BUFFALO, N.Y. — The bright lights of Broadway will soon shine once again in the city of Buffalo.

What You Need To Know

  • Three musicals returning to Shea's starting this fall
  • Frozen, Tootsie and To Kill a Mockingbird highlight the schedule
  • The shows expected to generate millions for the local economy
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Live theatre is heading back to Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo as part of M&T Bank's Broadway Series this fall.

"This theatre has been quite lonely for the past year and four months," said Michael Murphy, Shea's Performing Arts Center president.

Theatre leaders announced Monday that three shows are kicking off national tours in the Queen City: Disney's Frozen on September 10, followed by Tootsie on October 10, and then Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird on March 27, 2022.

Leaders say each show will hold weeks of technical rehearsals before the curtain rises to the local audience. 

"It's an exciting time,” said Murphy. “Each show will arrive extra early. They come here, they fill our hotels. They come in and eat at our restaurants. These casts and crew and creative people.”

The performances are expected to generate an economic impact of about $25 million for Western New York. 

"Shea's is the centerpiece of our Theatre District in downtown Buffalo,” said Byron Brown, (D) Buffalo mayor. “The hustle and bustle that we want to see in downtown Buffalo. This will be absolutely fantastic for our downtown economy, for our city economy and for our regional economy.”

Leaders also applauded the state's extension of the theatre tax credit, which allows upstate theatres to stay competitive with those in other states.

The measure provides incentives for qualified production companies to conduct tech rehearsals and other activities.

"Not only is this happening here in Buffalo, it's happening in Syracuse, and in Rochester and Schenectady and Elmira and Utica," said Albert Nocciolino, Broadway Presenting partner.

Leaders say Shea's will follow all CDC, state and county safety protocols that are in place at the time each show opens.

Shea's is also transitioning to mobile ticketing. To reach the theater's box office, email patronservices@sheas.org or call 716-847-0850, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.