Musicals
Buffalo United Artists stages the rarely-revived 1970s queer musical comedy, set on the beach at Coney Island on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots — a Western New York premiere decades in the making.
The Tony-nominated musical built from the Grammy-winning Cuban ensemble's story and songbook comes to Shea's Buffalo Theatre for a week-long run — a stage show about music itself, and the friendships that outlast the spotlight.
Lancaster Opera House presents the Tony Award-winning musical reimagining of America's founding — the messy, complicated, and surprisingly funny debates behind the Declaration of Independence.
A comedic horror-musical about a half-boy, half-bat creature discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia — a cult favorite with a rock score and a full ensemble cast, staged at Shea's Smith Theatre.
Sondheim's dark musical thriller about a vengeful barber and his pie-making landlady returns to Shea's 710 Theatre for a run through Halloween week.
Alicia Keys' Tony-winning musical, set in a Manhattan high-rise and built on her own songbook, makes its touring stop at Shea's Buffalo Theatre.
Drama & Plays
Buffalo's home for classical and contemporary Irish drama, staging the greatest works of dramatic literature at the highest level of craft. [Drama, Classical]
Over 180 shows in 37 years and more awards than any other theatre in Buffalo — the Kavinoky's subscriber base of 2,500 is proof the formula still works. [Drama]
An intimate 96-seat house in downtown Buffalo's Historical Theater District, built around innovative, provocative new work. [Drama, New Works]
A not-for-profit professional musical theatre company in Amherst dedicated to bringing quality musical theatre to Western New York. [Drama, Musical Theatre]
Buffalo's alternative professional company, dedicated to new and innovative plays and musicals in a comfortable, intimate space. [Drama, New Works]
For more than three decades, Ujima has built its reputation on reliability and a consistent artistic vision rooted in the Swahili principles for which it's named. [Drama]
Opera & Classical
The Borromeo Quartet continues UB's season-long cycle through the complete Beethoven string quartets, performing at Slee Hall's Lippes Concert Hall.
The acclaimed Jupiter String Quartet returns to Lippes Concert Hall for an evening of chamber repertoire.
A live orchestra performs Elmer Bernstein's score alongside a full screening of Ghostbusters at UB's Mainstage Theatre — one of the strongest entries on Buffalo's growing live-to-film concert calendar.
Local Stage
A state-of-the-art room bringing national headliners within 60 feet of the crowd — Buffalo's home stage for most of this issue's stand-up dates. [Comedy]
Improv comedy played as a sport: two teams of comedians compete for points from the crowd while a referee calls fouls. [Comedy, Improv]
A Williamsville comedy room built for a night out without a trip downtown. [Comedy]
An interactive dinner-theatre whodunit, staged live and public or booked private — equal parts performance and party. [Comedy, Mystery]
Built in the style of a European opera house in 1926 and now a National Historic Site, Shea's remains Buffalo's main presenting stage for touring Broadway, concerts, and dance.
On the Boards
Stand-up sets, one-off plays, and a modern-dress Macbeth — the acts and shows worth flagging now, before the good seats at the comedy clubs and the small houses disappear.
The comedian and Flagrant podcast co-host headlines Helium Comedy Club for a run of shows.
The comedian and Roast Battle creator brings her stand-up to the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center.
The longtime SNL cast member headlines Helium Comedy Club with his low-key, deadpan stand-up.
Real teachers turned stand-ups bring the staff-meeting survival stories to Shea's Performing Arts Center.
Hansol Jung's play about a family and an adopted son who believes he's a wolf, directed by Janet Werther for a UB Center for the Arts run.
Danielle Rosvally's adapted, modern-dress staging of Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, presented at UB's Katharine Cornell Theatre.