Shea's season announcement fits with plan for historic venue

Article and Photos by Dave Lukow

Shea’s Performing Arts Center President and CEO Brian Higgins is on a mission.

On Tuesday, Higgins and other representatives of Shea’s revealed a lineup of eight shows for the 2025-26 Broadway season that should thrill theater-lovers across the region.

Among performances on the way to Main Street are “Kimberly Akimbo,” Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “Wicked,” “The Outsiders,” “The Notebook,” “Twas The Night Before,” “Water for Elephants” and “Suffs,” which will close the season from June 2-7 of next year.

The announcement was made before a crowded house at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre.

Higgins, in a press conference prior to the official announcement, discussed Buffalo’s potential for attracting the best the theater world has to offer, both now and down the road.

“Buffalo has all the fundamentals,” he said. “We’ve got some traction. Give us some time.”

A representative for New York’s 26^th and 27^th congressional districts for almost 20 years, Higgins was quick to admit he’s still learning when it comes to the show side of show business.

“I’m a novice,” he said, stressing the approach that he and those around him are stewards for Shea’s. “We want to make it better than how we found it. We want to rebuild all three theaters.”

Along with Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, Shea’s Performing Arts Center owns Shea’s 710 Theatre and Shea’s Smith Theatre.

Although the Buffalo Bills play home games in Orchard Park, Higgins noted the suburb is far from the sole beneficiary of having an NFL franchise in the area.

“The hotel and restaurant hub for the Buffalo Bills is the City of Buffalo,” he said.

Citing the fact there are more than 100 bars and restaurants close to the city’s theater district, Higgins openly set a high bar for what he hopes to accomplish. His ambitious plans for Shea’s include making its three venues year-round attractions.

“This is a 24-month timeline,” Higgins said.

Shea’s 710 Theatre

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Albert Nocciolino, president and CEO of NAC Entertainment Ltd., the Broadway season producer for Shea’s, talked about the schedule of shows.

“We have another great season,” said Nocciolino, a member of the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame. “We’ve had tremendous support from the community.”

Based in Binghamton, NAC Entertainment specializes in presenting national touring Broadway shows in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. Nocciolino is also president and CEO of Famous Artists, a Syracuse company. He’s been presenting shows for more than 35 years.

In addition to the big-name performances on the schedule, Nocciolino, a Tony Award-winning producer, pointed to other shows, ones that may be under the radar.

“There are some really good shows people may not be familiar with,” he said. “We think there’s something for everyone.”

Since COVID-19 hit, it’s estimated Buffalo lost between 20,000 and 30,000 office workers.

Christopher Scanlon, currently serving as mayor of Buffalo, is enthusiastic about Shea’s upcoming season and the fiscal impact it can have.

“This is a big year for Shea’s,” he said. “It’s almost an economic engine onto itself.”

In the aftermath of the pandemic, Scanlon knows cities must move forward.

“It’s time to start doing something,” he said to the crowd at Shea’s Buffalo. “It’s time to start working together.”

The 2025-26 Broadway season at Shea’s starts with “The Outsiders,” set to run from Sept. 17-23. “The Notebook” opens Oct. 7, while “Wicked” goes from Nov. 12-30.

For more on the schedule, go to https://www.sheas.org/.

Shea’s is the heart of Buffalo’s theater district.