Shea's Performing Arts Center

Shea's Performing Arts Center is a historic performing arts venue in downtown Buffalo, New York. The organization is centered on Shea's Buffalo, a large theater that opened on January 16, 1926, as a movie palace and was originally built to present silent films. The building was designed by Chicago theater architects Rapp and Rapp in a highly decorative combination of Spanish and French Baroque and Rococo styles. Its interior was intended to evoke the grand opera houses and palaces of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe, with design work associated with Louis Comfort Tiffany, elaborate crystal chandeliers, ornamental furnishings, and extensive architectural detailing. The auditorium now seats approximately 3,019 people after seating changes made during the 1930s. The venue was the flagship of Michael Shea's theater chain. After Shea's retirement in 1930, Vincent R. McFaul managed the chain until his death in 1955, while Loew's Theatres acquired the chain's interests in 1948. Like many large downtown movie palaces, Shea's suffered during the decline of central Buffalo in the 1960s and 1970s. During that period it was operated primarily as a cinema and fell into serious physical and financial difficulty. The theater faced the possibility of losing its contents when the property owner became delinquent on taxes and Loew's prepared to withdraw. A community preservation effort led by the Friends of the Buffalo Theater documented the building's fixtures and equipment and challenged attempts to remove them. A court ruling preserved major elements, including chandeliers, furniture, projection equipment, and the organ, as integral parts of the theater. The preservation campaign helped keep the building operating and supported the beginning of major restoration work through public and arts-related grants. The Friends group also developed a performance program, helping shift Shea's from a declining cinema into a live-entertainment venue. In the late 1970s, theater manager and producer Robert B. D'Angelo served as chief executive and booked nationally touring Broadway productions including A Chorus Line, Chicago, Annie, and Les Misérables. These engagements helped restore Buffalo's role as a stop on the national Broadway touring circuit. A late-1970s reopening featuring Cab Calloway and George Burns marked the building's return to prominent live performance; both artists had previously appeared at the theater in earlier decades. Today, Shea's functions primarily as a presenter and host for touring Broadway musicals, concerts, comedy, community events, and other special programs. Its stage facilities have been expanded to support larger touring productions. The venue has also hosted area events, including the 43North entrepreneurship competition. Its programming has included nationally and internationally recognized performers as well as artists from Buffalo, Western New York, and Southern Ontario. The center's historic identity is reinforced by the continued presence of its Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ, a custom four-manual instrument originally installed to accompany silent movies. After periods of disuse and deterioration, the organ was restored in the late 1970s and has since been used for concerts, silent-film presentations, and event music. Further restoration has been undertaken after several decades of use.

Shea's Performing Arts Center originated with Shea's Buffalo, the flagship theater of Michael Shea's theater chain. Designed by Rapp and Rapp of Chicago, the theater opened in Buffalo on January 16, 1926, with a screening of King of Main Street starring Adolphe Menjou. Construction and outfitting took approximately one year. The building was conceived as an ornate movie palace, drawing on Spanish and French Baroque and Rococo traditions and incorporating decorative work associated with Louis Comfort Tiffany. Its original capacity was close to 4,000 seats; several hundred seats were removed in the 1930s to improve comfort in the orchestra section, leaving a present capacity of about 3,019. Michael Shea retired in 1930. Vincent R. McFaul, who had worked with Shea since 1900, then became general manager and continued to oversee the chain until his death in 1955. Loew's Theatres took over the chain's interests in 1948. During the 1960s and 1970s, the decline of downtown Buffalo affected the theater severely. Under Loew's operation, the venue was used largely for films and entered a period of physical deterioration. Ownership and unpaid tax obligations created a threat to the building's survival, while Loew's considered removing valuable furnishings and equipment before leaving. A preservation group known as the Friends of the Buffalo Theater organized to protect the building. Curt Mangel, Steve LaManna, Ben Hiltz, Dan Harter, and other volunteers worked on the structure and its theater organ and conducted a detailed inventory of the interior. In litigation concerning Loew's right to remove items, a judge ruled that significant fixtures and equipment were integral to the theater. The decision helped preserve chandeliers, furniture, the organ, and projection equipment. Buffalo officials, including Comptroller George O'Connell, monitored the property while the Friends helped maintain utilities and begin repairs. The Friends eventually received operating privileges and used government and arts grants to support substantial restoration. The group also developed live-performance programming. In the late 1970s, Robert B. D'Angelo was brought in as chief executive. His booking of multiweek national Broadway tours, including A Chorus Line, Chicago, Annie, and Les Misérables, reestablished Shea's as an important stop for touring productions. The theater's reopening was celebrated with a sold-out event featuring Cab Calloway and George Burns. Professional management later replaced the volunteer group in day-to-day operations, although the Friends continued to contribute volunteers and restoration work. The venue subsequently expanded its stage facilities to handle larger productions and evolved into a broad performing arts center. In addition to Broadway tours, it has presented concerts, comedy, family-oriented programming, and special events. Documented performers have included Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Foreigner, INXS, Liza Minnelli, the Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Jerry Seinfeld, Mary J. Blige, Steely Dan, Mariah Carey, Chris Rock, and Adam Sandler, among many others. A distinctive part of the theater's heritage is its custom Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Built by the Wurlitzer Company for silent-film accompaniment, it was one of a small number of instruments to receive tonal finishing at the Wurlitzer factory after installation. The instrument later fell into disrepair and was used only occasionally. The American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts helped make it playable for concerts, and the Friends organized a major restoration in the late 1970s, including work on the relay system, windchests, pipes, wiring, and console. The restored organ was presented publicly in a sold-out concert by theater organist Lyn Larsen. It continues to support organ recitals, silent films, and pre- and post-show music, with additional restoration undertaken after roughly four decades of service.

• 2006

  80th-anniversary orchestral concert

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra marked the theater's 80th birthday with a concert featuring organ works and Anthony Newman as organ soloist.

• 1970

  Community preservation effort begins

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Friends of the Buffalo Theater organized preservation and repair work as the building faced deterioration, tax problems, and possible loss of its historic contents.

• 1970

  Court protects theater contents

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A court ruling prevented the removal of important fixtures and equipment, treating them as integral parts of the theater.

• 1970

  Broadway touring identity is restored

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Under Robert B. D'Angelo, Shea's booked major national tours and rebuilt Buffalo's position on the touring Broadway circuit.

• 1948

  Loew's takes over chain interests

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Loew's Theatres acquired the chain's interests, beginning a period in which Shea's was operated within the Loew's theater system.

• 1930

  Michael Shea retires

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Michael Shea retired from active management, after which Vincent R. McFaul assumed general management of the theater chain.

• 1926

  Shea's Buffalo opens

  [1]Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The theater opened on January 16, 1926, with the silent film King of Main Street and began operation as a major movie palace.

A landmark Buffalo performing arts institution that combines a restored 1920s movie palace with national touring Broadway, music, comedy, and community-event programming.

• Live theater

  Touring Broadway productions

  Shea's principal programming role is presenting national touring productions of Broadway musicals and other large-scale theatrical works. Its expanded stage facilities allow the historic auditorium to accommodate contemporary touring requirements. Documented engagements have included A Chorus Line, Chicago, Annie, and Les Misérables.

• Live entertainment

  Concerts and comedy

  The center hosts concerts by popular, rock, R&B, and regional artists, along with stand-up comedy and other touring entertainment. Its documented performers range from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Foreigner to Jerry Seinfeld, Mary J. Blige, Chris Rock, and Adam Sandler.

• Organ and silent-film programming · 1926

  Mighty Wurlitzer presentations

  The restored four-manual Mighty Wurlitzer is used for organ concerts, silent-film accompaniment, and music before and after performances. The instrument was originally installed to accompany silent movies and remains an unusual surviving example of a theater organ operating in its original venue.

• Event hosting

  Special events

  Beyond ticketed performances, Shea's provides a large historic setting for community and area events. The theater has been used as a host site for events including the 43North entrepreneurship competition.

• 1970

  Preserve the theater and transition toward live performanceStrategy

  Background

  The building was deteriorating during downtown Buffalo's decline, and its ownership and tax problems threatened both the structure and its historic fixtures.

  Action taken

  The Friends of the Buffalo Theater documented the contents, defended them in court, secured operating privileges, pursued grants, and developed a live-performance program.

  Aftermath

  The preservation effort helped retain the building's interior, enabled restoration, and laid the foundation for Shea's revival as a Broadway and performing arts venue.

  Source

• 1970

  Rebuild the national Broadway touring positionStrategy

  Background

  After years of decline and primarily film-based operation, the theater needed programming capable of restoring its regional importance.

  Action taken

  Chief executive Robert B. D'Angelo booked multiweek engagements of major touring productions, including A Chorus Line, Chicago, Annie, and Les Misérables.

  Aftermath

  The bookings helped reestablish Buffalo as a stop on the national Broadway touring circuit and supported the theater's transformation into a successful performance center.

  Source

• 1970

  Restore the Mighty WurlitzerOther

  Background

  The theater organ, originally used for silent films, had fallen into disrepair and had been largely silent for decades.

  Action taken

  Restoration work replaced or repaired the relay system, windchests, missing pipes, wiring, and console components, with support from arts-related grants and volunteers.

  Aftermath

  The instrument returned to public performance and continues to be used for concerts and silent films, with later restoration work undertaken after approximately forty years.

  Source

1. 1Shea's Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org