© 2025 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Protect My Public Media
Theater Talk

Theater Talk: Anthony and Peter see A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Shakespeare in Delaware Park and TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD at The Shawfest in Niagara on the Lake

By Anthony Chase,
Peter Hall
Published August 4, 2022 at 3:44 PM EDT
Ways To Subscribe
In A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Traci Lane as Titania, Chris Hatch as Oberon
Larry Rowswell
/
Shakespeare in Delaware Park
In A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Traci Lane as Titania, Chris Hatch as Oberon

Covid strikes again at the theater community causing a final weekend shutdown of the (sold out) A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at MusicalFare. Which Anthony and Peter highly recommended. It's not the first high quality production to be shut down, so our advice is to go early in any run.

Anthony and Peter did get over to Delaware Park for Shakespeare’s comedy A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, directed by Brian Cavanagh, presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, the second of their 47th season offerings, opened July 28 and runs through August 21, Tuesdays through Sundays promptly at 7:15 pm (off Mondays) on the newly dedicated “Saul Elkin Stage” on “Shakespeare Hill” in Delaware Park near Marcy Casino and The Rose Garden (199 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14222 for your GPS). These performances are free and open to the public (but bring some cash for an intermission donation, merch, and a jewelry raffle). Also, bring a lawn chair or blanket, a jacket for after the sun sets, snacks and beverages of your choice, and maybe some bug spray and a flashlight (for the walk back to the car). (Stretch-golf-cart rides are provided between the hill and Rumsey Road.) Runtime: 2 hours and 40 minutes

David Cooper
/
Shawfest.com TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD playbill

And Peter and Anthony drove up to The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake for TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD by Bernard Shaw, a three hour, three act play dealing with a host of (still contemporary) issues. It's very funny, wonderfully staged in "The Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre" (behind the big Festival Theatre), and is 100% Shaw, with all the wit and repartee you'd expect, and some twists (it's not just the title that's "upside down") that you won't expect.

But, back to Shakespeare, on Mondays (when the production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM takes the night off, you might catch THE BARD'S IN OUR YARD, free touring performances of Shakespeare scenes throughout Western New York presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park. See list of venues at shakespeareindelawarepark.org/2022-tour-locations/ Performances continue on three Mondays in August (August 8, 15, and 22) when performances of AMSND on "the hill" are dark on Mondays. THE BARD'S IN OUR YARD performances are at 7:00 pm .

· Monday August 8: Locust Street Art, (Fruitbelt) Buffalo;

· Monday August 15: Raymond Klimek Veterans Park, North Tonawanda;

· Monday August 22: Galanti Park, Lackawanna.

But wait, there's more: Again, speaking of Shakespeare, we continue to recommend the weekly “Britcom” (British comedy show on television) called “Upstart Crow” (an insult directed at Shakespeare by one of his real-life rivals, Robert Greene). Each week finds the bard responsible for writing a play as he gets inspiration from events in his life, events that cleverly parallel contemporary woes (traffic jams, inept government, failing infrastructure, along with living with, not Covid, but the plague). Plague as comedy? Yes, the clever writers of “Upstart Crow” make it so. Currently running on WNED PBS (check your local listings) it’s pretty funny.

But wait, there's even more: Interested in Shakespeare (and a whole lot more)? Check out Peter's preview of The Stratford Festival here.

https://www.buffalorising.com/2022/07/the-stratford-festival-is-back-celebrating-diversity-with-a-full-season-of-world-class-shakespeare-mixed-with-premieres-by-contemporary-canadian-playwrights/

_____

FINAL WEEKEND CANCELED FOR:

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman, music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Solange Gosselin, Michelle Holden, Jon May, Ricky Needham, John Panepinto, Marc Sacco, Jenn Stafford and Emily Yancey, presented by MusicalFare.

_____

SHAWFESTIVAL LIST OF SUMMER PLAYS:

(Note, visit shawfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2022Calendar_print.pdf for a printable calendar with days, dates, ande times)

Shaw Festival Theatre NOTE: Mask use is optional and proof of vaccination is not required by Shawfest. However, it is required to enter Canada. Download and fill out your ARRIVECAN app (get it on Google Play or the App Store) prior to your border crossing.

2022 Season:

AT THE FESTIVAL THEATRE

DAMN YANKEES Words and Music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross

Book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST By Oscar Wilde

THE DOCTOR’S DILEMMA By Bernard Shaw

Opens Saturday Aug 20 at 6

ROYAL GEORGE THEATRE

GASLIGHT

By Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson

Based on the play Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton

CHITRA By Rabindranath Tagore (11:30 am Lunchtime One-Act) at the Royal George Theatre

JUST TO GET MARRIED By GB Shaw contemporary Cicely Hamilton opens Sun Aug 21 at 11:30 am

BLURB: “It is 1910 and Georgiana is 29, so the burning question is: how can we get her married?”

JACKIE MAXWELL STUDIO THEATRE

TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD By Bernard Shaw is a three act play dealing with a host of (still contemporary) issues.

EVERYBODY By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

GEM OF THE OCEAN By August Wilson (The first play in August Wilson’s THE AMERICAN CENTURY CYCLE) opens Fri Aug 19 at 6

_____

THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL LIST OF SUMMER PLAYS:

The Stratford Festival recommends downloading their Visitors Guide to discover information about Shows, Forum Events, Special Performances, Speakers & Panels, Workshops, Tours & Exhibits and much more. Click here: https://cds.stratfordfestival.ca/uploadedFiles/2022-Visitors-Guide.pdf

Read Peter's preview of the 2022 summer season here.

https://www.buffalorising.com/2022/07/the-stratford-festival-is-back-celebrating-diversity-with-a-full-season-of-world-class-shakespeare-mixed-with-premieres-by-contemporary-canadian-playwrights/

The Stratford musical this summer is

CHICAGO by Kander & Ebb & Fosse

Runs Through OCT 30 at The Festival Theatre

The comedy this summer is

THE MISER by Moliere

Runs AUG 09 - OCT 29 at The Festival Theatre

The family show this summer is

LITTLE WOMEN (a modern adaptation of the Luisa May Alcott classic)

Runs Through OCT 29 at The Avon Theatre

And there are three Shakespeare plays

RICHARD III

Runs Through OCT 30 at The Tom Patterson Theatre (newly rebuilt from the ground up!)

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Runs Through OCT 29 at The Tom Patterson Theatre (newly rebuilt from the ground up!)

HAMLET

Runs Through OCT 28 at The Festival Theatre

And there are four “Modern” plays this summer at Stratford:

EVERY LITTLE NOOKIE at the Studio Theatre

Runs Through OCT 01

HAMLET-911

Runs JUL 28 - OCT 02 at the Studio Theatre

DEATH AND THE KING'S HORSEMAN

Runs AUG 11 - OCT 29 at The Tom Patterson Theatre (newly rebuilt from the ground up!)

1939

Runs AUG 23 - OCT 29 at the Studio Theatre

_____

SHEA'S 2022-2023 SEASON is only two months away!

The M&T Broadway series at Shea's for 2022-2023 includes:

THE PROM Sep 27-Oct 2, 2022

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Nov 8-13, 2022

COME FROM AWAY Dec 13-18, 2022

HADESTOWN Feb 21-26, 2023

BEETLEJUICE Mar 21-26, 2023

SIX Apr 25-May 7, 2023

JAGGED LITTLE PILL Jun 6-11, 2023

with two "special engagements"

Disney's ALADDIN Nov 22-27, 2022 and

DEAR EVAN HANSEN June 20-25, 2023.

Tags
2022 Theater TalkWBFO 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
  • Donna Hoak's play BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART now at the Alleyway Cabaret stars L-R Greg Howze, Zoe Goñez, Johnny Barden
    Theater Talk: Women playwright's works excel on area stages now: Hoke, Martin, Poynton, Ziegler, as more plays continue to open every week around town.
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony remembers Kathleen Betsko Yale (1939-2025) a fierce advocate for women in theater leading into Anthony and Peter talking about new plays in Buffalo by women including Donna Hoke, Wendy-Marie Martin, Bella Poynton, Anna Ziegler and more to come with plays opening every week in February. See listings attached.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.
  • The January 2025 BTPM bus trip to Broadway took in five musicals in three days!
    Theater Talk: January Broadway trip a success with five musicals - OUTSIDERS, HELL'S KITCHEN, SUNSET BLVD, GATSBY, DEATH BECOMES HER; Donna Hoak's play BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART opens at Alleyway Cabaret.
    This week Anthony and Peter discuss the most recent Buffalo Toronto Public Media bus trip to Broadway where the group saw five musicals in three days. And, locally, another Donna Hoak play opened. For more about upcoming local shows, please see the 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.
  • THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY (First Look at Canterbury Woods) L-R Sandra Roberts, Heather Casseri, Kaylie Horowitz
    Theater Talk: O'Connell's KHAN!!! hilarious but closing soon at Shea's Smith; THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY, also a comedy, very well presented by First Look at Canterbury Woods.
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about KHAN!!! A PARODY TREK-TACULA, a musical send-up of the Star Trek franchise produced by O'Connell & Co. at Shea's Smith Theatre. And, also a comedy, but with a thoughtful side, THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY a new play produced by First Look Buffalo which just opened at the Canterbury Woods performance space.For more about upcoming local shows, please see the 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.
  • THE LAST FIVE YEARS at MusicalFare Cabaret stars Steve Copps and Kelly Jakiel Copps
    Theater Talk: Shea's LION KING brings $ to Buffalo, THE LAST FIVE YEARS well acted at MusicalFare Cabaret, Anthony remembers GUSTO, First Look opens THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY tonight
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter discuss the economic impact of Shea's, including the recent three-week run of THE LION KING. Kelly and Steve Copps opened in THE LAST FIVE YEARS at MusicalFare. Anthony reminisces about how seeing GUSTO brought him to Buffalo. And a new play, THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY, opens tonight produced by First Look Buffalo. For more about upcoming local shows, please see the 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.
  • Katie Holmes, Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch in OUR TOWN at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre through January 19
    Theater Talk: LAST FIVE YEARS opens tonight at MusicalFare; Stars of TV, movies, and music will be on Broadway this spring.
    This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Kelly and Steve Copps opening in THE LAST FIVE YEARS at MusicalFare, a show will also be on Broadway in the spring starring Nick Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers) alongside Tony winner Adrienne Warren. So, what other stars of television, movies, and the music industry will be on Broadway? As it turns out, many. Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch, and Katie Holmes will continue in Thornton Wilder's OUR TOWN through Janaury 19. Anthony reminisces about some "crossover" stars including Madonna and Julia Roberts. For more upcoming local shows, please see the 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.
  • Linda Balgord and other stars of note who passed in 2024
    Theater Talk: Broadway passings of note in 2024
    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.
  • Mukelisewe Goba as Rafiki in THE LION KING North American Tour at Shea's through January 5, 2025
    Theater Talk: Copps & Farugia very funny at MusicalFare; Copps and Copps back there soon; LION KING's Mukelisewe Goba as Rafiki superb; Audra's reviews as Mama Rose are at the top
    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.
  • A KIDMAN CAROL L-R Jeremy Kreuzer, Jason Michael Snow, Madeline Rehm
    Theater Talk: KIDMAN CAROL (and other Carols) about to close; SORRY WRONG CHIMNEY continues at Desiderio's; Anthony sees Audra in GYPSY; SCOTUS's Katanji Brown Jackson in &JULIET
    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.
  • JUNIE B. JONES all cast Anika Pace, Aaron Saldana, Maria Ta, Roderick Garr, Kristen Marie Lopez,Scott Borish & Ashleigh Chrisena Ricci
    Theater Talk: WIZARD OF OZ, NUTCRACKER, both very enjoyable; a timely and fun JUNIE B. JONES continues at TOY; Silvia Pinal, Mexican Golden Age star, passes at age 93
    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.
  • WIZARD OF OZ at LOH stars L-R Connor Hesch, Joe Greenan, Isabella Bindemann, Michael Wells
    Theater Talk: NUTCRACKER at Shea's, CHRISTMAS CAROL at Alleyway and Shaw, ('tis the season), WIZARD OF OZ at Lancaster Opera has talented cast (see listings)
Load More