Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After original plans to build a new theatre as part of the new Amherst Central Park fell through nearly three months ago, the show must go on for MusicalFare Theatre, and the company has secured its long-term future in Western New York.
Shea’s Performing Arts Center and MusicalFare Theatre announced on Wednesday a new partnership that will bring MusicalFare’s award-winning productions to Shea’s 710 Theatre in an agreement designed to invigorate Buffalo’s Theatre District.
"There was a commitment to make this work right from the very beginning," said Brian Higgins, President and CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center during Wednesday's announcement. "Our chair, Jon Dandes, and Randy [Kramer] and his chair, Susan Grelick, were involved intimately in the negotiation. We saw that in structuring this deal, if we both had an incentive to make this work, as opposed to just a straight rental, there is no incentive other than you're getting your rental fee. So Jon and I have talked about the larger vision for Downtown Buffalo, for the Theatre District, and the only way that you get business activity here is to introduce more people to the space that ordinarily wouldn't be here."
With MusicalFare Theatre’s lease at Daemen University set to expire in May 2025, the acclaimed theatre company will launch its 2025-26 season at Shea’s 710 Theatre in October 2025. This move solidifies Shea’s 710 Theatre as the home of MusicalFare for the next decade, with an option to renew.
This collaboration promises to expand the vibrancy of Buffalo’s downtown by increasing active days at Shea’s 710 Theatre from 215 days annually to year-round activity.
MusicalFare plans to stage 100 performances each year, including five multi-week mainstage engagements, complemented by after-show music and cabaret events. This significant increase in programming will not only energize the theatre district but also provide a strong economic boost for surrounding downtown businesses.
"When they come, they spend money, and that's good for the economy of the City of Buffalo," Higgins said. "MusicalFare, under Randy's leadership, has an outstanding reputation for doing a good, quality production, shows since Shea's took over 710, formerly Studio Arena. He has done 130 shows here, bringing in 30,000 people. And this will just amplify that relationship, that partnership, that collaborative, call it what you will."
This partnership preserves Shea’s relationships with other local theatre companies, which will continue to present select productions at Shea’s 710 Theatre. While Shea’s retains ownership and oversight of the theatre, MusicalFare will maintain creative control of its productions, giving the company an opportunity to grow its audience from a 136-seat venue to a 550-seat space.
"This is a unique agreement, because it's not a typical landlord/tenant lease. It is a collaboration and a cooperative agreement for what we're doing here on this stage." said MusicalFare Theatre founder, and artistic and executive director Randy Kramer on Wednesday. "MusicalFare will be responsible for everything that happens on the stage, but we will be working with Shea's, obviously within the building and within the revenues and expenses and all of that. We both will have skin in the game."
Despite the original plans for the new theatre in Amherst falling through, Kramer is very happy this partnership will allow MusicalFare to call Shea's 710 Theatre home.
"We've worked here, and we've done shows here, usually one, sometimes two a year for a number of years, almost a decade. Brian and I were having a conversation, and we were talking about one of our productions that we couldn't extend, that we couldn't get enough audiences in. And we talked about, 'Well, maybe we should take that production to 710,' but then that led to, 'When this all happened, maybe 710 is the place to land for all of our shows.' We're very excited about it," Kramer said.
Both Shea’s 710 Theatre and MusicalFare Theatre will offer season subscriptions for the 2025-26 season, offering patrons exciting new performances and experiences.
This collaboration marks a deepening of a long-standing relationship. Since Shea’s took ownership of Shea’s 710 Theatre in 2012, MusicalFare has been a key partner, delivering over 130 performances on the 710 stage and attracting more than 30,000 patrons to the Theatre District.
Notable past productions have included "Once", "Kinky Boots", "Avenue Q", and "Million Dollar Quartet". MusicalFare’s upcoming production of "Legally Blonde" will run at Shea’s 710 Theatre from May 1-18, 2025, marking its 17th show at this venue.
"This is a theater group that's moving into the city and not out of it, and that too, I think, is very, very important," Higgins added. "As Randy has said, as Jon Dandes has said, we feel Shea's has a parental responsibility, not only to the Theatre District, but to all of the organic, homegrown theaters, of which there are almost two dozen. So this is going to work. We have great partners already. We already had a partnership with MusicalFare. It's been deepened, as I mentioned previously, and this is a very, very good thing for Buffalo and Western New York."
Patrons of MusicalFare can look forward to seamless access to tickets for the upcoming season through Shea’s Box Office and website starting in 2025.
Meanwhile, both MusicalFare and Shea’s 710 Theatre will complete their respective 2024-2025 seasons as scheduled, ensuring an exciting and full roster of performances in the months leading up to the transition.