ART/WNY's Mardi Gras Celebration Set for Today

Join the American Repertory Theater of WNY as the company kicks off the "Second Half" of the theatrical season with the company's Mardi Gras Celebration tonight, March 1st, 2014, 7 pm to Midnight, at Bittner Hall 16 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo NY.

With modest beginning at Rust Belt Books, this event has substantially grown over the past six years. So much that the company has shifted the celebration to Saturday evening, instead of the traditional Fat Tuesday, so more folks can get their laissez les bon temps rouler a rollin'.

Musical entertainment for the evening includes the 30's & 40's jazzamatazzing sounds of Buffalo's own Doctor Jazz and the Jazzbugs, music act After Hours! offers their lounge lizard free-form approach to alternative music classics, with the folk-rockers The 47's capping off the night with their raw brand of acoustic strings and electric guitar music.

Highlighting the evening is the popular readings from the Louisiana book of folktales, Gumbo Ya Ya. Alumni ART/WNY director and actor Christopher Standart joins ART/WNY director Gail Golden (LITTLE ROBERT; MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS), Betsy Bittar and Deborah A Krygier (parental unit of ART/WNY's alumni Aaron Krygier-COWBOY MOUTH) with Brazen Faced Varlets managing director Lara D. Haberberger, ART/WNY alumni Shayna Raichilson-Zadok and theater newcomer, Erica Lorenzetti. All will read passages from the classic Louisiana book of folklore Gumbo Ya Ya with Golden, Bittar and Krygier taking on a hilarious section in the book about the famed "Baby Girls" of New Orleans.

Additionally, servings of chicken & sausage gumbo, rice & beans, Bubba's Cajun Lum Dogs and libations will be offered until supplies last.

Tickets are $10 at the door with a special $5 (plus service charge) online ticket price now on available by visiting http://artofwnymardigras.bpt.me. For more information on the event please call the ART Box Office at 716-634-1102 or visit www.artofwny.org.