Theater Talk

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Second Generation's BATBOY:THE MUSICAL with Ricky Needham in the title role with a great cast including Marc Sacco, Michele Marie Roberts, Audree Woods, Dan Urtz, and many more, so much fun, while at Lancaster Opera House (whose telephone number ends in 1776!) there are first rate performances still to enjoy including Bernie Sheredy as Benjamin Franklin and Charles McGregor's big big voice as Edward Rutledge in "Molasses to Rum" (and Tony recalled seeing Buffalo's Jonathan Young in that role, Young now on Broadway as u/s for both Jay and Tom in THE GREAT GATSBY). Maria Pedro continues to star in a first-rate cast in NUTS, a gripping, but also funny (yes, both!) courtroom drama directed by Lisa Ludwig at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre. THE DAVINCI CODE continues at Road Less Traveled while First Look Buffalo presents the second group of new play readings out at Canterbury Woods. This week there are six play readings starting tonight (including one by Bella Poynton) and last week Peter saw one by Donna Hoke. And Anthony got to see TOUT CASSE (Everything's Broken) by Casey Grim at the Buffalo Improv House. Note: While the remaining few Shaw Festival's shows close this weekend, the Stratford Festival continues all the way through November 1st.SEE COMPLETE LISTINGS BELOW.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk with Buffalo's Daniel Croix Henderson currently on Broadway as the lover "Cleante" in Moliere's comedy The Imaginary Invalidat the Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 West 42nd Street alongside Tony Award® winner Bill Irwin as "Argan." Daniel, a big fan of but not related to Stephen McKinley Henderson, talks about an inspiring visit when Stephen came to his classroom at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, and gives shout outs to Lorna C. Hill, Kelly Beuth, George Davis, and Meg Quinn and hopes that every theater kid in Buffalo takes advantage of the playground in the arts that is open to them. Meanwhile, this is the final weekend to see BECKY SHAW, EMMA, HAIR, and JANIS JOPLIN while at Shawfest, it's the final weekend for AMADEUS, FUNNY GIRL, HEARTBREAK HOUSE, and OHIO STATE MURDERS. But "as one door closes, another opens" and Second Generation has opened BATBOY:THE MUSICAL, while First Look Buffalo presents the first 5 of 10 new plays out at Canterbury Woods. Continuing shows include NUTS at Desiderio's, 1776 at Lancaster Opera House, and THE DAVINCI CODE at Road Less Traveled. Note: While the Shaw Festival's shows close either this weekend or next, The Stratford Festival continues all the way through November 1st. SEE LOCAL LISTINGSCLICK THROUGH OR SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS FOR LOCAL SHOWS, SHAWFEST, STRATFORD, AND SHEA'S TOURING SHOWS.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring…

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about EMMA, at Irish Classical, simply divine with the winning Penelope Sergi in the title role, also THE DAVINCI CODE at Road Less Traveled with its stunning graphics, and HAIR, with exciting choreography by Eric Deeb Weaver at MusicalFare, as they look forward to seeing GUYS AND DOLLS at O'Connell & Co. at Canterbury Woods, 1776 at Lancaster Opera House, and NUTS at Desiderio's Dinner Theater. See listings below. Later this morning, Anthony will be back at the Shaw Festival this Friday September 25 to host/emcee ANECDOTES & STORIES FROM THE THEATRE at 10:00am at the Shaw Artists' Village Hall.CLICK THROUGH OR SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS FOR LOCAL SHOWS, SHAWFEST, STRATFORD, AND SHEA'S TOURING SHOWS.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local…

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about CURTAIN UP! tonight, September 18, with a wide variety of shows to choose from including GULP! THE GAY BEACH MUSICAL, FUNNY GIRL, GUYS AND DOLLS, HAIR, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, EMMA, NUTS, THE DAVINCI CODE, BECKY SHAW, BAT BOY, JUICY AND DELICIOUS, and BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB. Peter will be at Nichols to see Buffalo Opera Unlimited's limited run of Pauline Viardot's CINDERELLA. See listings below.CLICK THROUGH OR SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LISTINGS FOR LOCAL SHOWS, SHAWFEST, STRATFORD, AND SHEA'S TOURING SHOWS.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes…

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk to Buffalo's latest Broadway star, Dudney Joseph, Jr. a Buffalo favorite on many, many local stages, who remembers his start, and who recently wowed audiences on Broadway as Munkustrap, the onstage emcee in CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL, a reimagining of CATS through ballroom/voguing/drag culture. Unfortunately, despite strong reviews, high attendance, and multiple Tony Awards (direction, choreography, and costume design) rising Broadway production expenses closed the show on August 8, 2026 to the surprise of everyone including Andrew Lloyd Webber who called the closing “gutting” and used it to highlight Broadway’s “unsustainable cost of producing and running any new show now” urging industry stakeholders to address the crisis. Meanwhile, several shows open in Buffalo this weekend including GULP! THE GAY BEACH MUSICAL from Buffalo United Artists on stage at 545 Elmwood. Also opening A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at the Kavinoky, BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB at Shea's, GUYS AND DOLLS (O'Connell & Co. at Canterbury Woods), and NUTS presented by Desiderio's Dinner Theatre.