Who is ART/WNY

American Repertory Theater of WNY is proud of being one of the only theater companies in the Western New York region that dedicates a full season highlighting local playwrights.

Although the artistic vision is noble in merit, there are some drawbacks from this model. The average Buffalo theatergoer has a tendency to migrate to more familiar plays and playwrights. They also lean towards companies with name recognition for validation of works they may not be familiar with. This is an uphill battle ART/WNY faces ever since the company decided to focus on local works.

Yes, the company has been around for 17-seasons and should have built up the reputation but multiple factors have stunted the growth other 15+ theater companies have seen.

Although the days in which theaters were able to produce in rent-free or low rents facilities are coming to a close,  ART/WNY's has never benefited this constant luxury. Instead, as is the case with the 545 Elmwood space, every month the company has to pay for the use of it's space. As a result, money that could be used for improving production values, increasing salaries for production personnel, hiring staff for non-production purposes (marketing, grant research, etc..) is difficult to achieve. Much like a goldfish stuck in a small tank, this doesn't allow for ART/WNY to grow outside it's confines.

Additionally, with an over-saturated theater scene that is only producing name recognizable works, ART/WNY struggles for attendance due to an overabundance of easy digestible material that only serves to entertain through familiarity, gimmicks, and non-thought provoking narratives. With ticket prices rising and the ability for people to only afford one or two shows every month, they are going to feel more comfortable not taking chances on a new play or unfamiliar playwright.

The population of Buffalo is roughly 274,678 (in 2023), the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area has a combined population of about 1.3 million (World Population Review). But despite this number working in favor of ALL theaters in the region, a small percent are actual theatergoers. ART/WNY, with other companies, struggles to find ways to emphasize the strong presences of the Dramatic Arts in the region. The primary reason is the lack of media support.  There are no longer sources of print-media to reach non-theatergoers to interest them in the Arts. The only current print-media source, The Buffalo News has completely abandoned coverage of the Arts (yet continues to focus on Sports) that has lead to even more apathy and disinterest towards the Arts, especially theater. Online sources for the Arts have emerged but the audiences they reach are far from the numbers The Buffalo News once reached with its subscription base. This leaves a small budgeted theater company, with little means to advertise or promote, only social media and posters in selected neighborhoods (because the price of printing large quantities of posters is financially limiting), new works to a small percentage of people who may be interested in attending the Dramatic Arts.

Perhaps Buffalo, New York isn't the best city to attempt new works. Perhaps the only financially successful companies in this city are those who continue to produce the same well-known musicals and plays. Perhaps those with name-recognition will continue to receive sponsorship, grants, government support, advertisement and attention because of reputation and not creativity. Perhaps small, cutting edge, NYC 1980's Village circa theaters no longer have a place in 21st century America.  Perhaps we are finally seeing the end of Dramatic Arts as we once knew it to be.

Perhaps.

But as long as ART/WNY can continue to fight for the company's place at the table, as long as it can continue to survive in a Jurassic Park filled with over-fed apex predators, and as long as there are people who still want to be inspired, enlighten and see thought provoking theater, ART/WNY will continue to be here.

So, who is ART/WNY

• A company that believes in the community in which it serves
• A company that supports local artists in their creative journeys
• A company that provides a forum for those who are passionate about their crafts but cannot find opportunities to develop them
• A company that keeps ticket prices affordable so that all may attend theater
• A company that provides a reasonable priced space for other arts organizations to produce their works for extended periods.
• A company with a history of taking chances on material
• A company with a core belief that theater is a craft and not a popularity contest
• A company with limited budgets but will do everything in its power to put on engaging, provocative, powerful and insightful theater despite financial limitations

This is ART/WNY

Love the Art in You.