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Theater Talk

Theater Talk: The arts are not immune to sexually abusive work environments

By Anthony Chase,

Peter Hall

Published August 13, 2021 at 3:07 PM EDT

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Kathy Hochul stands in front of a Jamestown arts center with others — Kathy Hochul may have ascended to the governor's mansion because of a sexual misconduct scandal, but will she work to root out abuse in the theater arts? Here she is (r) in front of the Reg Lenna Arts Center in Jamestown last summer.

The big story of the week was the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, resigned and Western New Yorker Kathy Hochul becomes the governor. You may think this doesn't have a theatrical dimension, but it does.

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2021 WBFO News WBFO Arts & Culture Desk

Anthony Chase

Listen for Theater Talk, Friday morning at 6:45 and 8:45 during Morning Edition.

See stories by Anthony Chase

Peter Hall

Even though "semi-retired," Peter Hall continues to wear many hats. He is the Sunday afternoon host on WBFO’s “sister station,” WNED Classical where he has produced over 1,000 radio interviews with musical artists. If you see him at a theater with a pen in his hand, he’s probably getting ready to co-host “Theater Talk” with Anthony Chase (heard Friday mornings at 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. on WBFO) or to write a review for www.buffalorising.com. He is also a member of the "Artie Awards" committee (think “Tony Awards for Buffalo theaters”).

See stories by Peter Hall

Latest Episodes

Theater Talk: A conversation with Roslyn Ruff, to be honored at "Plaza of the Stars" (Main at Tupper) on 9/18 at 5:30 pm.

On 9/18 at 4 pm Buffalo-born award-winning stage and screen actress Roslyn Ruff will get a star in the Buffalo Theatre District as a kickoff event for the 40th anniversary of Curtain Up!, the annual start of the theater season. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: An extended conversation with Marc Summers whose "Life and Slimes" original play opens this Sunday at the Alleyway

Anthony and Peter sat down with Marc Summers for an extended conversation with Nickelodeon's "Double Dare" star, but how did he start his career? Listen and find out. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: Curtain Up! may seem far off, yet many plays are opening sooner, including BUA'S A GREAT WILDERNESS this weekend, with more just a few days hence!

Curtain Up! may seem far away (Friday, September 22, 2023) but, local theater companies including Buffalo United Artists, MusicalFare, Paul Robeson, Kavinoky, Alleyway, Second Generation + Ujima + Shea's 710, Bellissima Productions, and Road Less Traveled Productions all have shows opening between September 1 and September 14. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: As Shawfest continues, WNY theaters to open on September 1,6,7,8,10,14 with more to come soon (see listings below). MusicalFare to offer Frank Loesser's GUYS AND DOLLS.

Local theater companies Buffalo United Artists, MusicalFare, Paul Robeson, Kavinoky, Alleyway, Second Generation + Ujima + Shea's 710, and Road Less Traveled Productions all have shows opening between September 1 and September 14. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: ON THE RAZZLE at Shaw is a great farce; this weekend Anthony's shows are at JRT; last chances for ROMEO AND JULIET at SiDP; welcome Keelie Sheridan to ICTC

This week Anthony and Peter talk about: Anthony's show with two matinees (2pm) at the Jewish Repertory Theatre; the new theater space at Canterbury Woods in Amherst; Tom Stoppard's punny and funny ON THE RAZZLE at Shawfest, and the role of Artistic Directors such as Keelie Sheridan starting at the Irish Classical Theatre Company as well as Katie Mallinson at The Kavinoky (listen to last week's show); and Verniece Turner who is taking a leadership role at The Paul Robeson Theatre. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: A conversation with Katie Mallinson, the new Executive Artistic Director of D'Youville's Kavinoky Theatre

Anthony and Peter speak with Katie Mallinson who will be the new Executive Artistic Director for the Kavinoky Theatre. Two-time Artie Award winner, Harvard graduate, she is respected and loved throughout the Buffalo Theater community. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: A delightful ROMEO AND JULIET at Shakespeare in Delaware Park; A funny THE APPLE CART at Shawfest; Last chances for 12th NIGHT at MusicalFare

Anthony and Peter talk about ROMEO AND JULIET at Shakespeare in Delaware Park as well as THE APPLE CART at the Shawfest and remind all that this is that last weekend for TWELFTH NIGHT, the musical, at MusicalFare. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: A conversation with playwright Donna Hoke whose play THE WAY IT IS opens tonight at the Alleyway Cabaret.

A conversation with Donna Hoke about her play THE WAY IT IS tonight at the Alleyway Theatre (for FREE) part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival. The play then picks up again next week through August 6. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: PLAYBOY at Shaw, MUSIC MAN in Lockport, CARMINA BURANA coming to Artpark, THE WAY IT IS coming to Alleyway

Anthony and Peter saw THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD at Shaw, and Peter went to THE MUSIC MAN in Lockport. CARMINA BURANA coming to Artpark and THE WAY IT IS coming to Alleyway. Also noted, the demise of opera and theater at The Chautauqua Institution. For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.
Theater Talk: Is theater in free fall? Buffalo's sold-out run of CHICAGO, huge audiences at SIDP, MusicalFare, and Shawfest all say "Not here!"

Recent op-ed pieces in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and NPR ask the question "Is theater in free fall?" but Anthony says that while some of the high profile theaters such as the Mark Taper Forum in L.A. or Long Wharf in New Haven might be struggling with high overhead costs, here in Buffalo things seem to be good. And the sold-out run of CHICAGO, huge audiences at SIDP, MusicalFare, and Shawfest say "Not here!"For 30 years (as of November 2022) 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 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings 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, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.

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