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Theater Talk: Disney's FROZEN at Shea's yet another Disney hit; Anthony opens up about his on-stage appearance in WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT

The sisters Elsa and Anna in Disney's National Tour of FROZEN now at Shea's Buffalo
Disney Productions
/
Shea's
The sisters Elsa and Anna in Disney's National Tour of FROZEN now at Shea's Buffalo.

After 18 months of hibernation, the Buffalo Theatre District was alive with crowds wearing masks and streaming into Shea's Buffalo for the long-awaited re-boot of the National Tour of Disney's FROZEN (in town through September 24). Caroline Bowman as Elsa has a big voice and bigger smile and her on-stage sister Anna (Caroline Innerbichler) is cute as a button and dances spectacularly with Austin Colby as Hans. Meanwhile, sharing the alley that connects Pearl Street and Main Street, the Alleyway Theatre continues it's different-actor-each-night run of WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT by Nassim Soleimanpour through October 2, 2021.

In Disney's North American tour of FROZEN at Shea's Buffalo Austin Colby and Caroline Innerbichler dance divinely
Disney Theatrical Productions
/
Shea's Buffalo
In Disney's North American tour of FROZEN at Shea's Buffalo Austin Colby and Caroline Innerbichler dance divinely

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,” Classical 94.5 / WNED 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 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Usually, July means Shakespeare in Delaware Park and The Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, and both are going strong in 2023, but add to that mix more musicals including TWELFTH NIGHT (adapted from Shakespeare) at MusicalFare and CHICAGO at O'Connell & Co. in their home theater on Bailey Avenue. (See listings below.) 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.
  • MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare, presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, had a very entertaining opening. And Theater Talk mourns the loss of beloved Buffalo character actor, two-time Artie Award winner, Jerry Maher. 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 notes the extraordinary number of closings after this weekend. So many great shows! So little time (left)! BLOOM, and DEAR EVAN HANSEN, and GOLDEN GIRLS 3, and GRAND HORIZONS, and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, and ANTHONY CHASE, MY LIFE IN THE AUDIENCE, all worthy of your consideration. (See listings below.) Unfortunately, the last four shows of THE SOUND INSIDE at The Kavinoky have been canceled. 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.
  • The Tony Awards on Broadway were (unscripted) fun although we were disappointed that Buffalo's Stephen McKinley Henderson did not win Best Actor. "EARNEST" continues at Irish Classical as does THE SOUND INSIDE at the Kavinoky ("a marvelous little puzzle of a play" says Anthony) and BLOOM directed by Katie Mallinson finds the Raices Theater Company using the Road Less Traveled Stage. 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.