Theater Talk
By BTPM NPR
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Category: Performing Arts
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Subscribers: 4
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Episodes: 20
Description
For 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on BTPM NPR, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase.Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days it's Peter Hall.With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara on the Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes excellence in Western New York theater and raises money for AIDS charities.
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Theater Talk: So many shows to choose from! MusicalFare's HAIRSPRAY, Starring Buffalo's RENT, O'Connell's CURTAINS, Theater of Youth's CORDUROY, Kenan's COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE, and 2nd Generation's PURE GLITTER. Click and scroll for complete listings.
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May 08, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: Opera-Lytes' YEOMEN OF THE GUARD by Gilbert & Sullivan up through this week might be their best ever; Theater of Youth presents a charming CORDUROY (for 3+); Anthony talks about an event to support Kevin Dees running for the 149th Assembly District with drag performers from Ru Paul's Drag Race; O'Connell to open CURTAINS, a musical by Kander & Ebb.
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May 01, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: R.I.P. Lancaster's David Bondrow; Buffalo's own Jonathan Young wows at Paper Mill Playhouse; GHOST BROTHERS so good, so true to RLTP's artistic vision; last weekend to catch ISLANDER at Irish Classical, LAUGHING TROLL CAFE (BUA at Compass, 345 Elmwood), while ON A FIRST NAME BASIS continues at Desiderio's. See listings.
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Apr 24, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Shea's so exciting; LAUGHING TROLL CAFE (BUA at 545 Elmwood) so funny; THINGS WITH FRIENDS at the Alleyway such a great cast; ISLANDER at Irish's two woman Celtic musical enchanting and audiences love it. Note: Lancaster Opera House's David Bondrow passed suddenly. See listings re ticket situation.
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Apr 17, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: A conversation with Kristoffer Diaz about his play THINGS WITH FRIENDS at Alleyway; Other openings: Broadway's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Shea's; BUA's LAUGHING TROLL CAFE; Irish Classical's ISLANDER; O'Connell's ALIVE & KICKING. See Listings!
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Apr 10, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: 2nd Gen's Broadway Bucket List "best ever," so much talent in Buffalo; see some at MusicalFare's JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR at Shea's 710 through 4/19; BUA's LAUGHING TROLL CAFE opens next week with intriguing (and timely) plot. Many openings next week, see listings.
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Apr 03, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: Excellent AN IRISH PLAY only up tonight and tomorrow features actors in top form. Don't miss it. (See listings.) Running into May, ON A FIRST NAME BASIS at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre also features a stellar cast.
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Mar 27, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: 2023 Tony "Best Musical" KIMBERLY AKIMBO makes it to Shea's Buffalo putting the "fun" in dysfunctional; ON A FIRST NAME BASIS hilarious at Desiderio's Dinner Theatre; EXIT STRATEGY at Road Less Traveled closes Sunday.
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Mar 20, 2026 |
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Anthony goes to NY, sees ABOUT TIME and TWO STRANGERS CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK, which will undoubtedly come to Buffalo, while KIMBERLY AKIMBO does open at Shea's on Tuesday. THE BROTHERS SIZE (Ujima) extended, GOD OF CARNAGE (2nd Gen) closes Sunday, EXIT STRATEGY (RLTP) goes through 3/22, AN IRISH PLAY (ART of WNY) opens.
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Mar 13, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: GOD OF CARNAGE (2nd Gen), DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (Theatre of Youth), and THE BROTHERS SIZE (Ujima) all worth checking out. (See listings attached).
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Mar 06, 2026 |
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Theatre Talk: Four solid shows close this weekend: PRECIOUS LITTLE, "FORUM," SHELTERED, and A SKULL IN CONNEMARA (thanks Keelie Sheridan for those excellent Irish Classical shows). EXIT STRATEGY continues at Road Less Traveled. Click through for listings.
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Feb 27, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: SKULL IN CONNEMARA at Irish Classical is everything you'd want in an Irish play; SHELTERED (at JRT) and PRECIOUS LITTLE (Brazen Faced Varlets at ART) continue; four (4!) openings this weekend (see listings).
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Feb 20, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: SHELTERED at Jewish Repertory powerful, timely, great acting and directing. Read Anthony's blog, then go (up through 3/1). Alexandra McArthur stunning in new set at the Smith with Jazz great George Caldwall in "Lady Day..." through this weekend. Click through for complete listings.
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Feb 13, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: Last month, Musicals ruled. This month, it's plays! plays! plays! SHELTERED at Jewish Rep opened last night. Next week ON A FIRST NAME BASIS opens at Desiderio's. THE LITTLE PRINCE, presented with love at the Kenan Center's Taylor Theatre, closes this weekend, as does First Look's PRESERVATION at Canterbury Woods. See listings for much more.
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Feb 06, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: BTPM Broadway trip favorites? OPERATION MINCEMEAT and MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, locally it was SHREK (hopefully it will come back on a bigger stage?), MAMMA MIA! (2nd Gen) and PRESERVATION (First Look) continue, looking forward to A SKULL IN CONNEMARA at Irish. See listings.
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Jan 30, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: BTPM Broadway trip a success, Shea's celebrates 100th anniversary, while Shea's 710 has MAMMA MIA! and Shea's Smith has SHREK: THE MUSICAL. Off Main Street RENT continues in Lockport, and two new plays opened: BLOOD ON LINOLEUM OR RETAIL HORROR (apt title) and PRESERVATION. (See listings)
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Jan 23, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: Anthony reads Elizabeth Ashley's memoir, has some Broadway insights, and talks of openings, including a quick run-through of this very, very busy local opening weekend
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Jan 16, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: Peter Shaffer's BLACK COMEDY at Desiderio's, funny!, great food, and the only show in town, then next week theaters explode with MAMMA MIA! , PRESERVATION, SHREK, LADY DAY, and Sean Ryan (the actor, not the mayor) stars in RENT. Click through for listings through February. And Anthony has a bittersweet story about a favorite Manhattan restaurant closing and a meal with Veanne Cox.
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Jan 09, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: Notable passings in 2025 and Anthony sees LIBERATION at the James Earl Jones Theatre in NYC
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Jan 02, 2026 |
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Theater Talk: An extended conversation with Edesia Moreno Barata, director/choreographer for Cirque du Soleil's 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE (at Shea's through 12/28). See listings also for A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Alleyway and BLACK COMEDY at Desiderio's.
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Dec 26, 2025 |