​

 

Buffalo is blessed with many fine theaters and gifted playwrights. Unfortunately the playwright community has not blossomed as it should to offer a viable alternative to “off the shelf” plays. We write stuff, submit it and hope some artistic director will notice and value it enough to produce it. With a few notable exceptions, the exercise seems futile. There are things playwrights can do which are more productive than checking one's e-mail five times a day. We can build a community, improve our art and craft through interaction and by gum, put on our own plays--well, readings for now. We are blessed with so many wonderfully-talented actors in this town, we would be fools if we don't engage them with top-notch local work. I'm plunking down half a mil to build a new theater space in the old HSBC tower dedicated to producing new works by Buffalo playwrights. I wish! But we can help each other do what's possible. We can certainly stage readings, even give full productions to long one-acts. An artistic community is only limited by its imagination--well, and money. But there have always been economical ways to make plays happen in this business. With your help, there will be more jams with playwrights of all styles willing to support each other and run this kind of event. (My personal preference is for experimentation, but it takes all kinds.) If we can't be the best Korea, we can at least be the best Buffalo.