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Theater Talk: COVID rules 'not uniform, but ubiquitous' as Buffalo theaters open with diverse casts

SPEED OF DARK at American Repertory Theater opens September 9 with (L to R) Quentin Gray, Hugh Davis, Vincenzo McNeill, Monish Bhattacharyya
American Repertory Theater of WNY
SPEED OF DARK at American Repertory Theater opens September 9 with (L to R) Quentin Gray, Hugh Davis, Vincenzo McNeill, Monish Bhattacharyya

The theater season has begun on Broadway (last night WAITRESS starring Sara Bareilles and HADESTOWN starring André De Shields re-opened after COVID shutdowns). And it's about to start in Buffalo, but theater-goers must take responsibility to acquaint themselves with each theaters rules regarding vaccinations, proof of vaccinations, masks, and other concerns. As Anthony cautions: The rules are ubiquitous (found everywhere) but not uniform (each theater has specific restrictions which CAN BE SEEN IN ADVANCE ON THEIR WEBSITES).

RECENT CANCELLATIONS/POSTPONEMENTS DUE TO COVID:

CURTAIN UP! for 2021-2022 has been cancelled.

The long delayed LORNA C. HILL (founder of Ujima Theater) MEMORIAL which was to have been at Asbury Hall on September 7 has been postponed again.

The long delayed 2019-2020 ARTIE AWARDS show which was to have been on September 20 has been postponed again as well. Take September 20, 2021 off your calendars.

There was no 2020-2021 theaterseason, but the good news is that the 2021-2022 Artie season is about to begin. And, theaters are changing their hiring practices as audiences hopefully are changing their pre-conceptions about who gets to play what roles. Openings this month with racially diverse casts include:

Sep 9 - Oct 2* WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT at The Alleyway Theater featuring Melinda Capeles, Victoria Pérez, Darryl Semira, Alex Watts, and Brandon Williamson

Sep 9 - Oct 2 SPEED OF DARK, by local African-American playwright Mark Humphries, presented by American Repertory Theater of WNY at Compass Performing Arts Center (the old "Theaterloft" now Compass Performing Arts Center at 545 Elmwood Avenue), featuring Quentin Gray, Hugh Davis, Vincenzo McNeill, Monish Bhattacharyya (see lead photo).

Sep 10 - Sep 24 FROZEN at Shea's Performing Arts Center
featuring Mason Reeves as Kristoff with other African-American cast members as well.

Sep 10 - Oct 3 FROM HONKY TONK TO PROTEST: A WOMAN’S VIEW OF COUNTRY MUSIC at The Kavinoky Theater

Home

Sep 15 - Oct 17 CAMELOT at MusicalFare featuring Darryl Semira as Arthur, Gabby McKinley as Guenevere, Alejandro Gabriél Gómez as Lancelot, Emily Jimenez as Sagramore, Darryl Semira as Lancelot

Sep 9 - Sep 19 ART at O'Connell & Company

* Each night of the 12-night run of WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT will feature a different Buffalo actor. With a "Double Bunny Pass" or a "Triple Bunny Pass" you can see two or three different performers with two or three tickets, each to a different performance of WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT. See the website https://www.alleyway.com/ for details.

Listen for Theater Talk, Friday morning at 6:45 and 8:45 during Morning Edition.
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”).
Latest Episodes
  • This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter note the passing of Broadway stars in 2024. For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This week Anthony & Peter talk about Steve Copps & Phil Farugia as very funny retro style hosts at MusicalFare; Copps and (Kelly) Copps back there soon in THE LAST FIVE YEARS; LION KING's Mukelisewe Goba as Rafik is superb; Audra's reviews as Mama Rose are, as Anthony predicted, at the top. For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about A KIDMAN CAROL at the Alleyway Cabaret, lots of fun with Broadway stars in the two principal roles of Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman. Speaking of Broadway, Anthony flew down to NYC for Audra McDonald's opening night as Mama Rose in GYPSY. Meanwhile, at another theater, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made her Broadway debut in a specially created one-night-only walk-on role in the hit jukebox musical & JULIET December 14 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Three shows continue past Christmas: IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE at Forest Lawn Cemetery, THE LION KING at Shea's, and SORRY! WRONG CHIMNEY at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre. For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter note the passing of Mexican movie and musical star Silvia Pinal. Anthony was charmed by Lancaster Opera House's THE WIZARD OF OZ (which included scenes cut from the movie) while Peter enjoyed Neglia Ballet's annual performance of Tchaikovsky's THE NUTCRACKER with the BPO in the pit as well as JUNIE B. JONES IN JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS at Theatre of Youth. There's plenty of theater this holiday season. See the listingsFor 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This week on Theater Talk, Anthony is eager to talk about WICKED the movie, but first we mention WITCH, handsomely presented at Road Less Traveled Productions, and also SHYLOCK, a very dark story about prisoners at Auschwitz being forced to present THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. For lighter fare, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES has some new faces on the O'Connell & Co. Mainstage. And THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented at Lancaster Opera House. See listings. For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • Anthony & Peter talk about Lockport's Taylor Theater and a very good 39 STEPS as well as the equally funny THANKSGIVING PLAY at Ujima. Teal Wicks rocks the role of "Anne Hathaway" in & JULIET at Shea's, Anthony saw SUNSET BLVD. on Broadway, and was there to see Stephen McKinley Henderson inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This weekend on Theater Talk, Peter and Anthony talk about ANTIGONE, SOMETHING ROTTEN, and THE FITZGERALDS OF ST. PAUL and creator Christie Baugher talks about her vision and inspiration. For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This weekend on Theater Talk, Peter and Anthony talk about REMEMBER THIS: THE LEGEND OF JAN KARSKI starring David Lundy, an intense one-person show at Jewish Rep in Getzville and THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, presented by 2nd Generation Theatre at Shea's Smith in downtown Buffalo.For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.
  • This weekend on Theater Talk, Peter and Anthony talk about THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION continuing at Desiderio's Dinner Theater, THE BREAK SONG, by Buffalo's Mark Humphrey, now over, "25th...SPELLING BEE" opening tonight, and a fine H.M.S. PINAFORE at OperaLytes last weekend.For 32 years (as of November 2024), 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 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays 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, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.