American Repertory Theater of WNY Selects New Performance Space

The American Repertory Theater of WNY, in association with the Sportsman Americana Music Foundation and Buffalo NY's Sportsman Tavern owner Dwane Hall, will be operating out of a new performance space located in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood on 330 Amherst Street (next to the Sportsman Tavern). The flexible black-box 50 seat performance space will retain much of American Repertory Theater of WNY's boutique theater intimacy reputation and, in addition to the remaining 2015-16 season and beyond, will serve as a forum for events including community educational programs, dramatic arts performances, music, film screenings and poetry. The 330 Amherst Street production space will see its first production as American Repertory Theater of WNY presents John Guare's pioneering work The House of Blue Leaves on March 10th and runs until April 10th.

"The 330 Amherst performance space is a win-win-win for both the Foundation, ART/WNY and the neighborhood." American Repertory Theater of WNY's Executive Director Matthew LaChiusa said on the opportunity. "You are seeing a grass-roots foundation and a local businessman utilizing their resources to renovate an unused space and turn it into a active production forum for a cultural organization that brings in local talent for theater productions." LaChiusa continued. "So instead of the 'new Buffalo renaissance' status quo of seeing tax-payer's money used for developing parking ramps, condos, and hotels, there is a cooperation of grass-roots community groups who use their own resources to develop a space that draws people into the neighborhood which then benefits both the neighborhoods and businesses surrounding the space."

Sportsman Americana Music Foundation board member, Angela Hastings, has seen the foundation in action with educational community programs including the Buffalo String Works and the after-school program with the Valley Community Center co-sponsoring Guitar Club for Kids. "Both ART and SAMF have their own audience and we believe with this co-op, we will be able to tap into a bigger audience." Ms. Hastings on the co-op between the two groups. "SAMF has funded two education programs that are underway so far this year and we have many more proposed. The theater space that we have created will accommodate both our education programs and ART's new theater for performance." Envisioning a forum in which American Repertory Theater of WNY and Sportsman Americana Music Foundation can utilize the space for a variety of purposes that serve both respective organizations, Ms. Hastings added, "Our objective is to work with ART in establishing a collaboration of theater and music...The theater space that we have created will accommodate both our education programs and ART's new theater for performance. Music and Theater go hand in hand. We believe we can work together to become a big part of the arts in Buffalo."

The space was originally setup to be a second performance stage for musical events including the recording of live shows but building owner Dwane Hall eventually put his resources towards the recording studio in the front part of the building leaving the performance space as storage. In June 2015, LaChiusa inquired about the space after he received notification that American Repertory Theater of WNY lost their home on 16 Linwood Avenue. Discussions were shelved as American Repertory Theater of WNY decided to rent the Medialle Lecture Hall through Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions for the September 2015 show. After this October production ended, the company soon found itself looking for another space and remembered the Amherst street opportunity. "So my brother Thomas and I swung into the Sportsman Tavern and chatted with Dwane." Matthew LaChiusa recalling the beginnings of the agreement. "We said we're still looking for a space. He (Dwane) said, 'I still got one' and so we agreed to help him move items out, which we did in October, and the rest is history in the making."

The 330 Street Performance Space will seat approximately 45-55 people and will have a flexible black-box configuration similar to the previous ART in the Box performance space on Linwood Avenue. The major differences between the two spaces are increased "playing area", no poles obstructing sight-lines, and higher ceilings allowing for both efficient sets and creative lighting designs. Seating will remain flexible allowing 3/4 thrust, in-the-round, and arena configurations.

American Repertory Theater of WNY begins this new adventure with a production of the 1971 pioneering work by John Guare, The House of Blue Leaves. Under the directorial eye of the born & bred Black Rock native, Drew McCabe, the story focuses on one man's desire for success as a big-time songwriter conflicting with what is expected from him in a 9 to 5 world. The House of Blue Leavesopens on March 10th and runs until April 2nd in ART/WNY's new location, 330 Amherst Street, Buffalo (next to the Sportsman Tavern). All show-times are 8 pm, Thursday through Saturday.

For more information on American Repertory Theater of WNY please visit www.arotfwny.org. For information on the Sportsman Americana Music Foundation and the various program they sponsor and events planned visit www.sportsmenamf.org. To check out upcoming music events at the Sportsman Tavern go to www.sportsmanbuffalo.com

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