Here are 16 Editor's Picks of cool and interesting events going on in the area for the week of February 23 - March 1, 2015. Be sure to check out our events calendar for much more of what's going on in the area, and check back every Monday for more Weekly Best Bets in WNY.
The Sing-Off Live Tour
VoicePlay began with three high school friends who bonded over singing through the halls of their high school. After graduation, this small group quickly grew to five as they began to do the theme park circuit of Orlando. Their love of the stage took them on tour across the U.S., but eventually brought them back to Orlando. These five guys realized they were missing a woman's touch... so they called in Honey LaRochelle, an accomplished background singer from the same theme park circuit. Now together with a whole new sound, they're ready for the spotlight on their biggest stage yet!
Larkin Square Author Series: Scott Propeack on Alex Levy
Alexander O. Levy was the art director at the Larkin Soap Company from 1913 -1925. While he was a nationally famous artist, you may be more familiar with his art as seen on reproductions of many of the Larkin catalog covers on view on the first floor of the Larkin at Exchange Building. The Burchfield-Penney Art Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition of Alexander Levy, on view until March 29th, 2015.
WNY Boat Show 2015
Come experience the best our region has to offer as we gather together all the region's best boat vendors and boating-related product leaders into one space. We've even got a Discount Boat Accessory Store full of products you'll love at discount prices! The Boat Show is your one stop shop for boats, accessories, docks, lifts, boat insurance, financing, boating safety, and so much more.
Dancing Pros Live
The world's finest dancers will battle it out live in Dancing Pros: Live! and the audience will choose the winner in this unforgettable live competition show hosted by Golden Globe® nominee and star of the hit TV show Growing Pains, Alan Thicke! For the first time pros from Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and dance champions from around the world will dance off against each other and the audience will use remotes at every seat to crown the winner. Dancing Pros Live will dazzle with an amazing caliber celebrity and pro cast, American Idol or The Voice singers, glamorous set, fantastic costumes, mesmerizing group numbers and, of course, unbelievable dance moves.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
In celebration of MusicalFare's 25th anniversary season, we present the return of one of the most acclaimed productions in our history. BUDDY is the story of the legendary singer & songwriter Buddy Holly, who shot to stardom in 1957. Featuring such classic songs as "That'll be the Day," "Peggy Sue," "La Bamba" and "Chantilly Lace," BUDDY is a unique mixture of innocence, determination, humor, and charm that was Buddy Holly and has been hailed as "The World's Most Successful Rock ‘n' Roll Musical!"
The Irish Comedy Tour
The Irish Comedy Tour takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans.
Dopapod with Moon Hooch
The Boston born, now generally Northeast based, but ever on-the-go Dopapod has come a long way from their college basement, DIY party roots. While maintaining to be as grassroots as their humble beginnings, the group has earned praise from taste making critics like The Huffington Post, Jambase, Relix, and The Boston Herald, all the while tending to their ever expanding community of devoted listeners. The past 4 years have individually held the weight of about 150 shows and included numerous festival appearances like Wakarusa, Summer Camp, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco, Peach Fest, & Gathering Of the Vibes. All of this time on stage together has given the band the opportunity to explore the wide variety of influences that has impacted them to be the players they are today. But, don't be quick to think that the no holds barred openness to experimenting is unguided. While the brush in their hand uses every color, it's the stroke on the canvas that gives Dopapod a distinct voice in the way of crafty songwriting.
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles
As "the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!" (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. In addition to updated sets that include brand new LED, high-definition screens and multimedia content, new songs will be included on the 2015 Tour. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that's as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics ("I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Hard Day's Night," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Let It Be," "Come Together," "Hey Jude" and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!
Let It Be
Following a smash-hit tour of UK and Ireland, LET IT BE returns to London for a strictly limited summer season! Seen by over 800,000 people worldwide, LET IT BE is jam-packed with over forty of The Beatles’ greatest hits.
Relive The Beatles meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the heights of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces, with live performances of early tracks including Twist and Shout, She Loves You and Drive My Car, as well as global mega-hits Yesterday, Hey Jude, Come Together and, of course, Let It Be. Travel back to the magical sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!
Aries Spears
Ever since Chicago native Aries Spears was 14 years old, he has been a force to be reckoned with in the comedy scene throughout America. His quick wit, charisma and ferociously aggressive style of comedy have earned him critical acclaim, high accolades, and above all, a busy schedule. From being a regular on Fox's Mad TV, starring in feature films, appearing on a number of national talk shows, and continually touring the country with his stand-up, Aries's talents are becoming recognized and appreciated throughout the entertainment industry.
BADFISH, A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME
The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996. But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime's music, Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. What separates Badfish from other tribute bands is that they have replicated Sublime's essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts. Badfish make their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime. They perform not as Sublime would have, or did, but as Badfish does.
Orphans
Lyle Kessler's ORPHANS tells the story of two brothers living in an abandoned Philadelphia row house. An unexpected visitor turns their worlds upside down. A darkly funny story, ORPHANS explores the complexity of family relationships.
Brewing Buffalo: Then and Now Bus Tour
Brewing in Buffalo has continually evolved from its beginnings in the early 1800s to its present-day revival. At its peak in the early 1900s before Prohibition, Buffalo's brewing industry included nearly 30 independent breweries producing millions of gallons of beer each year. Today, Buffalo's brewing culture is returning, with the opening of numerous craft breweries around the city.
Join us for a four-hour bus tour to view locations important to Buffalo's brewing past and learn about the history of brewing in the Queen City, and visit several craft breweries for interior tours and product samples.
Burying the Bones
In South Africa at the end of Apartheid, a young Xhosa woman named Mae searches for answers to the disappearance of her school teacher husband, James. Against the advice of her more politically savvy sister, Mae goes before the newly formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission where she encounters Gideon, the white Afrikaner officer accused of killing James, and the shrewd plot begins to unravel.
WWE LIVE Road to Wrestlemania
WWE returns to Buffalo's First Niagara Center on the Road to Wrestlemania. Anything can happen just two days before The Royal Rumble PPV! Here is your chance to see your favorite WWE Superstars LIVE in action.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
"The Importance of Being Earnest" is a witty comedy of manners, considered to be one of Wilde's most popular masterpieces. Its rich dialogue keeps audiences breathlessly anticipating every plot twist exposing the hypocrisies of Victorian society. Two bachelors feel compelled to create different identities in order to pursue two eligible ladies.