Back
It's Only An Intermission

It's Only An Intermission

March 12, 2020 - September 9, 2021

For the first time since 1926, the show did not go on. With the rise of COVID-19, Shea's Performing Arts Center went dark on March 12, 2020 - cancelling Hello, Dolly! and closing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at Shea's 710 Theatre hours before opening night. Shea's wouldn't open their doors again until a year and half later on September 9, 2021 - that's 546 days (or 1 year, 5 months, 28 days) without a performance!

Goodbye, Dolly! This review was posted on March 12, hours before the production was cancelled by COVID-19.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - March 12, 2020

Goodbye, Dolly! This review was posted on March 12, hours before the production was cancelled by COVID-19.

With the show - and tour - cancelled, the set of <i>Hello, Dolly!</i> was taped off and waits to be struck from the Shea's Buffalo Theatre stage.

Photo Credit: Shelby Converse. March 12, 2020

With the show - and tour - cancelled, the set of Hello, Dolly! was taped off and waits to be struck from the Shea's Buffalo Theatre stage.

Photo Credit: Shelby Converse. 2020

Photo Credit: Shelby Converse. 2020

Restoration Consulatant Doris Collins, masked and isolated as she works on the gold leaf trim here.

Photo Credit: July 28, 2020

Restoration Consulatant Doris Collins, masked and isolated as she works on the gold leaf trim here.

To bring live theatre back to Buffalo, many changes had to happen - some for good (mobile ticketing!), and some only temporary (no concessions, masks and vaccine required)

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - August 12, 2021

To bring live theatre back to Buffalo, many changes had to happen - some for good (mobile ticketing!), and some only temporary (no concessions, masks and vaccine required)

Shea's Performing Arts Center came back from COVID-19 with <i>Disney's Frozen</i> re-launching their national tour here.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - September 10, 2021

Shea's Performing Arts Center came back from COVID-19 with Disney's Frozen re-launching their national tour here.

Without live theatre, Shea's offered a virtual concert series, zoom town halls, created coloring book pages, and worked on a few smaller restoration projects that could be done in isolation.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - November 15, 2020

Without live theatre, Shea's offered a virtual concert series, zoom town halls, created coloring book pages, and worked on a few smaller restoration projects that could be done in isolation.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - September 10, 2021

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - September 10, 2021

May 14, 2022

Wall tags are a familiar sight backstage at Shea's Buffalo, painted mementos of touring shows as they come through our theater. This wall tag below was painted by the cast and crew of Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, who were performing here on May 14th 2022 when the city of Buffalo was devastated by an act of pure evil, a racially-motivated mass shooting that targeted Black victims on the East Side.

Photo Credit: The Cast & Crew of Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations - May 14, 2022

"While we were performing our matinee this afternoon, we received news of a mass shooting just a little bit shy of two miles from this theatre. We – the cast, crew, orchestra, and all those involved with our touring company – would like to lift up in love the victims, their families, and anyone affected by this terrible event. It affects us all in a most personal way and affects our society at large and, ultimately, the world we all live in.

Each and every person in this world deserves to live free of fear and discrimination because of the color of their skin. Theatre, music, and the arts are safe spaces where tolerance is celebrated, community is uplifted, and love is unconditional. We have all shared in that love this evening. That is a very, very powerful thing.

Thank you so much for offering your beautiful theatre to us to spend this week. We have enjoyed our stay in your city. As you leave the theatre, continue to share that love in your own ways and take good care of yourselves and others ‘til we see each other down the road."


- cast member James T. Lane of Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations - May 14, 2022
This was the first of many articles detailing trouble behind the scenes at Shea's Performing Arts Center in 2022.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - August 22, 2022

This was the first of many articles detailing trouble behind the scenes at Shea's Performing Arts Center in 2022.

Eventually, President Michael Murphy finally would be fired but not before Shea's lost countless employees, board members, and the support of M&T Bank.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - September 2, 2022

Eventually, President Michael Murphy finally would be fired but not before Shea's lost countless employees, board members, and the support of M&T Bank.