UB Theatre and Dance Announces Fall 2024 Season

Join the University at Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance for a season of dance, musicals and drama. Nationally recognized directors, choreographers and faculty work with emerging student talent to produce innovative original productions that entertain audiences and explore the human condition. The fall season includes performances at the UB Center for the Arts and at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, both on UB North campus.

The UB Theatre and Dance season is sponsored in part by Fox Run at Orchard Park, celebrating its sixth year in support of the department.

Zodiaque Dance Company Celebration 50 Gala

Co-Directed by Kerry Ring and Michael Deeb Weaver
Production Design Coordinated by Lynne Koscielniak
Oct. 26, 2024 Gala | Pre-show Awards at 6:30 p.m. | Curtain at 7:30 p.m.*
UB Center for the Arts Drama Theatre
*50^th Anniversary Gala Pricing Only: $50 All seats
Tickets

Zodiaque Dance Company (ZDC) is UB’s eminent pre-professional dance company. Join us in celebrating five decades of innovative, creative performances on gala night. Gala tickets include access to the pre-show awards ceremony in the Center for the Arts Atrium, The Zodiaque Dance Company "Celebration 50" Fall Program and a post-show dance party. A cash bar will be open starting at 6 p.m. and the pre-show party will include light refreshments.

The fall program features a diverse array of dance styles, including modern, contemporary, jazz, African, tap and other percussive forms. Works will be created by a varied and accomplished group of choreographers, including Cesar Salinas, associate artistic director, Giordano Dance Chicago; Brittney Griffin, associate choreographer, Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway; Rich Ashworth, Chicago Tap Theatre; Robin Hibbert, African dance educator and performer; and Liz Borom faculty, Western Carolina University. The program is punctuated by the contributions of former UB Dance faculty members Thomas Ralabate, immediate former artistic director of Zodiaque and professor emeritus; and Bill Thomas, former UB director of dance, Philadanco. The concert is under the co-direction of faculty members Kerry Ring and Michael Deeb Weaver, who will also set works.

Directors Awards will be presented to Tom Ralabate, Bill Thomas and Elka Dintcheva, former director of advancement, UB College of Arts and Sciences.

Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented to Cesar Salinas and Lindsay Guarino, associate professor and chair of Music, Theatre and Dance, Salve Regina University.

The concert includes a video and photo history of ZDC; and will showcase collaborations with the UB Theatre Design and Technology program and its alumni.

“No Exit”

By Jean-Paul Sartre
Adapted from the French by Paul Bowles
Directed by Tobias Pfluke as part of the Student Directed Series
Sept. 20-21, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
UB Katharine Cornell Theatre
Tickets

Two women and one man are locked up together for eternity in one hideous room in Hell. The windows are bricked up, there are no mirrors, the electric lights can never be turned off and there is no exit. The irony of this Hell is that its torture is not of the rack and fire, but of the burning humiliation of each soul as it is stripped of its pretenses by the cruel curiosity of the damned. Here the soul is shorn of secrecy and even the blackest deeds are mercilessly exposed to the fierce light of Hell. It is an eternal torment.

“No Exit” is recommended for adult audiences. It contains implications of sex and mentions of death, suicide, physical violence, self-harm, adultery and unwanted pregnancies.

“No Exit” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

“Almost, Maine”

By John Cariani
Directed by Scott Borish as part of our Student Directed Series
Sept. 27-28, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
UB Katharine Cornell Theatre
Tickets

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So, it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

Due to some mature themes, “Almost, Maine” is recommended for ages 13+.

“Almost, Maine” is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection.

“Ride The Cyclone, The Musical”

Music, Book and Lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell
Directed and Choreographed by Doug Weyand
Music Direction by Matt Marco
Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov 2 - 3, 2024 at 2 p.m.
UB Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre
Tickets

In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. This popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived.

Due to mature content, language and themes, including references to sex, drugs and violence, the production is recommended for ages 13+.

“Ride the Cyclone” is presented through special arrangement with Broadway Licensing Global.

“Three Sisters (Ruhl), A Theatre Studio Ensemble Production”

“Three Sisters” by Anton Chekhov
A New Version by Sarah Ruhl based on a literal translation by Elise Thoron with Natalya Paramonova and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati
Directed by Lana Sugarman
Nov. 8 - 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
UB Center for the Arts, Rehearsal Workshop
Tickets

Transplanted from their beloved Moscow to a provincial Russian town, three sisters – school teacher Olga, unhappily married Masha and idealistic Irina – yearn for the city of their childhood, where they imagine their lives will be transformed and fulfilled. “Three Sisters” is the portrait of a family grappling with the bittersweet distance between reality and dreams.  

“Three Sisters”  (Ruhl) is recommended for ages 14+.
Content Note: This play depicts alcohol use and mentions (but does not depict) gun violence.

“Three Sisters”  is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

Emerging Choreographers Showcase

Directed by Anne Burnidge
Choreographers: Shannon Brien, Kenny Harrison, Juliana Hassouna, Charity John, Olivia Lopez, Gia Maresca, Ariana Mullin, Kelly Quinn and Mya Tran
Nov. 15 - 16, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 - 17, 2024 at 2 p.m.
UB Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre
Tickets

Celebrating diversity in both genre and theme, Emerging Choreographers Showcase features new dance works created and performed by BA, BFA and MFA dance majors. Student choreographers receive close faculty mentorship and collaborate with student lighting designers, sound designers, costumers and technicians.

“Fabulation or, The Re-Education of Undine”

By Lynn Nottage
Directed by Thembi Duncan
Nov. 21–23, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 23–24, 2024 at 2 p.m.
UB Center for the Arts, Drama Theatre
Tickets

“Fabulation” is a social satire about an ambitious and haughty African American woman, Undine Barnes Calles, whose husband suddenly disappears after embezzling all of her money. Pregnant and on the brink of social and financial ruin, Undine retreats to her childhood home in Brooklyn’s Walt Whitman projects, only to discover that she must cope with a crude new reality. Undine faces the challenge of transforming her setbacks into small victories in a battle to reaffirm her right to be. “Fabulation” is a comeuppance tale with a comic twist.

“Fabulation” is recommended for ages 16+.
Content Note: Strong language. Contains descriptions and depictions of cocaine and heroin drug use and mentions of abortion.

“Fabulation”  is presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.

MFA Fall Dance Showcase

Co-Directed by Joshua Ikechukwu, Amelia Rojek and Dani Schofer
Nov. 22 - 23, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
UB Katharine Cornell Theatre
Tickets

The MFA Fall Showcase offers a peek into the creative process of dancemaking, featuring works in various stages of completion from current MFA Dance students. The works are often generated collaboratively with other artists and the Showcase offers a space for choreographers to experiment and innovate movement-based performance. The concert is under the direction of MFA students Joshue Ikechuku, Amelia Rojek and Dani Schofer.

UB’s graduate dance program is built upon the belief that dance is a fundamental expression of humanity with the ability to inform, transform, reflect upon and lead local and global change in the 21st century. With close faculty mentorship and numerous opportunities to create and present work, MFA Dance students engage in advanced practical, theoretical and critical inquiry while honing their abilities as artists, dance makers, educators, writers, innovators, scholars, policy makers and leaders.

Tickets for Performances at the UB Center for the Arts and UB Katharine Cornell Theatre

Online purchase: ubcfa.org

In person: UBCFA Ticket Office (visit ubcfa.org for current hours) and at the CFA or KCT Box Offices respectively, one hour in advance, day of show. Please note that box offices are now cashless. We accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover and American Express credit and debit cards for in-person purchases.

Group Sales: Groups of 10 or more are eligible for $2 off per ticket.

Contact: ubcfatickets@buffalo.edu to make a reservation.
Please allow 24 hours for a reply. Tickets are not otherwise sold by phone.

Ticket prices for all shows*

$22 Adults | $17 Seniors/Veterans/UB Employees
$12 Students | $7 UB Students
(Ticketmaster fees apply when purchasing online.)

*Except the Zodiaque Dance Company Celebration 50 Gala on Sat. Oct. 26, 2024 | All seats: $50

Directions to Venues

UB Department of Theatre and Dance

UB Center for the Arts