By Elmer Ploetz

Tonight is the big night: Curtain Up! is happening in Buffalo, so it’s a great time to take note of some honors being handed out as the theater season launches.

First up is Anthony Chase receiving his star in the Buffalo Theatre District’s Plaza of The Stars  on Monday (Sept. 9). The Buffalo Theatre District is the organization that sponsors Curtain Up!

It’s certainly appropriate as Chase has been the radio voice of the theater scene for over three decades as co-host of “Theater Talk” on WBFO-FM, but that’s only the start of his credits.

He has been a theater critic for The Buffalo News and Artvoice, he is a founder of the Artie Awards (Western New York’s theater honors) and he is a longtime teacher of theater at Buffalo State University, where he is now an assistant dean.

***

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for which performances you might want to attend as part of Curtain Up!, here is the schedule.

The official kickoff begins with a cocktail party in the Shea’s Grand Lobby, followed by performances across 11 theatre venues beginning at 7:30 p.m. The night ends with a free street party at 10:00 p.m. featuring live entertainment on Main Street between Tupper and Chippewa. 

***

Meanwhile, Shea’s Performing Arts Center has resurrected the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame with four inductees in the Class of 2024. The Hall was established in 1987, with 16 people being honored through 2003.

This year’s class, the first since 2003, comprises Patrick Fagan, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Lorna Hill, and Albert Nocciolino. Here’s the rundown:

Patrick Fagan: Fagan has been one of the Buffalo area’s most significant arts administrators, spending 16 years as Shea’s president and CEO and also serving as finance director for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and interim CEO for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Much of the stability and grown Shea’s has seen has its roots in Fagan’s tenure.

Stephen Mckinley Henderson: Henderson is one of Buffalo’s foremost actors and educators, appearing in six Oscar-nominated films and appearing on and off Broadway and in countless Buffalo productions.

Lorna Hill: The late actor, director, poet, playwright and activist was founder and artistic director of Ujima Theatre Company and earned a reputation as a groundbreaker. Hill provided a an environment that embraced diversity in both audience and casts and creating opportunities for emerging African American talent.

Albert Nocciolino: Nocciolino is the president and CEO of NAC Entertainment, which has produced over 100 Broadway and touring productions. Based out of Binghamton, Nocciolino is a four-time Tony winner as a producer — 2013 for “Kinky Boots” (Best Musical), 2010 for “La Cage aux Folles” (Best Revival of a Musial), 2005 for “Spamalot” (Best Musical) and in 2002 for “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (Best Musical). His touring productions have graced Upstate New York stages for decades.

One of the more impressive art exhibitions of the year is opening tonight at Hallwalls (341 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo) when it presents “Diaphanous,” a collection of new work by Edreys Wajed.

The exhibit by the Buffalo artist will include a new 50-foot wall painting designed specifically for Hallwalls’ gallery space, dozens of drawings and a silent collaged compilation of music video clips.

It’s a great opportunity to see work in a different context from an artist many people may know best from his public art murals. In collaboration with the Albright Knox Art Gallery and NFTA Metro, Wajed participated in the completion of the Freedom Wall at the corner of Michigan Ave. and East Ferry St. with fellow artists Julia Bottoms, Chuck Tingley and John Baker in 2017.

The artist’s talk and opening reception will be at 7 p.m. The exhibit, “Diaphonous,” will run through Oct. 25. Admission is free.

(In the spirit of transparency, we should note that Edreys Wajed’s wife and partner, Alexa, is on the Buffalo Hive board of directors).

***

Do you have info that you think belongs in The Notebook? Email us at thebuffalohive@gmail.com!

Elmer Ploetz is editor-in-chief of The Buffalo Hive.