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Broadway in Buffalo

Broadway in Buffalo

1987

Shea's hired Patrick J. Fagan but nobody thought he would stick around. By November 1986, Shea's Buffalo had gone through multiple managers who lasted mere months in the unenviable position of not just saving Shea's from the wrecking ball but restoring it. <br><br> His first priority? "To get people to come here to see this beautiful building and see what we're doing."

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - November 22, 1986

Shea's hired Patrick J. Fagan but nobody thought he would stick around. By November 1986, Shea's Buffalo had gone through multiple managers who lasted mere months in the unenviable position of not just saving Shea's from the wrecking ball but restoring it.

His first priority? "To get people to come here to see this beautiful building and see what we're doing."

Patrick Fagan

Photo Credit: 1987

Patrick Fagan

Cats lands on its feet!

The show was nearly cancelled before it even got onstage when the first touring production of Cats at Shea's Buffalo couldn't get their set through the backstage door. Luckily, the crew finally pushed it through, tilting the large set piece on its side. But Cats almost closed anyways when local promoters Corky & Harvey defaulted on their share, leaving Shea's and our Board Chairman James L. Vardon scrambling to cover the costs alone.

The show went on - with help from a young producer named Albert Nocciolino, who was sent from Broadway to insure Cats played Buffalo. And Cats would go on to play sell-out runs in Buffalo for the next three years, with Albert as our co-promoter.
May 16 - 17, 1987 / October 1 - 4, 1992

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - October 2, 1994

May 16 - 17, 1987 / October 1 - 4, 1992

This auspicious article in The Buffalo News correctly predicts the beginning of a new theatrical era as Albert Nocciolino partners with Shea's Buffalo Theatre as a co-promoter in bringing Broadway productions to Buffalo. In August 1988, Shea's began offering our Broadway season subscription with our first five-show package: <i>Cabaret</i>, <i>Me and My Girl</i>, <i>Elvis: An American Musical</i>, <i>Nunsense</i>, and <i>Cats</i>.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - April 1, 1988

This auspicious article in The Buffalo News correctly predicts the beginning of a new theatrical era as Albert Nocciolino partners with Shea's Buffalo Theatre as a co-promoter in bringing Broadway productions to Buffalo. In August 1988, Shea's began offering our Broadway season subscription with our first five-show package: Cabaret, Me and My Girl, Elvis: An American Musical, Nunsense, and Cats.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - April 6, 1988

Albert Nocciolino and Patrick Fagan at our first Broadway season announcement.

Photo Credit: August 9, 1988

Albert Nocciolino and Patrick Fagan at our first Broadway season announcement.

Coming soon to Shea's: <i>Nunsense</i> and <i>Elvis: An American Musical</i>!

Photo Credit: August 9, 1988

Coming soon to Shea's: Nunsense and Elvis: An American Musical!

Our first season announcement took place in the Grand Lobby for quite a small crowd.

Photo Credit: August 9, 1988

Our first season announcement took place in the Grand Lobby for quite a small crowd.

October 18 - 23, 1988

October 18 - 23, 1988

The first time that Shea's booked <i>Les Misérables</i>, the international blockbuster musical of 1987, the producers called to cancel the performance - the stage of Shea's Buffalo Theatre was simply not big enough for the Tony Award-winning turntable and barricades that came with the tour. But Shea's stepped up, meeting <i>Les Misérables</i>'s requirements and bringing the show to Buffalo for the first time in 1991 by cutting out two new loading doors and building a sheltered crossing to allow quick entrances and exits backstage. It wouldn't be for another decade before Shea's built the stagehouse expansion that allowed us to bring <i>The Phantom of the Opera</i> and <i>The Lion King</i> - making Buffalo finally big enough for Broadway.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo News - August 2, 1989

The first time that Shea's booked Les Misérables, the international blockbuster musical of 1987, the producers called to cancel the performance - the stage of Shea's Buffalo Theatre was simply not big enough for the Tony Award-winning turntable and barricades that came with the tour. But Shea's stepped up, meeting Les Misérables's requirements and bringing the show to Buffalo for the first time in 1991 by cutting out two new loading doors and building a sheltered crossing to allow quick entrances and exits backstage. It wouldn't be for another decade before Shea's built the stagehouse expansion that allowed us to bring The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King - making Buffalo finally big enough for Broadway.

Photo Credit: Dr. V. Roger Lalli (Buffalo My City Collection) - circa 1989

10,000 Maniacs

September 19, 1989
In this undated photo of downtown Buffalo, it's hard to make out Shea's Buffalo Theatre without it's blade sign.

In this undated photo of downtown Buffalo, it's hard to make out Shea's Buffalo Theatre without it's blade sign.