MusicalFare Theatre is a not-for-profit professional musical theatre company dedicated to bringing quality musical theatre to Western New York, and to becoming a significant regional theatre with national prominence by developing and presenting new musicals, new versions of traditional musicals and area premieres. MusicalFare Theatre is in residence at Daemen College, but independently operated, and performs year-round at its intimate 136 seat theatre.
Currently in its Twentieth Anniversary Season, MusicalFare Theatre has produced over 120 productions since its inception in 1990, entertaining over 350,000 people and employing over 950 local actors, musicians and designers. It has been nominated for 367 Artvoice Theatre Awards and has won 79, making it the most awarded musical theatre in Western New York. MusicalFare was the recipient of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce's "Commitment to Excellence" award for 2003. The economic impact of MusicalFare and its audiences was over 1.8 million dollars in the 2008/2009 season.
MusicalFare's 2004 world premiere production of RENEWING WRIGHT was covered by the Associated Press and was featured in over 50 regional and national publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Its 2004 world premiere productions of CHANGE PARTNERS: A FRED ASTAIRE TALE and ZOOMA ZOOMA were sold-out weeks before the end of their scheduled runs and were extended by popular demand with ZOOMA ZOOMA eventually being produced at Buffalo's Studio Arena Theatre. It's 2006 co-production of SAMMY & ME, with Ithaca's Hangar Theatre, drew critical raves throughout New York State.
In addition to its over 180 regularly scheduled performances, MusicalFare Theatre has implemented and continues to develop programs and works that have directly affected Western New York's senior citizens (STORIES OF LIFE), students (IT'S A MATTER OF CHARACTER), suburban and urban relations (AVENUE X) and W.N.Y. architectural treasures (RENEWING WRIGHT). MusicalFare's internship program with the University of Buffalo's Department of Theatre and Dance has allowed students to gain valuable professional experience in such productions as URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL, SONG & DANCE and AVENUE X.
The 2009/2010 MusicalFare Theatre 20th Anniversary Subscription Season began with the regional premiere of the hysterical and innovative musical-play, TWO PIANOS FOUR HANDS and a re-conceived version of the uplifting classic, MAN OF LA MANCHA, followed by the world premiere blues musical, CROSSROAD BLUES. The season concludes with our 20th Anniversary Productions of the acclaimed and cherished FALSETTOS, and the return of the high-energy, raucous ZOOMA ZOOMA. All in all, our 20th Anniversary Season consists of a regional premiere, a world premiere, a re-conceived classic and the return of two of our most popular hits continuing the exciting legacy of MusicalFare Theatre, where the very best and unique musical theatre is created and produced.
MusicalFare Theatre is located at 4380 Main Street in Amherst, NY (between Harlem and Getzville Roads). Parking is FREE, and the theatre is handicapped accessible, complete with a hearing-impaired system.
MusicalFare Theatre is also a proud member of The Theatre Alliance of Buffalo (TAB). Founded in 2004, The Theatre Alliance of Buffalo, a consortium of professional producing theatres, is a reflection of the remarkable growth and strength of Buffalo's theatre community over recent years. Many of the represented organizations have been serving Western New York for decades and the Alliance is intended to further cement theatre as Buffalo's most visible art form, while assisting members in the search for new strategies for success.
TAB Members: Alleyway Theatre, American Repertory Theatre of WNY, Buffalo United Artists, Irish Classical Theatre Company, Jewish Repertory Theatre, Kaleidoscope Theatre, Kavinoky Theatre, MusicalFare Theatre, New Phoenix Theatre, O'Connell & Company, Paul Robeson Theatre, Playhouse of American Classics, Road Less Traveled Productions, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Shea's Performing Arts Center, Subversive Theatre Collective, Theatre of Youth, Theatre Plus, Torn Space and Ujima Theatre Company.