Theater in Buffalo, NY

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

Shea’s Buffalo 100th Anniversary Centennial Gala

10/03

Shea’s Buffalo

Will you join us on Stage for this historic occasion? This year marks an extraordinary moment for Shea’s our 100th…

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It’s a Mxtery in The Kingdom: Drag Mystery Dinner Experience

10/04

The Caz

Join us for a Halloween party with the Kingdom’s most distinguished guests… what could possibly go wrong? Step into an…

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2025 Buffalo International Film Festival

10/08

Various Locations

Every Fall, BIFF screens over 150 features and short films from around the world, combining festival favorites with unique discoveries…

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Mobile Shakespeare Lab presents “Macbeth”

10/08

Katharine Cornell Theatre

In the fall of 2026, three college students in the United States are struggling. With mounting discourse and legislative action…

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Humboldt Parkway Documentary

10/12

North Park Theatre

A new documentary film titled Humboldt (or Humboldt Parkway), produced by Stephen Rosenthal, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Jillian Hanesworth, will…

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Murder in the Cellar – A 1920s Murder Mystery!

10/20

The Caz

A 1920s Murder Mystery at The Caz: Taking you back to the ’20s on the 20th! Step inside Estelle Smith’s…

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Sweeney Todd

10/22

Shea’s 710 Theatre

Attend Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s dark, witty, and Tony Award-winning tale of love, murder, and revenge, featuring everyone’s favorite…

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THE HAUNTING OF HOOVERTON HOTEL

10/24

Alleyway Theatre

The silliest spooky season comedy you’ve ever seen. Four college kids. A broken-down van. A dark and stormy night. A…

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The Super Pickle: A Hilarious Musical Parody

10/24

Shea’s Smith Theatre

Get ready to serve up the laughs with a wildly entertaining new comedy that dives paddle-first into the pickleball craze…

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Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen

10/27

Shea’s Buffalo

Welcome to HELL’S KITCHEN, the hit musical from 17-time Grammy Award winning Alicia Keys inspired by her life, her music, and…

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Beyond Boundaries : TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing

10/29

Burchfield Penney Art Center

On October 29th we welcome director and founder of Philadelphia’s Scribe Video Center, Louis Massiah, with the award-winning film, TCB…

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Julius Caesar

10/30

Kavinoky Theatre

A bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s iconic political thriller, set in the charged atmosphere of 1960s. The fall of Julius Caesar…

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Churchill

11/05

Shea’s Smith Theatre

Finally, here is the show description:   Winston Churchill, has just been awarded honorary US citizenship by President John F.…

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The Fourth Annual LV-Minute Shakespeare Showcase

11/07

Katharine Cornell Theatre

Theatre students Sarah Bray and Ty Burgess will host the 4th Annual Shakespeare Showcase, featuring undergraduate student performers. The informal,…

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The Great Gatsby

11/10

Shea’s Buffalo

THE PARTY’S ROARING IN BUFFALO! THE GREAT GATSBY is a “Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly).…

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Emerging Choreographers Showcase

11/13

Center for the Arts

Celebrating diversity in both genre and theme, Emerging Choreographers Showcase features new dance works created and performed by BA, BFA…

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In the Heights

11/13

Buffalo State Performing Arts Center

In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood & a place…

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Uncle Vanya

11/13

Road Less Traveled Productions

Directed by Scott Behrend Starring Todd Benzin, Tracie Lane, Kristen Tripp Kelley, Peter Palmisano, Priscilla Anker Young, Darryl Semira, Christina…

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Where We Stand

11/13

Ujima Theatre

In a town running low on compassion, an exile seeks forgiveness, forcing the community to decide between mercy or justice.…

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Proof

11/19

Shea’s Smith Theatre

Catherine has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, Robert. When he dies she has more than grief…

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Swan Lake

11/20

Shea’s Buffalo

Swan Lake is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875&76. Despite its initial failure, it is…

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The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

11/20

Center for the Arts

As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t…

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THE PIGEON GETS A BIG TIME HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

11/21

Theatre of Youth (TOY)

Rolling World PremiereBased on Books and Characters by Mo WillemsScript and Lyrics by Mo Willems and Adam TobinMusic by Deborah…

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JAMSGIVING

11/25

Pearl Street Grill & Brewery

House Hustlers presents the 2nd Annual JAMSGIVING, taking over Pearl Street Grill & Brewery on Thanksgiving Eve. 11 acts across…

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