WBFO Local Content

On this episode of Theater Talk Anthony and Peter talk about the final few plays that are eligible for the 2023-2024 ARTIE AWARDS to be held on Monday, June 10, and they are I F*CKED YOU IN MY SPACESHIP (BUA), OKLAHOMA (O'Connell), WEDDING BAND (Ujima), and, still to see, CROSSING DELANCEY (Jewish Repertory). (Scroll down for listings.) For 31 years (as of November 2023) 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.

For Henri Star Muhammad, the path to becoming a prolific violinist was a road less traveled.

Today, we take a trip to The Foundry on Buffalo’s East Side where Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with Megan McNally, Executive Director, and Tamara Zantell, Business Development Director. The three have an in-depth discussion about the organization’s start and impact on the community.

Holly Kirkpatrick takes a closer look at Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's proposed property tax increase. Jay Moran speaks with violinist Henri Muhammad.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is proposing a 9% property tax increase for the upcoming fiscal year. But some city residents will feel the pinch more than others.

Catch up on the day's news on the WBFO Brief.

This week, we share an interview with two business leaders from the Deaf community in France who were part of the IVLP trip to Buffalo. Noémie Churlet is the founder and CEO of Médiapi, an organization that provides news and education that is accessible to the Deaf community. WBFO's Emyle Watkins and Churlet discuss media accessibility and educational opportunities for Deaf people.

The Tool Library is a volunteer-powered nonprofit tool-lending library located in the center of Buffalo’s Main Street. Set up to lend tools out to the community to help them maintain and fix up their homes and gardens. On today’s show, we take a tour of the Tool Library with Jay Moran and Darren Cotton, the Executive Director of the library. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with returning guest Alex Burgos public health policy and public relations professional. The two discuss filling the gaps in youth and sports programs on Buffalo’s West Side.

Encampments on university and college campuses are happening across the border as well. Dan Karpenchuk reports.

Today, we welcome returning guest Ben Hilligas, Executive Director of Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center at the University at Buffalo. Ben sits down with Jay Moran to discuss what he and the EOC have done in his first year. His vision, strategies, and passion for educational empowerment alongside the activities and programs that will be taking place in the next year.