WBFO Arts & Culture Desk

The 29th Annual Artie Awards recognized Buffalo theatrical talent (and hard work, late nights, and supportive spouses) while raising dollars to support HIV/AIDS Immunodeficiency Services. See the winners and pictures or visit #ArtieAwards or see "Related Content" below. Now we're already into next Artie season. Two plays focus on dangers women face, with an immersive experience by Gordon Farrell titled GIRLS WHO WALKED ON GLASS at Alleyway Theatre while Kelly Beuth's students from BAVPA present the edgy LAYLA'S ROOM at Subversive Theatre.

With a combination of guest artists, Indonesian immigrants and Buffalo-born residents, Buffalo Gamelan Club put on a four-hour show Thursday night at Kleinhans Music Hall that featured shadow puppets. As the group continues to tackle more ambitious performances, WBFO’s Nick Lippa reports on their growth in the community.

There is a new Artpark on the distant horizon, with better finances and changing geography.

Modestly, Buffalo-born political satirist Mark Russell is not boasting over his Lincoln Medal, given this weekend at a gala at Ford's Theatre with Washington's elite in attendence including President Donald Trump  and First Lady Melania Trump.

Russell, a Canisius High School graduate who still returns to town for reunions, brushed off the honor saying it was really just due to " body of work, time in the saddle,"

The honor was presented to Russell, and Retired Gen. Colin Powell and his wife, Alma this past Saturday at Ford's theatre.

In her latest non-fiction book, Wearing the Letter P, Grand Island resident Sophie Knab tells the story of her mother and other Polish women who were taken from their homes, their families and their country and sent away to forced labor camps in Nazi Germany during World War II.

Buffalo's Fruit Belt neighborhood is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. It could also be one the most misunderstood. As Buffalo Rising contributor Bradley Bethel points out during WBFO's Press Pass, residents are coalescing around a shared narrative, one which may offer a promising future.

Buffalo's Pride Parade began in the rain at Buffalo State College, but by the time it moved down Elmwood Avenue toward Allen Street, the sun was coming out. It really came out later for a party at Canalside.

Though the units at Willert Park Courts have been vacant for a decade, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is taking steps which could restore the 1938 housing project. It's been placed among  the "11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the United States." According to Jessie Fisher, Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara, the Trust has placed over 300 sites on the list in 32 years. Only five percent of the sites have been lost.

You don't have to enroll at Buff State to enjoy a talk by "Professor Chase!" Anthony will be introducing a live, costumed dramatic reading "Little Women", Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Kavinoky Theatre. This week we also look at the first four openings at The Shaw Festival (see listings below) and the highly recommend LOOKING THROUGH GLASS which closes Sunday at the Jewish Repertory Theatre in Getzville.

The 31st annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day Conference was held in downtown Niagara Falls Thursday. Its morning keynote speaker is a woman who, despite her physical condition, became a trained violinist who would go on to win the 2016 NPR Music Tiny Desk competition. She now travels to spread a message that being "disabled" is just another form of diversity for which people should be proud.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery expansion project is awaiting final approval from city planners. In this week's Press Pass with WBFO's Mark Scott, Buffalo Spree Editor Elizabeth Licata says people continue to weigh in on the design. As with any issue in the 21st century, she says social media is where people who object can be heard.

The Erie County Legislature agreed to put up the $5 million promised to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, but it was along fight.

The nominations for the 29th Annual Artie Awards, a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS & Immunodeficiency Clinic at ECMC and a chance to highlight theatrical excellence in Western New York were revealed in a Facebook Live broadcast with Anthony Chase and Nicole Marrale Cimato this past Monday. You can watch it here. The 29th Artie Awards winners will be announced Monday, June 3, starting at 8pm (red carpet at 7pm) at Shea’s 710 Theatre.

Developer Harry Stinson's plan for a re-creation of a Frank Lloyd Wright wedding chapel took another step forward Monday, even if he had to go into the water first.

Buffalo is going to get another museum and cultural center, this time covering the community's history with the changing Latino community.

Yet another local theater is starting the transition from a founder to a new generation of leadership.

This year, spring time is bringing with it some high profile actors and films to the Buffalo area.  At the top of that list is the decision by filmmaker John Krasinski to use the village of Akron as a site for the filming of "A Quiet Place 2." Meanwhile, several Western New York natives are taking advantage of the fertile film climate to produce new works for the large and small screen.

To celebrate the ties among three of the world's great religions, a group of people walked Thursday from North Presbyterian Church in Williamsville to the Muslim Community Center in Amherst.

The WNED|WBFO Artie Awards nominations will be live streamed on WBFO's Facebook feed Monday, May 20, at noon (the awards ceremonies will be Monday, June 3 at Shea's 710 Theatre). It's the awards season on Broadway, too, where Anthony Chase has been watching, meeting, and greeting.

He is best known as one of the members of legendary British comedy group Monty Python. John Cleese's extensive résumé includes the television series Fawlty Towers, numerous films including A Fish Called Wanda and countless supporting roles. He also served as a visiting professor at Cornell University and engages frequently with would-be trolls on Twitter. Cleese will appear in Buffalo Monday, May 20, to explain "Why There Is No Hope."

Ujima Company opened the musical PASSING STRANGE in PUSH Buffalo's renovated "Elementary School 77" at 429 Plymouth Avenue on Buffalo's West Side while Road Less Traveled Productions continued with THE UNDENIABLE SOUND OF RIGHT NOW at their new theater on Main Street. This is all good.