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American Repertory Theater of Western New York

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American Repertory Theater of Western New York is a 501(c)3 theatre company [1] located in Buffalo, New York. Established in 2007 by Matthew LaChiusa, the company produces contemporary & classic comedies including Greater Tuna[2] and Laughter on the 23rd Floor,[3] musicals such as Floyd Collins,[4][5][6] premieres of new plays such as Fred's Requiem,[7][8] well-known dramas such as The Gin Game,[9] Killer Joe and "Heathers: The Musical".[10] The theatre also showcases the work of local Buffalo playwrights and other new playwrights through One-Act Showcase[11][12] the 2010 Young Playwrights Festival.[13][14] American Repertory Theater of WNY has also highlighted Western New York playwrights through showcases requesting writers to base their material on songs written by contemporary musicians such as the 2018 "Rain Dogs Project" that featured works based on the music of Tom Waits.[15]

After the COVID 19 pandemic shut down American Repertory Theater of WNY in March 2020, the company reopened doors in September 2021 to present original works by Western New York playwrights,[16] including Artie Award winner, Mark Humphrey.[17] The company resumed operations with Humphrey's "Speed of Dark" and scheduled an additional three other productions, featuring the works of Western New York Playwrights, for the 2021-22 theatrical season.[18][19] These works included the October 2021 world premier of James A Marzo's "Something Wicked",[20] the March 2022 "Fall From the Grace of God" showcase with Western New York playwrights, Mark C Lloyd, James A Marzo, John Snodgrass, Karen McDonald, Jennifer Tromble, Monish Bhatacharayya, Matthew LaChiusa, Timothy Joyce, and John F Kennedy crafting short plays based on the music of The Pogues,.[21] The May 2022 world premiere of Matthew LaChiusa's "The Paradigm Bomb".[22] was postponed to September 2022 due to the tragic events surrounding the Jefferson Street Tops Supermarket shootings.[23]

American Repertory Theater of WNY continued with the company's artistic vision of producing Western New Your based playwrights in the 2022-23 season. World premiere works included the remounting of the postponed "The Paradigm Bomb" by Matthew LaChiusa in September 2022,[24] Justin Karcher's "The Birth of Santa" in December 2023,[25] multiple writers including j Snodgrass Ellen Scherer-Falank, Samatha Marchant, Suzanne Hibbard, Matthew Boyle, and Michael Frannelli were featured in the company's showcased "Mercy Seat" (one-acts based on the music of Nick Cave), and finishing up the season with local playwright j Snodgrass' "Rust and Redemption".[26]

The company's stated mission is "to produce both classic and contemporary theatrical works and support a new generation of playwrights...[and to] serve as a catalyst for community dialogue and action that will result in sustained economic growth."[27][28] The recent 2021 revisions to the mission statement: "The mission of the American Repertory Theater of WNY is two-fold. First, the mandate of The American Repertory Theater of WNY is to produce both classic & contemporary theatrical works, and support a new generation of playwrights. These productions are purposefully created to embody innovation, diversity, and inclusivity, thereby expanding the cultural and intellectual experience of the theatergoer. Second, the American Repertory Theater of WNY will serve as a catalyst for community dialogue and action that will result in sustained economic growth and increase the collaboration within all sectors of our community" [29]

Throughout the company's 17 seasons, American Repertory Theater of WNY received 23 nominations for theater excellence,[30] and won 4 local awards "The Arties" for theatrical productions.[31]

American Repertory Theater of WNY is currently located on 545 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo New York.[32]

References

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  1. ^ "American Repertory Theater Of Western New York Inc - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  2. ^ "Anthony Chase reviews "Greater Tuna" at Alleyway's Cabaret - Artvoice TV". Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. ^ "Theatre Talk: Theatre for the Rapture". 20 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Index of /issues/v10n38/theaterweek/floyd_collins". Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  5. ^ "Theatre Talk: Recap of Buffalo's theatre scene". 23 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Theatre Talk". 30 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Index of /issues/v10n47/theaterweek/freds_requiem". Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  8. ^ "Onstage: Noteworthy in November". 4 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Index of /issues/v11n4/theaterweek/the_gin_game". Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  10. ^ "'Killer Joe' an impressive debut - Theater reviews - the Buffalo News". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  11. ^ "'One Act Showcase" shows depth of local talent - Theater reviews - the Buffalo News". Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  12. ^ http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/theater/theater-reviews/article382829.ece [dead link]
  13. ^ "American Repertory Theater of WNY".
  14. ^ "Fine performances, compelling characters fuel 'Speed of Dark' at American Repertory Theater". 10 September 2021.
  15. ^ "ART's Tom Waits inspired RAIN DOGS PROJECT now at Alleyway's Cabaret space on Main Street, five shows left". 18 May 2018.
  16. ^ "American Repertory Theater of WNY: A season of world premieres, inclusivity in a 'Great Restart'". 3 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Fine performances, compelling characters fuel 'Speed of Dark' at American Repertory Theater". 10 September 2021.
  18. ^ "American Repertory Theater of WNY: A season of world premieres, inclusivity in a 'Great Restart'". 3 September 2021.
  19. ^ "2021-22 Season".
  20. ^ "ART's 'Something Wicked' recalls a nearly forgotten piece of Buffalo history". 2 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Fall from Grace of God".
  22. ^ "The Paradigm Bomb".
  23. ^ "American Repertory Theater delays opening of 'Paradigm Bomb" after mass shooting". 19 May 2022.
  24. ^ "The Paradigm Bomb - American Repertory Theater of WNY Stage Mag". stagemag.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  25. ^ "THE BIRTH OF SANTA - American Repertory Theater of WNY Stage Mag". stagemag.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  26. ^ "RUST AND REDEMPTION - American Repertory Theater of WNY Stage Mag". stagemag.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  27. ^ "About ART". artofwny.org. Archived from the original on 2014-10-30.
  28. ^ "ART History". artofwny.org. Archived from the original on 2014-11-04.
  29. ^ "American Repertory Theater of Western New York Inc - GuideStar Profile".
  30. ^ "Artie Statistics".
  31. ^ "Artie Statistics".
  32. ^ "American Repertory Theater of WNY Identifies Two New Performance Spaces". 28 August 2018.