MUSICALFARE THEATRE ANNOUNCES

RENOVATION & EXPANSION AND

SPECIAL SEASON SUBSCRIPTION OFFER FOR STUDIO ARENA THEATRE PATRONS

New Initiatives Including $190,000 Expansion and Renovation Project Unveiled Along with Plans for 2008-09 Subscription Season

Amherst, NY – The show can go on for subscribers of Studio Arena Theatre thanks to a special subscription offer unveiled today by MusicalFare Theatre. In addition, MusicalFare announced initiatives aimed at ensuring its continued and future success, including a $190,000 backstage expansion and renovation effort.

The special, limited-time offer that MusicalFare is making to Studio Arena subscribers provides an opportunity for those subscribers to receive subscription packages at the exclusive renewal rate of current MusicalFare subscribers. With this offer, it is possible for Studio Arena subscribers to receive two subscriptions to MusicalFare for less than they previously paid for one subscription to Studio Arena. The offer is available now through June 1, 2008.

“MusicalFare wanted to offer something special to Studio Arena subscribers in recognition of their support of area theatre,” said Randall Kramer, artistic and executive director of MusicalFare Theatre, which is located at Daemen College.

The rate being offered to Studio Arena subscribers is the lowest available at MusicalFare. It allows for up to a 33% savings off the regular price of tickets, Kramer said.

MusicalFare has also unveiled plans for a $190,000 backstage expansion and renovation effort. Work on that project will begin this spring and be completed prior to the start of the 2008-09 season in September.

Expansion plans include a new set shop that will more than double the current set shop size. Renovation plans include the addition of a green room, a costume/laundry room, and backstage showers as well as the remodeling of the entire dressing room area.  MusicalFare’s facilities will now fully meet all Actors’ Equity standards.      

“The new set shop will give us enhanced set building capacity and will allow for much easier access from our set shop to our stage,” Kramer said. “The renovated and expanded dressing room area will finally bring our backstage facilities up to the high level of our theatre and lobby. I know our actors and our technical staff will be thrilled with their new ‘digs.’”

This project follows a $750,000 lobby and theatre expansion/renovation completed in 2001 and is part of an overall $350,000 revenue initiative as MusicalFare focuses on the future. Other elements of the initiative include a MusicalFare awareness campaign, a new musicals initiative, and the creation of a shared development director position with Shakespeare in Delaware Park. 

This initiative is the result of an intensive 11-month strategic planning process that began in January 2007. MusicalFare has received a $75,000 grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation, $50,000 in support from the New York State Council on the Arts, $25,000 from M&T Bank, and an anonymous $10,000 individual donation to help the theatre reach its goals.

In addition to these announcements, MusicalFare has also unveiled its ambitious 2008-09 subscription season, which begins Sept. 10 with the regional premiere of BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

“We are very excited with the subscription season we are able to offer,” Kramer said. “We will be producing two world premieres and two regional premiere musicals as we continue on our path of being a leader and visionary for local and regional professional  theater.”

The 2008-09 Subscription Season is as follows:

BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY – On stage from Sept. 10 to Oct. 12

The regional premiere of a musical celebration of the legendary singer/songwriter Buddy Holly, who shot to stardom in 1957.

JAMESTOWN GALS: THE MUSIC OF LUCILLE BALL & PEGGY LEE – On stage from Nov. 5 to Dec. 7

A world premiere production telling the life stories of Jamestown, N.Y.’s Lucille Ball and Jamestown, N.D.’s Peggy Lee.

2 PIANOS 4 HANDS – On stage from Jan. 7 to Feb. 8, 2009

The riotous tale of two boys sharing the same goal: concert pianist stardom.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE – On stage from March 4 to April 5, 2009

The regional premiere of this Pulitzer prize winning musical and the follow-up to MusicalFare’s critically praised production of SWEENEY TODD.  The second production in a planned three-year Stephen Sondheim retrospective.        

BADA BING! BADA BOOM!  – On stage from April 22 to May 24, 2009

A world premiere, sidesplitting musical comedy in the style of NUNSENSE and FOREVER PLAID.

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