'Theatre Alongside the Canal' to debut at Tonawandas Canal Street Pavilion

The nonprofit Tonawandas Gateway Harbor Inc. announced the premier of “Theatre Alongside the Canal,” a free outdoor theater in the new Canal Street Pavilion in Tonawandas Gateway Harbor Park – the western terminus of the Erie Canal.

Events take place at 7 p.m. Fridays.

A press release stated, “This will be the only free, outdoor, cabaret-style musical comedy theater performances in the WNY area. The stage will be in the covered pavilion, which also seats about 100 people. The open-sided building will accommodate viewing from outdoor seating (bring your own chair) for several hundred people. Professional sound reinforcement will provide amplification of the performance.”

Performances for the summer of 2023 include:

√ June 30 – O’Connell & Company “DIVA by DIVA: A Celebrations of Women”

√ July 14 – Bellissima Productions “Spotlight Cabaret: The Past 5 Years”

√ Aug. 4 – Stand Up Entertainment Comedy

√ Aug. 18 – Lake Plains Players “State of the Art Cabaret”

At 6 p.m. Friday, June 30, there will be talks by the mayor of the City of Tonawanda, mayor of North Tonawanda, other public officials, and theater series sponsors Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union and Tonawanda Gateway Harbor Inc. In addition to providing details about the theater performances, information will be provided about other Gateway Harbor events, including the “Wednesday on the Canal Classic Rock Concerts” and “Food Truck Thursdays.” Representatives from WNY Theatre Companies will be in attendance to discuss their 2023 performances. The “DIVA by DIVA” performance will begin at 7 p.m. Food and beverages will be available from Old Man River

The press release added, “The goals of the ‘Theatre Alongside the Canal’ series are to introduce live area theater to more people in WNY, provide a venue for outdoor summer theater, and give all area theater groups the opportunity to promote their upcoming theater season.”

For more information, contact Rick Falkowski at [email protected].