Theater

Buffalo Takes Center Stage

The diversity and abundance of performances, put on by nearly 25 professional theaters, makes it easy to find something to see in and around Buffalo. The MusicalFare Theatre stages new and classic musicals. Torn Space Theatre breaks ground with the avant-garde. At the Alleyway Theatre the work of up-and-coming playwrights are on the marquee.

Shows & Musicals for Every Season

The Theatre of Youth’s plays for young people unfold at a restored movie house in the historic Allentown neighborhood. See productions rooted in African American traditions at the Ujima Theatre Company. In the summertime, join the crowd bringing picnics to sit on the lawn and take in the Bard’s comedies and tragedies at a Shakespeare in Delaware Park performance.

From Contemporary to the Classics

West of the city, the Lancaster Opera House continues a tradition of live entertainment that began in 1897. The Kavinoky Theatre’s restored 1903-recital hall on the D’Youville University campus is an elegant, vintage setting. Baroque grandeur suits the Broadway shows at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, a gilded former movie palace on Main Street. For a more intimate production, consider its neighbor on the block, the Irish Classical Theatre Company. Performances suit any proclivity – from murder mystery comedy to a Stephen King movie-turned-play, a Jane Austen interpretation, golden-era shows like Guys and Dolls and the cutting edge. Let us entertain you.

Erie County Theater Companies

With 22 professional theater companies in the Buffalo area, there’s no shortage of show-stopping performances to enjoy. View some of our favorites below!

Buffalo: It's Showtime!

Buffalo: It’s Showtime!

Alleyway Theatre

Alleyway Theatre

American Repertory Theatre of Western New York

American Repertory Theatre of Western New York

Brazen-Faced Varlots

Brazen-Faced Varlots

Buffalo United Artists

Buffalo United Artists

Desiderio's Dinner Theatre

Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre

D'Youville Kavinoky Theatre

D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre

First Look Buffalo Theatre Company

First Look Buffalo Theatre Company

Irish Classical Theatre Company

Irish Classical Theatre Company

Jewish Repertory Theatre

Jewish Repertory Theatre

Lancaster Opera House

Lancaster Opera House

MusicalFare Theatre

MusicalFare Theatre

O'Connell & Company

O’Connell & Company

Paul Robeson Theatre

Paul Robeson Theatre

Raices Theatre Company

Raices Theatre Company

Road Less Traveled Productions

Road Less Traveled Productions

Second Generation Theatre

Second Generation Theatre

Shakespeare in Delaware Park

Shakespeare in Delaware Park

Shea's 710 Theatre

Shea’s 710 Theatre

Shea's Buffalo Theatre

Shea’s Buffalo Theatre

Theatre of Youth

Theatre of Youth

Torn Space Theater

Torn Space Theater

Ujima Theatre Company

Ujima Theatre Company

Upcoming Shows & Musicals

Crowns

04/17 – 05/19

MusicalFare Theatre

Hats become a window into a jubilant celebration of American history and identity.

Details

The Curious Case of the Watson Intelligence

04/18 – 05/18

Road Less Traveled Productions

$10-$50

Pulitzer Prize-WinningTHE CURIOUS CASE OF THE WATSON INTELLIGENCE By Madeleine George April 18 & May 19, 2024 Directed by Katie…

Details

The Price

04/19 – 05/12

Irish Classical Theatre Company at Andrews Theatre

$12-$45

The Price, By Arthur Miller, runs April 19 & May 12, 2024 at Irish Classical Theatre Company. One of Arthur Miller’s…

Details

A Pitch from Satchel Paige

04/05 – 04/28

Paul Robeson Theatre

$25

By Loren Keller and James Keller.  Satchel shares his own story from growing up, playing in the phenomenal Negro League…

Details

Airness

04/19 – 05/05

Lancaster Opera House

When Nina enters her first air guitar competition, she thinks winning will be easy. But as she befriends a group…

Details

Babushka!

09/22 – 06/01

Alleyway Theatre

Babushka! is a two-man long-form improv show that has been a summertime favorite at Buffalo Infringement Festival since 2010. With…

Details

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

04/26 – 05/12

Shea’s Smith Theatre

$15-$45

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by George FurthStephen Sondheim’s beloved cult classic, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG is seeing…

Details

The Curious Case of the Watson Intelligence – Sunday Matinee Performance

04/21 – 05/12

Road Less Traveled Productions

$10-$50

Pulitzer Prize-WinningTHE CURIOUS CASE OF THE WATSON INTELLIGENCE By Madeleine George April 18 & May 19, 2024 Directed by Katie…

Details

Once

05/02 – 05/19

Shea’s 710 Theatre

ONCE features an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage and tells the enchanting tale of a…

Details

Crossing Delancey

05/09 – 06/01

Jewish Repertory Theatre of WNY

Joan Micklin Silver’s delightful romantic comedy stars Amy Irving as a lovelorn New York bookseller who tries to push away…

Details

Particle: A New Musical

05/11

Alleyway Theatre

When seventeen year old Cora is recruited by a professional eSports gaming team, she leaves her twin brother at home…

Details

On Golden Pond

05/17 – 05/26

Williamsville Meeting House

$20

On Golden Pond is a classic American comedic drama that’s every bit as touching, warm, and witty today as when…

Details

The Producers

06/07 – 06/23

Lancaster Opera House

Bialystock and Bloom! Those names should strike terror and hysteria in anyone familiar with Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film.…

Details

MJ the Musical

06/11 – 06/16

Shea’s Buffalo

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Buffalo…

Details

The Falling and the Rising

06/29 – 06/30

Nichols Flickinger Performing Arts Center

THE FALLING AND THE RISING is a powerful story based on interviews with real service members and Veterans. It follows…

Details

Hundred Days

07/10 – 08/11

MusicalFare Theatre

An exhilarating true story about taking a leap and embracing uncertainty.

Details

Bachelors of BROADWAY: Gentlemen of the Theater

08/20

Tickets start at $50

Take a trio of dashing men, add soaring melodies from stage and screen with lush symphonic arrangements of songs from…

Details

Some Like it Hot

09/24 – 09/29

Shea’s Buffalo

Winner of 4 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography and Best Costumes, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album,…

Details

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

11/01 – 11/17

Shea’s Smith Theatre

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee features…

Details

& Juliet

11/19 – 11/24

Shea’s Buffalo

Created by the Emmy®-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story…

Details

The Lion King

12/18 – 01/05

Shea’s Buffalo

Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars,…

Details

The Niceties

02/14 – 03/02

Shea’s Smith Theatre

The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess, begins when Zoe, a black student at a liberal arts college, is called into her…

Details

The Wiz

03/04 – 03/09

Shea’s Buffalo

THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadway tour, the first one in 40 years. This…

Details

Shucked

03/25 – 03/30

Shea’s Buffalo

SHUCKED is the Tony Award®&winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like…

Details
1 2