Looking at WNY’s visual art, theater, music, and dance scenes.
Talk about Arts |
08/23/12Spree Theater with Darwin McPherson: Curtain UpOn Wednesday, August 15, the collective theaters of Western New York gathered at Shea’s Intermission Lounge for Press-ed for Time, a media reception intended to inform local reporters about Curtain Up! and the 2012-13 theatre season. Before the “8-minute dating” styled exchange took place, Curtain Up! chairman David Bondrow introduced Dr. Anthony Chase as the honorary chairman of the Curtain Up! Gala. This is the thirty-first Curtain Up! and Dr. Chase has attended them all. In a brief speech, he reminded us all of the unique and extraordinary community collaboration that Curtain Up! is and prompted us to celebrate it enthusiastically. As I (very briefly) interviewed all of the theater representatives who came to the event, I couldn’t help but note the... |
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08/22/12Spree Theater with Jana Eisenberg: Shaw's "Millionairess"Playwright, economist, socialist, and critic Bernard Shaw never tired of teaching us lessons. In his over 60 plays, which feature lots of expositional dialogue, he sought to dispense with the going schools of thought and proffer alternative ideas—often with more than a tinge of satire or unsubtle drawing room comedy. In his plays, which were written between 1892 and 1949, he addressed subjects including education, business, marriage, religion, government, health care, and class privilege. “The Millionairess,” now in rotation at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, is no exception. Between the laughs and amusement, get ready for a lecture. The play is subtitled “A Jonsonian Comedy,” in reference to Renaissance playwright Ben Jonson for his... |
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08/17/12Movie Review: ParaNormanLaika may just steal an Oscar from Pixar with this one. |
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08/10/12Movie Review: The Bourne LegacyIf you like one Bourne, you'll probably like them all. |
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08/09/12Spree Theater with Darwin McPherson: New Life for 710 MainThanks to the intervention of Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 710 Main Street, the former headquarters of Studio Arena Theatre, continues to be a vital part of Western New York’s theater community. Anthony Conte, the President and CEO of Shea’s, spoke to us about the preservation process and future plans for 710 Main. Darwin McPherson: At what point did it become Shea’s responsibility to save Studio Arena? Anthony Conte: When they declared bankruptcy, it was a loss to the theater community. [710 Main] was one of the anchors of the theater district—I think it was important to the success of the district. I told the board I felt it was our corporate responsibility to do whatever we might be able to do to bring that theater back. Did you know at... |
