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This week on Theater Talk, Anthony remembers Kathleen Betsko Yale (1939-2025) a fierce advocate for women in theater leading into Anthony and Peter talking about new plays in Buffalo by women including Donna Hoke, Wendy-Marie Martin, Bella Poynton, Anna Ziegler and more to come with plays opening every week in February. See listings attached.For 32 years (as of November 2024), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45am, 8:45am, and 5:45pm Fridays on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms for the stage, including ballet and opera.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks to Gerry Yandel, executive editor of The Virgin lslands Daily News, about what life is like for those living on the islands more than a month after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found nearly 6-in-10 voters say President Trump's top priority should be lowering prices. That concern is being expressed loudly in the swing state of Wisconsin.

Erie County officials give themselves a pay raise.

Early voter turnout is extremely low leading up to this year's primary elections.

There are plenty of Christmas shows still running for every taste. ANNIE (it's set at Christmas time) is at Shea's, there are four (4!) different versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Lisa Ludwig stars in THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS, and Charmagne Chi stars (with a cast of 7) in her BLUE XMAS at the Alleyway. For 31 years (as of November 2023) Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, and The Stratford Festival are covered as other relevant art forms are touched on, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about their trip to the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario to see George Bernard Shaw's CANDIDA. Many shows are near capacity at the three main theaters (Festival, Royal George, and Jackie Maxwell Studio) plus shows such as THE COTTON CLUB and THE SHAW VARIETY SHOW in their "Spiegeltent." There's a play by Kate Hamill at the Chautauqua Institution's Bratton Theater up through early next week; Shakespeare in Delaware Park's THE COMEDY OF ERRORS wraps up on Sunday. And, Buffalo's "First Lady of Cabaret" Kerrykate Abel Smith stars as Mae West, one night only, in Lily Dale (a favorite haunt of Ms. West). For listings, please scroll down. For 31 years (as of November 2023), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms, including ballet and opera.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about two shows with strong LGBTQ content: THE PROM at MusicaFare which opened on 9/4, and MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA, a two-hander from BUA at the Compass Performing Art Space (545 Elmwood) which opens tonight. Niagara on the Lake Ontario's Shaw Festival continues well into the fall, with many of their popular plays at the Festival including SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE MYSTERY OF THE HUMAN HEART and a completely wonderful play at the Jackie Maxwell Studio theater called THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND about a well-to-do black family in New Orleans facing the threat that once Louisiana is part of the U.S., then slavery will be legal.For 31 years (as of November 2023), Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian Anthony Chase, who joins Peter Hall for a five-minute weekly broadcast at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on 88.7 WBFO with a podcast available on wbfo.org. NOTE: Theater listings are included with the podcast. As part of BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media), their beat is primarily Buffalo theater, but Broadway, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, and Chautauqua are covered as are other relevant art forms, including ballet and opera.

Senators reach a deal on measures to reduce gun violence. House Jan. 6 panel will hold its second hearing. Ukrainian officials warn the upcoming days could be crucial to a key city in eastern Ukraine.

This week on Theater Talk, Anthony and Peter talk about “Anecdotes & Stories from the Theater” at the Shaw Festival when Anthony had a fun-filled conversation with director Philip Akin, and actors Fiona Byrne and Neil Barclay. And he's been invited back next year! After the discussion, they went to the nearby Jackie Maxwell Theatre for a preview of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY with the director, Kimberly Rampersad, filling in last minute with script in hand. Again, a reminder that the Chautauqua Theater Company is premiering C.A. Johnson's play THE WITNESSES, as well as the CTC's New Play Workshop presenting BEST FOR BABY Sat- Sun 8/16-17. Anthony visited his friend, Broadway actor Veanne Cox, who is in on the ground floor of the development of three potential Broadway shows: a musical version of MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS, a version of "Summer Stock" to be called GET HAPPY (after one of the shows most famous songs), and, saving the best (or wildest) for last, a jukebox musical using the plot of Henry Fielding's novel "Tom Jones" using songs by the Welsh pop singer Tom Jones, to be called WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT.For over 30 years, Theater Talk has been appointment listening on WBFO, featuring the insights of theater critic and historian, Anthony Chase. Chase co-hosted Theater Talk with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer Jim Santella for many years. These days, it's Peter Hall. With more than 20 active producing theater companies in Buffalo alone, not to mention Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Shaw Festival at nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chase and Hall keep their calendars full, trying to see and share their insights on as many shows as possible.But Theater Talk is anything but a dry community arts listing service. Instead, with affection, good humor, and just the occasional rant, the segment provides snapshot reviews, recommends local productions, analyzes the Western New York theater scene and occasionally looks at what's happening on Broadway and across the nation.Chase is the founder of the Artie Awards, which recognizes excellence in Western New York theater and raises money for AIDS charities.