American Repertory Theater of WNY

02/28/2025

Come all ye young Rebels.

20th century Irish writer Liam O’Flaherty’s "The Informer" is brought to life as ART/WNY presents the world premiere of a stage adaptation of his 1920’s novel.

This tale of lost souls desperately trying to make sense of a world around them torn by civil war for National identity, economic hardship, and spiritual absence is set to open March 13th and run until March 29th at the Compass Performing Arts Center, 545 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo NY. The March 15th, 5-7 pm show features a special Saint Patrick's Day celebration following the performance. $25 GA / $20 Military & Student / $15 Arts Industry / Thursday nights are Pay-What-You-Can. Service fee for all online tickets purchased through Eventbright (Links below)

The talented ensemble includes Trevor Dugan, Juli Gygeir, Anthony Grande, Danette Pawlowski, Catherine Burkhart, John DellaContrada, Dan Morris, Jackson Snodgrass, Nate Chateau, John F Kennedy, Tyler Collis, Scott Gattie, Alicia Adema, and Katlyn Gard.

Directed and written by Matthew LaChiusa, the production team also features Sheri Sante (Stage Manager), Jessica Rasp (Costumer), Catherine Burkhart (Dialect Coach/Assistant Director), Anthony Grande (Fight Cordinator), and Suzanne Hibbard (Choreographer).

Don't miss this Peaky Blinders and Tullamore Dew soaked narrative.

Online Ticket Information:
Performances:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1124787883839?aff=oddtdtcreator
Saint Patricks Day Celebration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1249722837649?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/19/2025

Closing weekend of the critically acclaimed "The Mighty Maisie" written by local playwright, Bella Poynton. Swiftly directed by Kelli Natele, this sci-fi dramedy introduces us to four women on different paths that lead to a "message of perseverance and hope" sorely needed in times like these.

Thursday evening features a pay-what-you-can Thursday ticket special with showtimes starting at 7:30 for Thursday and Friday performances. Ticket prices are $25 GA, $20 Student/Veteran, $15 for all Arts Industry individuals. Also following the 5 pm - 7 pm closing Saturday performance, ART/WNY will host the annual salute to Spring with the Maisie Mardi Gras Shindig starting at 8 pm. Price for both the performance and event is $35 (online purchase see a fee for service). If you've seen Maisie, great, come celebrate another successful production by a local playwright at ART/WNY.

Maisie Online tickets (there is a fee for service):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1124759097739?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Maisie Mardi Gras Celebration Online tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1131536368739?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/17/2025

Don’t let those Winter blahs hold you back

Final weekend and the final three chances to see this critically acclaimed homegrown work, The Mighty Maisie by Bella Poynton.

ART/WNY takes pride in being a leader in affordable and progressive ticket policies that allows for greater accessibility to theater. Tickets range from $25 to $15 making this an affordable evening out for two.

Thursday/Friday @ 7:30 pm
Saturday @ 5 pm
(Following Saturday’s performance, ART will be hosting a Mardi Gras celebration)

Online ticket Information
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1124759097739?aff=oddtdtcreator

Feb 22nd - The Maisie Mardi Gras Shin Dig
Join American Repertory Theater of WNY as the company celebrates the long-time Fat Tuesday spring ritual. Music, Food, Beverages and whole lotta cheer as Factory workers laissez les bon temp rouler their butts off. Either purchase a ticket for the closing performance of The Mighty Maisie and get this event for free or it's $10 at the door. Come warm yourself up to the Carnival cheer.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1131536368739?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/14/2025

American Repertory Theater of WNY takes pride in producing regional playwrights. The success of the company’s New Play Workshop this season yielded quite an extraordinary round of new works (Break Song, Shylock and The Mighty Maisie) to the stage. Now teaming up with local playwrights, ART/WNY is offering recorded presentations of new works.

Kicking off this series is Snodgrass’ perfect love comedy … of sorts “Revision” with a special first part premiere tonight at 9 pm on You Tube.

Here’s the link:
https://youtu.be/qKLE4tPewrE

Enjoy!

Interested local playwrights are encouraged to reach out to ART through FB messaging to be part of this new series bringing local talent together

02/11/2025

A hearty “thank’ee” goes to Anthony Chase for his assessment of The Mighty Maisie. Congratulations to director Kelli Natale, the ensemble and production team for bringing this successful production to life on stage. Two more weekends to catch this sizzling world premiere by 716 playwright, Bella Poynton. Thursday and Friday @ 7:30/ Saturdays @ 5 pm.

REVIEW by ANTHONY CHASEBella Poynton stands unique in theater as the lone playwright dedicated to science fiction, a genre that typically finds its home in movies, short stories, and novels -- or when it does appear on stage, usually in parody. Given this distinction, I approached her new play, The....

02/09/2025

Great opening weekend of “Mighty Maisie” with folks joining the cast to celebrate the start of a successful production. Two weekend runs remain. Don't miss out!

Runs until February 22nd. Thurs & Fri @ 7:30 pm/ 5 pm on Saturdays. Pay-what-you-can on Thursday night. Info: www.artofwny.org

02/08/2025

Positive stardust

Thanks to Anthony Higgins for the review

World Premiere of The Mighty Maisie, a new play by local playwright Bella Poynton, directed by Kelli Bocock-Natale, presented by American Repertory Theater of WNY, starring Marie Costa, Emily Yancey,

02/04/2025

Meet the talented ensemble of Bella Poynton’s “The Mighty Maisie” opening this Thursday at 7:30 pm. In the title role is Rep alumni Marie Costa as ‘Maisie’. Her comrades include ’June’ portrayed and making her Rep stage debut is Mariangela Mercurio, returning alumni Emily Yancey as the highly charged ‘Zanna’. Also returning back to the stage is Maryna Seufert (and company) as ‘Penny’. Male counterparts include ART durable Andrew Zuccari as ‘Rizzo’, Rep alumni Scott Gattie as Dave the (friendly) Mailman, in his back to back ART debut, Anthony Grande as ‘Officer Briggs’ (you’ll see him in the March production of The Informer).

Directed by Buffalo OG theater pro, Kelli Natale, the production team also features Kate Olena (Stage Manager), Jessica Rasp (Costumer) and Matthew LaChiusa (Tech).

This play isn't about one-sided viewpoints or going for "ism" branding its about, in the words of playwright Bella Poynton, "... anyone who has ever felt like they've gone unheard, anyone who has ever told a story and felt they weren't believed, or anyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite fit in ... the story is really a universal one".

Show dates & Times are Thurs/Fridays @ 7:30 pm, Saturdays @ 5:00 pm. Show runs until Feb 22nd at the 545 Elmwood Avenue Compass Performing Arts Center.

Online tickets and other information (parking, cost of tickets, times) please visit www.artofwny.org

02/01/2025

Tech day. Fearless SM Kate Olena at the helm
The Mighty Maisie opens Feb 6th.

01/31/2025

Arthur, honorary company mascot and predictor of weather conditions across WNY, recently emerged from his bungalow in Cancun and, folks, good news, he saw his Maisie shadow. That means you can shake off those winter "blahs" and make your way down to ART/WNY's premiere of Bella Poynton's "The Mighty Maisie".

Directed by Buffalo OG theater powerhouse, Kelli Natale, this original blend between X files, Issac Asimov and a double shot espresso promises to bring some long missed sunshine into winter's drab and inspire knowledge that you're not alone in being weird.

Featuring an outstanding ensemble including Marie Costa (in the title role as 'Maisie'), Maryna Seufert, Mariangela Mercurio, Emily Yancey, Andrew Zuccari, Tony Grande, and Scott Gattie.

February 6th to February 22nd, Thurs/Fridays at 7:30 pm & Saturdays at 5 pm. Tickets $25 GA, $20 Student/Military Veteran (Special pay-what-you-can on Thursday evenings). Compass Performing Arts Center, 545 Elmwood Avenue.

Online ticket purchases:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mighty-maisie-tickets-1124759097739?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/20/2025

Q & A with 716 playwright and author of the upcoming ART/WNY Feb 6th production of her full-length work “The Mighty Maisie”.

Bella is an Artie nominated playwright who is an Assistant Professor of Theatre History and Criticism at SUNY Oswego, is a Senior Co-chair of Playwriting of the Mid America Theatre Conference and a Director in the Playwrights Wing of First Look Buffalo Theatre Company. This marks Bella’s second play performed at ART/WNY.

Q: Playwright could you compare yourself with or best ascribe your work to?

A: I don’t think I would compare my work to anyone specifically, but there are lots of playwrights who I love and am influenced by, such as Naomi Wallace, Tom Stoppard, Jen Silverman, Sarah Kane, Caryl Churchill, Mac Rogers, and Jennifer Haley. I would describe my own playwriting as heightened genre plays with some otherworldly weirdness!

Q:The specific genre you write about is generally inspired by which writer?

A: As many people know, I write a lot of science fiction. The Mighty Maisie is definitely a science fiction play, and I’ve had a lot of great sci-fi influences throughout my writing career. Some of my biggest science fiction influences include Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Ursula K. LeGuin, Philip K. Dick, Octavia Butler, and Peter F. Hamilton. Sci-fi playwrights are harder to come by, but some favorites are Mac Rogers, Alistair McDowall, Dawn King, Jennifer Haley, and Thomas Gibbons. There are awesome writers out there doing really interesting genre work. You just have to look for it!

Q: Who does Mighty Maisie speak to?

A: I think The Mighty Maisie speaks to anyone who has ever felt like they've gone unheard, anyone who has ever told a story and felt they weren't believed, or anyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite fit in. I think we all feel that way at one point or another in our lives, so, the story is really a universal one.

Q: Compare this original work to others you have written ? Development of characters, the antagonist & protagonist arch’s, etc.?

A: Maisie is a special piece for me. I wrote it a while ago when someone challenged me to write a play that happens in the here and now. Generally, my plays are a more high concept, happening in another time or place, or in a universe totally different than our own. But this play is happening right here and right now with characters just like you and me. That's not to say they still dont have some interesting and wacky experiences!

Q: With an original full-length work, what are some of the positive aspects of fully producing it?

A: It's always a joy and a privilege to have a fully staged production of your work! Producing a full length is obviously more involved, and you want to make sure it happens at the right time in the play's life; for example, you wouldn't want to have a full production too early, before the play is ready, but I've been working on Maisie for several years and I think it's a great time for it. I am so thankful for ART of WNY for making it happen! It's amazing to be working with such an awesome cast and with the great Kelli Bocock Natale. It's been a great come true!

The Mighty Maisie opens Feb 6th and runs until Feb 22nd. Show days and times are Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30 pm/ Saturdays @ 5:00 pm. Online tickets can be purchased by clicking:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1124759097739?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/19/2025

American Repertory Theater of WNY wants to thank all those who made the Punk Rock Crock Pot Cookoff a huge success. Major shoutout goes out to Mariangela Mecurio, Sarah Emmerling, band-members of The Night Owls & Dick Whiskey, Andrew Zuccari, Trevor Dugan (taking a quick break from his job protecting our city) and all of you who showed your support. Competition was fierce with 9 crock pot entries resulting in a first place win by Tommy Jacobs, second place Matthew LaChiusa and third by Jason Stopsinski.

01/13/2025

American Repertory Theater of WNY has relied on the grass roots support of this wonderful community for the past 17-seasons. From the production alumni to those who attend the diverse programming here at ART/WNY, this homegrown support has kept the company going through two recessions, COVID shutdown with lingering effects on attendance, and a shrinking appreciation for the dramatic arts. This is why our fundraising events are important to the continuation of this forum dedicated to all things 716.

ART/WNY would love to see ya at these upcoming events to support a creative organization that truly gives back to the community it serves. Here's the menu:

Jan 18th, The Punk Rock Crock Pot cookoff. Be part of the judging as you help decide which crock is the best. 7-11 pm. Free for those who enter a pot. Think you got a crock that rocks? Enter it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdksMG9ZeajSPEM3L7fveukCai6vYdXI9v_jhPahjatrHlDug/viewform?usp=header

Event Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1126910462529?aff=oddtdtcreator

Feb 22nd, The Maisie Mardi Gras Celebration. Celebrate closing night of Bella Poynton’s Mighty Maisie after the 5 - 7 pm production with the company’s traditional Mardi Gras shindig. Tickets are $25 GA, $20 Student & Military, and then join the Fat Tuesday party filled with food, music and drink.
Event Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1131536368739?aff=oddtdtcreator

March 15th, Informer St Patty’s hootenanny. Following the 5-7 pm production of The Informer join the ensemble onstage to embrace the ☘️ and enjoy some music. Ticket purchase includes event.
Tickets for the production: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1124787883839?aff=oddtdtcreator