Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE) returns this fall to the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. located on the campus of College of DuPage for the 30th Anniversary of the company's founding. The professional Equity company will resume its place as the MAC's resident theater company. The MAC is also home to the professional orchestra, New Philharmonic. For BTE season updates and ticket information will be available at AtTheMAC.org in the coming weeks. "It's been a long hard struggle since the Ensemble went on hiatus in May 2014," says BTE Artistic Director Connie Canaday Howard. "But thanks to the tireless efforts of my fellow Ensemble members, Associate Artistic Director Amelia Barrett and the students, patrons and friends who advocated so strongly for us, BTE is now poised to begin an exciting new chapter in its life."
BTE's 2016-2017 three-play season will include the following:
- "Don't Dress for Dinner," a farce by French playwright Marc Camoletti (Sept. 9-Oct. 9). Hidden identities and outrageous infidelities take center stage in this hysterically funny sequel to Camoletti's "Boeing Boeing," recognized by the "Guinness Book of Records"as the most performed French play throughout the world.
- David Lindsay-Abaire's "Good People" (Feb. 3-March 5).The New York Post hails this play set in an old South Boston neighborhood as "poignant, brave and almost subversive in its focus on what it really means to be down on your luck." "Good People" garnered the 2011 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and 2011 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Frances McDormand for her portrayal of the character Margie.
- Alan Ayckbourn's 2005 comedy, "Improbable Fiction" (May 4-June 4). Sharp comedy and affectionate satire characterize this zany play where imagination becomes reality offering a peek into the creative process of a writer.
Performance schedule and ticket price will be announced at a later date.
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble currently includes: Allison R. Amidei, Robert Jordan Bailey, Amelia Barrett, Bryan Burke, Connie Canaday Howard, Jon Gantt, Loretta Hauser, Michael W. Moon, Kurt Naebig, Galen G. Ramsey, and William "Sandy" Smillie. Says Barrett, "BTE was always about giving stories life, and there are plans to grow the Ensemble to expand our artistic pallet."
"I have seen every play produced by the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE) in its history at College of DuPage," says Dr. Donald Westlake of Wheaton. "The ensemble has been a community treasure, not only because it has provided quality professional theater at a reasonable price in a convenient location, but because its provocative selections provided a wide range of theater: comedy, drama, creative interpretations and cutting edge treatment of social problems."
BTE was founded in 1986 when COD professor Craig Berger, along with then COD president Harold D. McAninch, established the theater ensemble for educational and artistic purposes. BTE's first production,
David Mamet's 1975 gritty breakout drama "American Buffalo" recognized as helping to bring Chicago's gritty brand of theater to national attention, partly inspired the company's name.
Since 1986 BTE has staged more than 110 shows, and since 1991, reached more than 157,000 theater lovers during that time. This past April, following a strong more than two year campaign by BTE supporters to get the COD board to reconsider, the board instituted a plan under which BTE will receive a financial commitment from COD for the first two years of operation. At the end of the two-year period, the program will be evaluated to see if it is striving to reach the projected goals of 60 percent earned revenue and 40 percent contributed revenue. BTE will also be required to establish itself as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization for fundraising purposes.
"The MAC is so happy to welcome BTE back home and looking forward to a partnership that delivers first-class plays and comedies which support local professional artists," says MAC Director
Diana Martinez. "And to help BTE during this formative period, the College of DuPage Board will be making a financial contribution for the next two years while the MAC will be providing in-kind space and support."
BTE provides a forum in which artists, scholars, writers, students and community members explore new ideas and provocative issues through the production of high quality theater for the enjoyment of its audiences. Company members and visiting artists are a vital part of both the college's educational mission and the fabric of the community through programming that includes producing a three-show season initially, creating master classes for students, presenting demonstrations of theatre arts, hosting performance talk backs and subscriber nights and participating in community outreach.
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