Presents
The 40th Anniversary
CURTAIN UP!
Date
8 PM
Attend one of the many participating theater performances
10 PM UNTIL...
Celebrate at the biggest outdoor party in buffalo
On main street between Tupper & Chippewa
Schedule
Take Your Seat
Alleyway Theatre
Production Title: SLIMES OF MARC SUMMERS by Alex Brightman, Music by Drew Gasparini, Directed by Chad Rabinovitz
Description: Marc Summers is an icon of a generation. You may know him from his time hosting Nickelodeon’s DOUBLE DARE and Food Network’s UNWRAPPED, or as the Producer of hits like DINNER: IMPOSSIBLE and RESTAURANT: IMPOSSIBLE, but now you get the chance to meet the real Marc Summers – a man who’s led a fascinating life of fame and frustration. (Run dates: Sep. 10–Sep. 30 with Opening night on Sep. 14)
Ticket Price: Regular $43-60 + $5 fee
Production Title: BABUSHKA! starring Todd Benzin and Don Gervasi
Description: BABUSHKA! is WNY’s most celebrated long-form improv team of Benzin and Gervasi. With one suggestion from the audience, they create an entire evening of on-the-spot performance and comedy. With over 50 years of improv comedy experience combined, BABUSHKA! has been a WNY favorite since 2010.
(Run dates: last Friday and Saturday of every month.)
Ticket Price: Regular $20, Student $10
Irish Classical Theatre Company
Production Title: BELFAST GIRLS by Jaki McCarrick
Description: The year is 1850, and five young women seek to escape the famine in Ireland aboard a ship bound for Australia. As they sail toward the promise of new lives in Sydney, they struggle to leave their pasts behind.
(Run dates: Sep. 22 – Oct. 15)
Ticket Price: Single Ticket: $45 + $3 fee, Student (ID Required): $20 + $3 fee
MusicalFare Theatre
Production Title: GUYS AND DOLLS
Description: score by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows It tells the overlapping stories of high-roller Sky Masterson, who falls in love with mission worker Sarah Brown, and lovable rapscallion Nathan Detroit, engaged for 14 years to Miss Adelaide, a headliner at the Hot Box Club. Telling the story of a group of small-time gamblers and the ladies in their lives, Guys and Dolls features a classic score by Frank Loesser, including the songs “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” and “A Bushel and a Peck.” (Run dates: Sep. 6–Oct. 8)
Ticket Price: $52/general, $17/student
O’Connell & Company
Production Title: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Book by Harvey Fierstein, Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman Based on the play by Jean Poiret
Description: After 20 years of partnered bliss, Georges and Albin, two men partnered for better or worse, get a bit of both when Georges’ son (fathered during a one-night fling) announces his impending marriage to the daughter of a bigoted, right-wing politician. Further complicating the situation is the “family business”: Albin and Georges run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez, where Albin is the star performer, “Zaza.” Georges reluctantly agrees to masquerade as “normal” when he meets the family of the bride-to-be. But Albin has other plans, with hilarious results. (Run dates: Sep. 22 – Oct. 8)
Ticket Price: $38/general + $2 fee
Road Less Traveled Productions
Production Title: MURDER BALLAD
by Juliana Nash & Julia Jordan
Description: Murder Ballad is the dramatic story of a love triangle gone wrong, centering on Sara, an uptown girl who seems to have it all with husband Michael, but whose downtown past with bad boy Tom lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her. Murder Ballad is an exploration of love, lust, and betrayal set to a killer musical score.
(Run dates: Sep. 14-Oct. 15)
Ticket Price: $45-50/general, $25/student
Shea’s Smith Theatre
Production Title: DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY
Presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino
Description: Dixie Longate is the fast-talking, gum chewing, ginger-haired Alabama gal who is bringing your grandma’s Tupperware party into the 21st century. Audiences howl with laughter as Dixie demonstrates the many alternatives uses for the iconic plastic kitchen staple. Filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, audience participation and a little bit of empowerment and homespun wisdom, Dixie’s Tupperware Party leaves your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher.
(Run Dates: September 19th – September 24th)
Starring Buffalo
STARRING BUFFALO CABARET: AN EVENING OF SONGS WITH THE STARS
A new musical theatre revue and cocktail party featuring Starring Buffalo’s signature combination of Broadway, Buffalo, and student performers. Cocktail attire.
Run Date: September 22nd at 8pm
The Kavinoky Theatre
Production Title: WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME by Heidi Schreck
Description: Directed by Robyn Lee Horn. Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. (Run dates: Sep. 8-Sep. 24)
Ticket Price: $49/general, $44/seniors, military. Discounts available for students and groups
Ujima Company, Inc., Second Generation Theatre, Shea’s 710 Theater, Co-Production Presented by SaveonSP
Production Title: THE COLOR PURPLE
Music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, and a book by Marsha Norman, based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation.
Description: A musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love, and a celebration of life.
(Run dates: Sep. 14-Oct. 1)
Ticket Price: Starting at $49.75
Free Late-Night Street Party
Act II Entertainment:
Pianist Griffin Kramer, playing showtunes, classics, and your favorite sing along songs at the Shea’s Bistro.
Piano master and tenured jazz legends, George Caldwell Jazz Quartet, will be set up inside the Alleyway Theatre lobby.
Tom Makar will be playing rock and roll favorites on his guitar outside of the Irish Classical Theatre Company Andrews Theatre.
The 12/8 Path Band will leading a Mardi-Gras style music parade on Main Street from Tupper to Chippewa Street.
Laissez le bon temps rouler at The Bijou! The Zydeco Band is playing their annual upbeat, spicy blend of Cajun music outside of The Bijou.
Local music favorites, The Bear, Tiny the Dream, BPD Trio, and more will perform outside Hostel Buffalo-Niagara.
Buffalo Wide Right, Buffalo Music Award winning band, playing current radio hits, classic rock, country, disco, Motown & more.
Magician Mike Seege will be strolling throughout the evening, using cards, coins, and other small objects to make the seemingly impossible magic possible.
Pyromancy, a premier fire performance troupe, will roam the 600 Block of Main Street.
Buffalo AKG Art Museum Art Truck is a mobile center for hands-on artmaking that brings art activities, for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of ability into the communities of Western New York.
Fat Bob’s Smokehouse Food Truck will be set up in the 600 Block and will offer delicious BBQ bites for purchase.
Hearth + Press restaurant will be selling slices of their famous Neapolitan-style pizza outside of their space in the heart of the Theatre District.
The Bijou will be set up outside their space on Main Street with delectable desserts available for purchase as well.
It’s all free and everyone is welcome!
Associated Events
The Curtain Up! experience includes other quality entertainment at various locations in the Theatre District
Buffalo AKG Art Museum Art Truck
Buffalo AKG Art Museum Art Truck is a mobile center for hands-on artmaking that brings art activities, classes, and workshops for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of ability into the communities of Western New York. The Art Truck will be set up on Main Street for the Free Late-Night Street Party.
Hostel Buffalo-Niagara
The Opening Reception of Hostel Buffalo’s BOX Gallery presents from the minds of A.J. Fries & Michael Mararian, The Art of Polyester Bakes, “Get Your Bake On” will be held from 7pm through 1am. “The Art of Polyester Bakes” is a visual interpretation of one of Buffalo’s favorite Instagram accounts @Polyesterbakes, and the brainchild of artist Michael Mararian who every week bakes delicious desserts paired with vintage attire. The show will visually interpret an array of delectables and fashion from the account. In collaboration with well-known artist A.J.Fries, both gentlemen are hoping to capture some fan favorites in a series of simple, black-and-white paintings on cardboard. This exhibition will be on view through October 23rd.
Entertainment in Hostel and a Pinata!
10 PM to Midnight
Free.
Houndstooth Costume Collective
Participating Local Restaurants
WEDI Downtown Bazaar
Taste of Downtown Bazaar: Dinner & Drinks for Curtain Up!
The Evening’s Menu:
Oralia Style Chicken Taco
Papaya Salad
One Beef Sambusa or One Veggie Sambusa
Chicken Gufuma
Spam Fried Rice
One complimentary draft beer or house wine from Lulu’s Pub
Choose your preferred tasting time and click here to order tickets today!
Kickoff Party
Frequently Asked Questions
This year is the 37th Annual Curtain Up! Event which celebrates the opening of the theatre season in Buffalo and the continued strength of the Theatre District that has played a large role in Buffalo’s Resurgence. It is a unique event that involves three “Acts” in one evening.