLE, "FORUM," SHELTERED, and A SKULL IN CONNEMARA (thanks Keelie Sheridan for those excellent Irish Classical shows). EXIT STRATEGY continues at Road Less Traveled.