Over the Tavern

A hilarious look at growing up Catholic in 1959 Buffalo!

In keeping our promise to bring new and exciting shows to the Erie Playhouse, we are delighted to offer the funny and heart-warming play Over the Tavern, which is about a Polish-Catholic family living over the family tavern in 1959 working class America. Click here to read more about the show and cast.  Pictured are Brennan Staaf as Rudy and Doris Becker as Sister Clarissa.

October 16-19, 22-26

Premiere Weekend Oct. 10 & 11 - all seats Premiere Weekend $13.00 (includes city amusement tax and facility fee)

Click here to purchase tickets online.
 

Cattle Call Auditions

Cattle Call Auditions for the Mainstage will be held October 19 & 20 at 6pm at the Erie Playhouse rehearsal hall located at 1158 East 12th St. Shows being cast at that time are Cats, The Graduate and The Spitfire Grill. Click Here for more information.

Composer Lyricist Concert - The Music of Alan Menken

The first offering in the ever-popular concert series at the Erie Playhouse for the new season, The Music of Alan Menken, takes a look at Broadway shows and movies composed by Menken.

Hosted by Playhouse executive director, Almitra Clerkin, the dazzling song-filled event includes a cast comprised of educators and students. Click here to read more about the concert and the cast.

October 13 & 14 at 7:30pm. Tickets available at the door.  All seats $14.00 (includes tax and fees)

Fall for the Arts

October is National Arts and Humanities Month and the Arts Council of Erie invites the community to "Fall for the Arts" - The Arts Council Business/Arts Appreciation Awards  - a free public presentation and reception Thursday, October 16 at 5:30pm at Erie Insurance.  Click Here to read more about the Arts Council.

The arts have an important role in our daily lives and the Arts Council of Erie encourages you to recognize all that Erie's arts scene has to offer. Whether you're an arts enthusiast or looking for something new to do this month, there are a few offerings from which to choose in addition to what's happening at the Playhouse: Erie Art Museum (Oct. 16 - Educator Safari, Oct. 18 - Kanga Party), Erie Philharmonic (Oct. 18 - Pops Series: Broadway Rocks).  As an added note: Kate Murosky, a popular EP performer who is now living in Pittsburgh, will be singing in the Broadway Rocks concert.

Disney's Geppetto & Son

Once again the Erie Playhouse is proud to premiere a new Disney musical, Geppetto & Son.  Under the direction of Youtheatre/Education director Emily Cassano, this bright and bubbly musical is perfect entertainment for your family. Tickets go on sale October 13.

November 7-9, 14-16

Curtain times: Friday 7pm, Saturday 2pm & 7pm, Sunday 2pm

If your school or local community group would like to see a special daytime matinee of the show, please tell them to check out our website.

All seats $13.00 (includes tax and fees)

From the Executive Director

Dear Erie Playhouse Family,

It’s been 16 years in the making …on Tuesday, October 7, we were officially awarded our first direct donation from the local county government to the tune of $137,813. This funding came directly from the 2007 unrestricted gaming revenue funds. The funds are designated for organizational stability and future growth.

The unrestricted gaming revenue fund was the most recent funding source discussed over these past 16 years to support Erie’s dedicated regional assets. You may remember conversations about a local sales tax; there was also talk about regional assets benefiting from the hotel tax. I am sure there were many other creative ideas others had along the way.

The Erie Playhouse is grateful to all the individuals, committees, community leaders and organizations that stood behind us in this process and who got us to where we are today.

The Erie Playhouse Board of Directors and staff will utilize this money for our outreach programs, theatre programming and facilities, shared marketing services with other local arts organizations, and upgrades to business software, making us the best community theatre we can be.

If you have any questions about the unrestricted gaming revenue funds awarded to the Erie Playhouse, please contact me at your convenience.

See you at the theatre!

Almi

DID YOU KNOW? The Producers paid walk-in and season ticket audiences totaled 3,413, taking our total number of people we need to come to the Erie Playhouse during the 2008-2009 season to 35,957. As you recall, 39,370 was the number of individual, paid ticket holders who need to walk through our doors from September 4, 2008 through August 16, 2009. Thanks for the excellent start!
 

Playhouse Family News & Events

2008 Holiday Showstoppers
The Erie Playhouse 2008 Holiday Showstoppers have been cast! Our first performance will be on November 20th at the Erie Playhouse Wing's Barnes and Noble Fundraiser. Come check us out! If you'd like to schedule the Showstoppers to perform at your holiday party or event, please email Emily !
 

Congratulations to Ro Foessett, one of our dedicated supporters and ushers.  She is celebrating her 35th year of volunteering at the Erie Playhouse.

Mark your calendars for November 22 for the 2nd annual USO Big Band Ball at Rainbow Gardens.  Dancing to Dave Stevens Band, entertainment by the Erie Playhouse USO troupe, silent auction and more hightlight this one-of-a-kind event. Admission is $30 per person and includes the USO canteen catered by Theresa's Deli. BYOB. Tickets on sale Oct. 20.

Calling all American Girls!  It's time for the American Girl Holiday Tea and Show in the Afternoon, Sunday, November 30 at the Cathedral Center Cafeteria located at 160 West 11th St. Tickets are $20 per person or $120 for a table of eight (8). Register online beginning Oct. 10.