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Shea's Smith & Shea's 710 Theatres

Shea's Smith & Shea's 710 Theatres

2001 & 2011

On January 16th, Shea's opened again - this time in 2001, as the Shea's Smith Theatre. Next door to the original Shea's, this blackbox theater was able to offer more intimate productions such as Tony n' Tina's Wedding. And again in 2011, Shea's Performing Arts Center expanded once more, taking ownership of the soon-to-be Shea's 710 Theatre.

The Art of Burlesque

If you are ordering a drink at Shea's 710 Theatre, you may wonder about the showgirl art adorning our lobby bar. This was chosen as a homage to Shea's 710 Theatre's origins as The Palace Burlesque in the 1960's and 70's (prior to becoming the final home of Studio Arena in 1978).

“An old Buffalo joke had it that to receive a high school diploma, young men, at least once, had to skip the day's classes and attend the Palace Burlesque. Only then could an education be considered complete.”
The Shea's Smith Theatre, a small stage in the former Swiss Chalet / Old Spain / Laube's restaurant, is named in honor of Graham W. and Mary Jane Smith through the George G. and Elizabeth G. Smith Foundation after they learned that Shea's was planning to buy the building in the next five years. "I've lived in Buffalo all my life -- long enough to know anything can happen in five years," Smith said. "I told Patrick, 'If the city is ready to move, let's not wait around. Let's do it now, before they change their mind.'

The Shea's Smith Theatre, a small stage in the former Swiss Chalet / Old Spain / Laube's restaurant, is named in honor of Graham W. and Mary Jane Smith through the George G. and Elizabeth G. Smith Foundation after they learned that Shea's was planning to buy the building in the next five years. "I've lived in Buffalo all my life -- long enough to know anything can happen in five years," Smith said. "I told Patrick, 'If the city is ready to move, let's not wait around. Let's do it now, before they change their mind.'

The illustrious <a href="https://www.sheas.org/show-history-studio-arena/">Studio Arena</a> closed its doors in 2008, leaving the former Palace Burlesque theater empty. It might have faced the wrecking ball too if Shea’s CEO and President Anthony Conte hadn't stepped up. “We feel that one of the most important things we can do for the theater community is to provide an opportunity for the local theater companies – the ones that are downtown, the ones that are not downtown – to perform downtown.”

The illustrious Studio Arena closed its doors in 2008, leaving the former Palace Burlesque theater empty. It might have faced the wrecking ball too if Shea’s CEO and President Anthony Conte hadn't stepped up. “We feel that one of the most important things we can do for the theater community is to provide an opportunity for the local theater companies – the ones that are downtown, the ones that are not downtown – to perform downtown.”

Shea's and the Studio Arena have a history dating back longer than 2012 - in fact, our history together began in 1932! Jane Keeler and the newly-formed Studio Arena were given residence at the Gayety Burlesque Theater, rent-free - by the owner, Michael Shea himself!

Photo Credit: Buffalo Courier-Express - January 17, 1933

Shea's and the Studio Arena have a history dating back longer than 2012 - in fact, our history together began in 1932! Jane Keeler and the newly-formed Studio Arena were given residence at the Gayety Burlesque Theater, rent-free - by the owner, Michael Shea himself!

The AK Public Art Initiative commissioned this mural that appears on the side of the Shea's 710 Theatre, painted in the summer of 2016 by artists <a href="https://www.jessieandkatey.com/">Jessie and Katey</a>

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - June 8, 2016

The AK Public Art Initiative commissioned this mural that appears on the side of the Shea's 710 Theatre, painted in the summer of 2016 by artists Jessie and Katey

"Noodle in the Northern Lights" <br><br> 280ft x 45ft <br> Summer 2016

Photo Credit: Jessie and Katey

"Noodle in the Northern Lights"

280ft x 45ft
Summer 2016

Photo Credit: Jessie and Katey

<a href="https://www.sheas.org/show-history-sheas-710-theatre/">Shea's 710 Theatre</a> re-opened in 2013 with a production of <i>Circle Mirror Transformation</i>, the first of many many successful collaborations with AnsariSaxon Productions, D'Youville Kavinoky Theatre, MusicalFare Theatre, Road Less Traveled Productions, Second Generation Theatre, and Ujima Theatre, Inc.

Photo Credit: circa 2018

Shea's 710 Theatre re-opened in 2013 with a production of Circle Mirror Transformation, the first of many many successful collaborations with AnsariSaxon Productions, D'Youville Kavinoky Theatre, MusicalFare Theatre, Road Less Traveled Productions, Second Generation Theatre, and Ujima Theatre, Inc.

Seen here is our first solo production, <i>Once On This Island</i> (2022).

Photo Credit: Nikiya Campbell

Seen here is our first solo production, Once On This Island (2022).

Photo Credit: Nikiya Campbell. Pictured: the cast of Once On This Island