Anthony Chase to Receive Star in Buffalo Theatre District Plaza of Stars
41st Annual Curtain Up! Week Kick-Off Celebration
Monday, September 9, 2024, Downtown Buffalo Plaza of Stars, 5:30 PM
BUFFALO, NY – On Monday, September 9, 2024, Buffalo will honor theatre critic and scholar Dr. Anthony Chase with a star in the Buffalo Theatre District’s Plaza of The Stars as a kickoff celebration for the 41st Anniversary of Curtain Up! The ceremony will take place at 5:30 PM at the corner of Main and Tupper Streets in Downtown Buffalo and will be hosted by former Plaza of Stars inductee, the award-winning, and Tony-nominated Stephen McKinley Henderson.
Anthony earned a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in dramatic literature from the University at Buffalo and is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut, where he was President’s Fellow in Theater Arts. He has been a constant presence in the Buffalo theater scene for decades. He is the founder and producer of the Artie Awards, which, for 33 years, have recognized excellence in Western New York Theater, while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local AIDS charities. Chase has served as the host of “Theater Talk” on WBFO for over 30 years, providing commentary on theater in Western New York, Southern Ontario, and across the continent, and signing off each week with his familiar tag, “And I’m Anthony Chase.” His reviews can be seen on his popular theater website, TheaterTalkBuffalo.com. By day, he serves as the Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences at Buffalo State, where he teaches theater history and graduate-level drama studies
“Anthony’s remarkable contributions to Buffalo’s theatre community make him a true star. The Theatre District Association is thrilled to honor his invaluable influence and celebrate his legacy as he takes his rightful place among some of Buffalo’s brightest stars, such as Stephen McKinley Henderson, Christine Baranski, Javier Bustillos, A.R. Gurney, Michael Bennett, Vincent O’Neill, Lorna C. Hill, David Lamb, Neal Radice, Lynne Kurdziel Formato, Saul Elkin, Roslyn Ruff and many more,” says Lisa Ludwig, TDA Co-President, Curtain Up! Co-Chair, and Executive Director of Shakespeare in Delaware Park.
The star honoring Dr. Chase will be the newest addition to the Buffalo Theatre District’s collection of stars that celebrate the careers of Buffalo’s most talented and influential individuals.
Curtain Up! celebrates 41 years of professional theatre in Buffalo. It is the start of Buffalo’s theater season and culminates with a street party in the Theatre District on Main Street, Friday, September 13th at 10 PM. It features live performances, gourmet food, and dancing. The event is presented by M&T Bank and the Theatre District Association.
The Media is invited to attend the star ceremony honoring Dr. Anthony Chase. For more information contact Lisa Ludwig at (716) 856-4533 or lalaludwig@hotmail.com.
About Theatre District Association of WNY, Inc.: Founded in 1979, Theatre District Association of Western New York, Inc. is a not-for-profit community association dedicated to the promotion of the health and well-being of Buffalo’s neighborhood known as the Theatre District. It is our goal to foster public awareness and appreciation of the unique aspects of the Theatre District as an urban cultural neighborhood and to provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas which may affect the welfare of the district and its members and to promote dialogue with other agencies or organizations which may impact our neighborhood. TDA focuses attention on neighborhood cleanup and physical improvement and encourages programs for safety and security. TDA also participates in the development and production of public events that showcase the Theatre District and promote its economic development and growth.
