Shea’s Theatre – One Of This Cross-Border Region’s Greatest Performing Arts & Architectural Gems – Kicks Off Centennial Celebration

This January, 2025  Marks 100-Year Anniversary of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre Groundbreaking. Stay Tune For Month After Month of  Celebratory Events

‘A special celebration will take place in April, marking the birthday of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre founder Michael Shea. Born in 1859 in St. Catharines, Ontario, as a young boy Michael and his family moved to Buffalo’s Old First Ward.

He worked as a laborer on the docks of Buffalo’s waterfront and later owned a saloon before beginning in the theatre entertainment industry, with Shea’s Buffalo being his crowning work.’

News from Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York

Posted January 24th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

(A Brief Foreword Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – As much as this commentator  has joined others in encouraging boycotts of American-made products and travel to the United States in response to Trump’s threats against Canada, one exception I would make is the performing arts, art and craft festivals and garden walks in the Buffalo, New York area where it is likely that almost everyone in those creative fields voted against Trump in the November 2025 presidential election. It makes no sense to me that people in the arts, on either side of the border, should be punished in the war Trump has threatened to wage against Canada.)

Shea’s Performing Arts Center has kicked off the centennial celebration of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. The commencement took place on January 15, 2025, which marks the 100th anniversary of the day ground was broken on construction of the historic theatre.

The launch marks the beginning of two years of centennial festivities planned at the theatre and in the community during 2025 and 2026. Built in one year and one day, Shea’s Buffalo Theatre first opened to the public on January 16, 1926.
Brian Higgins, President & CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center said.

“Shea’s Buffalo Theatre holds a unique place in this community, reaching far beyond our role as an entertainment destination. Shea’s is part of Buffalo’s identity.”

“We are a leader in arts education, a pristinely preserved national historic treasure, a downtown Buffalo anchor, and an economic catalyst. As we reflect on our 100 years of history, we are working to strengthen the foundation built by Michael Shea to sustain the enduring power of Shea’s for generations to come.”

“An architectural and design masterpiece, Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is a cultural landmark with an incredible history and a bright future,” added Jonathan Dandes, Chair of Shea’s Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees. “We have a lot of exciting things in store marking our centennial anniversary. We invite people near and far to come celebrate with us.”

HISTORIC TOURS

Shea’s is inviting the public in to experience the wonder of the theatre through historic tours. Visitors will be able to learn about Shea’s Buffalo Theatre history, preservation efforts, and get a backstage look at the inner workings of production spaces during guided tours.

Public tours will predominantly be held monthly on Mondays at 6:00PM, with the exception of Memorial Day weekend. Tickets are $25/person. Daytime educational tours can also be scheduled for $10/student, and private group VIP experiences for $50/each.

Tours are now open from February through August. Additional dates for tours later this year will be added after the Broadway season announcement. For tickets, call Shea’s Historic Tour hotline at 716-829-1166. 

Details are available at: https://www.sheas.org/historic-tours/.<https://www.sheas.org/historic-tours>

SHEA’S BUFFALO THEATRE VIRTUAL VAULT

Shea’s Performing Arts Center is bringing the history of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre to life through a virtual vault featured on the Shea’s website.  The virtual vault tells the story of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre throughout the decades through photos and descriptive elements. The vault will be opened in phases with the first section, featuring “Construction of Shea’s” now available at: www.sheas.org/vault<https://www.sheas.org/vault>.

SHEA’S BUFFALO HISTORY:

Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, the historic crown jewel of Shea’s Performing Arts Center, opened in 1926 under the moniker of “The Wonder Theatre,” and was the dream of Michael Shea.

Originally serving as a movie house under Paramount Pictures with “an acre of seats,” it would later stage vaudeville shows and play host to the likes of the Marx Brothers, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Bob Hope, and more in the 1930’s.

Later in the 1970’s, to save the theater from demolition, a group of concerned people formed The Friends of Buffalo Theatre. This not-for-profit organization worked to bring about a preliminary restoration and was responsible for getting Shea’s listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

Over the past 20 years, there has been over $30 million in restoration completed, all by volunteers, at Shea’s which allows Buffalo to keep the only surviving Louis Tiffany designed theater, with an original Wurlitzer organ, in magnificent condition for our patrons and the community.

To take avideo  journey through the awesome interior of Shea’s Theatre, click on the screen immediately below  –

For more information on Shea’s Buffalo Theatre and events at the Shea’s Performing Arts Center three-theatre campus, visit: www.sheas.org<https://www.sheas.org/>.

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