About this podcast
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.
Episodes
- Theater Talk: Excellence abounds! Last weekend for MusicalFare's SWEENEY TODD and Kenan Center's tap-centric DAMES AT SEA. Want goofy? THE HAUNTING OF HOOVERTON HOTEL continues at Alleyway. Want serious? THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER continues at Jewish Repertory. Click through for complete listings. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about MusicalFare's superb production of Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD closing this Sunday at Shea's 710. Also closing is DAMES AT SEA…
- Theater Talk: NYC vibrant as ever with "TWO STRANGERS..." and DOWNSTATE, locally THE HAUNTING OF HOOVERTON HOTEL "a great confection for Hallowe'en," looking forward to MusicalFare's SWEENEY TODD and Jewish Reps' THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, while ALICIA KEYS' HELL'S KITCHEN is perhaps even better… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk aboutPeter's NYC trip, recommending the musical TWO STRANGERS CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK and the straight play DOWNSTATE…
- Theater Talk: ART's TOBACCO ROAD excellent on all measures; HELL'S KITCHEN about to open at Shea's; Anthony back from Broadway; he saw 5 shows and has some recommendations. See complete listings attached. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about American Repertory Theater which has added Wednesday performances to its excellent run of TOBACCO ROAD (in its day, one of…
- Theater Talk: A handsome production of 1776 at LOH, First Look's New Play Readings on point, last chances for BAT BOY and DA VINCI CODE this weekend, NUTS continues, TOBACCO ROAD opens at ART of WNY, with a reading of James Marzo's ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN after the Saturday 5pm show. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about a very handsome production of 1776 at Lancaster Opera House, but it's now closed! Speaking of closings, it's the final…
- Theater Talk: BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL (2nd Gen at Smith), while at Desiderio's Lisa Ludwig directs as Maria Pedro stars in NUTS, and DAVINCI CODE also continues at Road Less Traveled. Final weekend for 1776 the musical at Lancaster Opera House and the New Play Festival with First Look at Canterbury… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Second Generation's BATBOY:THE MUSICAL with Ricky Needham in the title role with a great cast including Marc Sacco…
- Theater Talk: A conversation with Buffalo's Daniel Croix Henderson, now on Broadway in THE IMAGINARY INVALID as "Cleante," remembering his years at BAVPA. Last weekend to see EMMA, BECKY SHAW, and HAIR. Click to see complete listings for local, Shaw, and Stratford shows. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk with Buffalo's Daniel Croix Henderson currently on Broadway as the lover "Cleante" in Moliere's comedy The Imaginary Invalidat…
- Theater Talk: Penelope Sergi delightful as EMMA at Irish Classical, DA VINCI CODE thrills at Road Less Traveled, Anthony chats this morning at Shawfest, more shows to see include MusicalFare's HAIR at Shea's 710, NUTS at Desiderio's, 1776 at Lancaster, BECKY SHAW at Alleyway, GUYS AND DOLLS at… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about EMMA, at Irish Classical, simply divine with the winning Penelope Sergi in the title role, also THE DAVINCI CODE at Road…
- Theater Talk celebrates CURTAIN UP! with its myriad of performances all over town. Listen then click through for complete listings. And Anthony returns to Shawfest 9/25 at 10am for a conversation with actors. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about CURTAIN UP! tonight, September 18, with a wide variety of shows to choose from including GULP! THE GAY BEACH MUSICAL…
- Theater Talk: Buffalo's Dudney Joseph Jr., now a Broadway star, remembers his start and talks about his role as Munkustrap in CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL. Many shows open this weekend before CURTAIN UP! next Friday. See listings. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk to Buffalo's latest Broadway star, Dudney Joseph, Jr. a Buffalo favorite on many, many local stages, who remembers his start…
- Theater Talk: BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™ to open Shea's season; GULP! THE GAY BEACH MUSICAL, an historically significant show to open for BUA; GUYS AND DOLLS at O'Connell & Co. and Anthony to host a discussion at Shawfst 9/25 at 10am with current actors Sharry Flett (pictured), Patrick Gallivan, and… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, a tale of old Havana filled with infectious dance music, a show which both Anthony and Peter have…
- Theater Talk: Shawfest excels in outrageous farce ONE FOR THE POT, B'way quality FUNNY GIRL, and G.B. Shaw's tragicomedy HEARTBREAK HOUSE (think Shaw + Chekhov + Wilde). Anthony on & off B'way for JUST IN TIME (now starring Jeremy Jordan) and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (plenty of jumpscares) and last… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Shawfest's farce ONE FOR THE POT, the musical FUNNY GIRL, and the satirical tragicomedy HEARTBREAK HOUSE (a little Shaw, a…
- Theater Talk: Shea's finally starts expansion (yaaay!); Bianca Marroquín coming to Rochester for KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN; Buffalo's Daniel Croix Henderson in IMAGINARY INVALID, Shawfest's Sara Farb as Fanny and Matt Alfano as Eddie both phenomenal in FUNNY GIRL. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Shea's expansion (more toilets and some elevators, too); Bianca Marroquín coming to Rochester in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN…
- Theater Talk: Final weekend for TAMING OF THE SHREW starring Sandra Roberts; Lisa Hinca stars at Desiderio's; Artie Award winning Katy Clancy remembered; David Bondrow to be remembered tomorrow at Lancaster Opera House · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Desiderio's Dinner Theatre's production of AN OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER where Lisa Hinca and Steven J. Brachman excel…
- Theater Talk: Curtain Up! Meg Quinn to get a star, David Bondrow memorial event at LOH on August 15, Shakespeare's TAMING continues as does Desiderio's FAMILY MURDER, Chautauqua presents August Wilson's HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, live capture of FALLEN ANGELS coming. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter look forward to Curtain Up! the official opening night of the Western New York professional theatre season on Friday, September 18…
- Theater Talk: Sandra Roberts and Derek Emerson Powell command Shakespeare in Delaware Park's TAMING OF THE SHREW with a very funny cast, AN OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER continues as does Shawfest (see listings). · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter praise Shakespeare in Delaware Park's second Main Stage production this summer, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, very funny, ably directed by…
- Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's TAMING OF THE SHREW opens while FOOLS AND FOES continues in local parks (very funny). AN OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER sends up every trope of the detective play at Desiderio's Dinner Theater, and this weekend you can see HADESTOWN (live film capture) in… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about FOOLS AND FOES, the touring production of Shakespeare in the Park (free) going from park to park in the area. The second…
- Theater Talk: Anthony's trip to NYC this month and the "Holiday Magic" tour in December. Locally FOOLS AND FOES (Shakespeare in Delaware Park's Touring show) and AN OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER at Desiderio's Dinner Theater.. See listings (which also include Shaw Festival). · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about Anthony's recent trip to NYC to see DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf; RAGTIME at Lincoln Center…
- Theater Talk: Shawfest in Niagara-on-the-Lake presents HEARTBREAK HOUSE which Shaw called his "fantasia in the Russian [Chekhov] manner on English themes.” Tim Carroll directs an all-star cast. Heading to Broadway? Anthony suggests reading the NYTimes and Playbill.com to keep in the know. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about PERICLES at Shakespeare in Delaware Park, a fun 2 hours picnic with music by Tom Makar. Shawfest in Niagara-on-the-Lake…
- Theater Talk: Shakespeare in Delaware Park's PERICLES makes for a fun 2 hour picnic outing, Shawfest is up and running and so is the Stratford Festival for some first rate theater right over the border. · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about PERICLES at Shakespeare in Delaware Park, a fun 2 hours picnic with music by Tom Makar. Then, a bit about Canada's…
- Theater Talk: PERICLES at SiDP off to a fun start; A FEW GOOD MEN and GIRL ON AN ALTAR, both excellent, close this weekend; YALLA BITCH continues a touring show; deadline to join Anthony at Shawfest for FUNNY GIRL is July 8; deadline to enter drawing to see Broadway's Josh Groban in Canandaigua is… · 5 minThis week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk a bit about PERICLES at Shakespeare in Delaware Park, YALLA BITCH touring throughout town, and Anthony's bus trip with BTPM to…
