CONCRETE CHRISTMAS |
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Local Playwright Showcase |
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at American Repertory Theater of WNY |
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| FEATURING THE WRITING TALENTS OF | |
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Michael Fanelli Donna Hoke Billy Horn Justin Karcher |
Matthew LaChiusa Mark C LLoyd Rosemarie Lorenti Camilla Maxwell j Snodgrass |
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DIRECTED BY |
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Catherine Burkhart |
Mariangela Mercurio |
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FEATURING |
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Katie Buckner Shelby McNulty- DeCaro John Kehoe Jo O'Donnell Nick Winger |
Jay Byron Suzanne Hibbard Devin Klumpp Akshat Sharma Andrew Zuccari |
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All plays are used by permission of the playwrights. No duplication of these works is allowed without consent of individual authors. The use of video to record this production is strictly prohibited. Please refrain from taking pictures during the production as it is distracting to both patrons and actors. If you wish to take photographs please let the stage or house manager know and an opportunity can be arranged after the production
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ACT ONE
"It's a Malignant Life" by Michael Fanelli
Featuring
Jo O'Donnell; John Kehoe; Devin Klumpp
Directed by Catherine Burkhart
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"Make it Last" by Donna Hoke
Featuring
Suzanne Hibbard; Akshat Sharma; Shelby McNulty-DeCaro; Nick Winger.
Directed by Mariangela Mercurio
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"I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Billy Horn and Rosemarie Lorenti
Featuring
Jo O'Donnell; Andrew Zuccari; Katie Buckner; Jay Byron; Billy Horn; John Kehoe.
Directed by Mariangela Mercurio.
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"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Matthew LaChiusa
Featuring
Jay Byron and Billy Horn
--10 Minute Intermission--
ACT TWO
"Winter Tan, Summer Plan" by Camilla Maxwell
Featuring
Nick Winger; Devin Klumpp; Katie Buckner; Suzanne Hibbard; Akshat Sharma
Directed by Catherine Burkhart.
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"No Kings" by Justin Karcher
Featuring
Akshat Sharma; Billy Horn; Suzanne Hibbard.
Directed by Catherine Burkhart
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"Two Days Before Christmas" by Mark C LLoyd
Featuring Andrew Zuccari and John Kehoe.
Directed by Catherine Burkhart.
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"Manger Scene of the Crime" by j Snodgrass
Featuring
Shelby McNulty-DeCaro; Nick Winger.
Directed by Mariangela Mercurio
Ensemble
Meet the Playwrights
Michael Fanelli - It's Maglignant Life - Michael is a New York City native, is a playwright specializing in the absurd. He has five published novels, the newest of which is OPS: Thirty Years of War and Spycraft.
Donna Hoke - Make it Last - Donna is thrilled to make her ARTWNY debut! Her work has been seen in 48 states, on five continents, and locally at Alleyway, Alt, Buffalo United Artists, Brazen-Faced Varlets, Lancaster Opera House, Second Generation, Shea's Smith, Subversive, and Road Less Traveled, where she is an ensemble member. Donna is a three-time Artie winner for Outstanding New Play, two-time recipient of NYSCA’s Individual Artist Award, and three-time Artvoice Buffalo's Best Writer—the only woman ever so named. Donna also has served the Dramatists Guild since 2012, is a blogger, New York Times-published crossword puzzle constructor; children's and trivia book author; conference speaker; and produced screenwriter. She thanks her family and the ART team!
Billy Horn/Rosemarie Lorenti - I'll Be Home For Christmas - This marks both Billy and Rosemarie's playwrighting debut at ART/WNY
Matthew LaChiusa - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Matthew has written 10 produced full-length and shorts, earning local recognition for excellence in original works, including The Informer, Red Clay, Axeman's Jazz, Paradigm Bomb, and Shine.
Camilla Maxwell - Winter Tan, Summer Plan- Camilla is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter from Sydney, Australia, who sometimes acts. A graduate of Macquarie University (Australia) and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in NYC, her work has featured at the Melbourne Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Festival, and the Globe Theatre fundraiser, London. She has been a finalist twice for the Samuel French Off-Broadway Theatre Festival and selected twice for the Australians In Film "Untapped Talent" program (Hollywood). She is a resident artist with Mind The Gap Theatre Company (Manhattan). As a ginger, she understands the perils of the sun (even during winter) all too well.
Justin Karcher - No Kings - (Twitter: @justin_karcher, Bluesky: @justinkarcher.bsky.social) is a Best of the Net- and Pushcart-nominated poet and playwright from Buffalo, NY. He is the author of several books, including Tailgating at the Gates of Hell (Ghost City Press, 2015). Recent playwriting credits include The Birth of Santa (American Repertory Theater of WNY) and “The Buffalo Bills Need Our Help” (Alleyway Theatre). https://www.justinkarcherauthor.com
Mark C. LLoyd - Two Days Before Christmas - Mark is a Poet and Playwright who resides in Lockport, NY. He has hosted numerous Poetry events and “self-produced” several artistic and theater productions. His plays have been performed at Alleyway Theater, Subversive, Amherst Players and once again ART of WNY. Mark has had four books of Poetry published. He is currently working on two books of his plays.
j. Snodgrass - Manger Scene of the Crime is excited to be writing for A.R.T. again. Recent works on the A.R.T. stage include Rust & Redemption and the Ghost of Christmas Present scene in When Worlds Collide. Snodgrass is currently writing and composing the musical Helen of Egypt, and hosting the podcast "Animal Magic." His audio-plays, books, and other writing projects can be found at j-snodgrass.com
Production Team
Catherine Burkhart
Mariangela Mercurio
Billy Horn Altamirano
Sheri Sante
Yianna Russo
Matthew LaChiusa
Director Notes
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and I love the carols and the songs. I start paying Christmas music far too early and I revel in doing so! In many ways it reminds me of a kinder and simpler time.
Music can transport you back to your childhood memories- emotions, sounds smells… it can also really paint your present moment. It really is a kind of magic.
I love what this team has created with this great collection of plays and music, so creatively pleyed by Billy. The mood of the music moves our stories along and helps to tell it. I hope you laugh, cry and grow thoughtful after seeing the show and that somehow you are moved by the magic of Christmas music. Cheers to all !
- Catherine Burkhart, Director
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When I think about this show, I think about how much we take for granted in life. Each one of these pieces ended up highlighting a fault of a character, and forcing them to go into other people's shoes or stories. We see characters taking for granted time, the people around them, and their own lives and relationships. And we see them get the script flipped on them. Learning and growing, it's all about perspective and reconciling their faults to become better. I hope this show inspires you to slow down and take the time to really see the people next to you and the people in your lives and spend time with them. Because it isn't a waste. Thank you to my amazing cast and crew for going through the messiness of theatre creation with Catherine and me, thank you to Catherine for bouncing ideas and working through it all with me ( again!), and thank you, for taking the time to be a part of this work. We hope you Enjoy the Show!
-Mariangela Mercurio, Director
Company Bios
Billy Horn Altamirano
Billy is thrilled to return to the ART stage, having last been seen in the Patchwork Theatre's production of Trainwreck, graciously hosted by ART. Previous ART roles include Stryker in Shine, the Rockstar in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Saint Jimmy in American Idiot. Additional theatrical roles include Little John in Robin Hood (TOY), Jerry Allison in The Buddy Holly Story (Musicalfare), Bobby Finnegan in Finnegan's Farewell (Lancaster Opera House), Rooster in Shawshank Redemption (Desiderio's Dinner Theatre) as well as many seasons with Shakespeare in Delaware Park. He also plays loud-mime Ziggy Spruce in the local and touring performances of Moxy Cabaret.
Katie Buckler
Katie is thrilled to share the ART stage with this cast. Katie has been in several local productions over the years, most notably as Ruth in Blithe Spirit (Lancaster Opera House), and Brooke in Other Desert Cities (Aurora Players). In addition to acting, Katie loves the outdoors, traveling, and walking my dog around Buffalo.
Jay Byron
Jay (he/they) is thrilled to make their Buffalo theatre debut with ART! Previously, Jay has been seen in FREDONIA: Main Street Studios (Peter in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, Baptista in TAMING OF THE SHREW), SUNY Fredonia Mainstage (Edmund in LEAR, Swing in THE NORMAL HEART, Murderer/Young Siward in MACBETH, Winfield in THE GRAPES OF WRATH). Other credits include touring in BRIGHT STAR TOURING THEATRE and direction for GHOST QUARTET. He has a BFA in Acting with a minor in creative writing. Jay is excited to continue to explore and thrive in WNY. Wanna talk about rocks? @tiny.byron
Suzanne Hibbard
Niagara University BFA in Theatre Studies. Onstage credits include: Paradigm Bomb, Something Wicked (ART of WNY), Kindness of Strangers (Compass Performing Arts Center), Emotional Baggage (Paige Allison Healing Arts/Buffalo Infringement Festival/CPAC), The Love List (Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre), Moon Over Buffalo (Lancaster Regional Players), Barefoot In The Park, The Odd Couple (Female Version), Grease, and Run For Your Wife (Aurora Players), Sesame Street Live National Tour.
John Kehoe
John is extremely happy to be in Concrete Christmas. This is his first production with ART. Hopefully not his last. His most recent plays were The Play That Goes Wrong with Rocking Horse Productions and One man, Two Guvnors with Aurora Players. He has also been performing improv as member of ComedySportz in over 1000 show over 22 years. You can also catch him performing as Frank-N-Furter at the Rivera Theatre’s annual Halloween showing of Rocky Horror with The Francis Bacon Experiment.
He enjoys long walks on the beach, doing a full and thorough tic check, and following the teachings of Mr. Rogers. You can see him next in Murder on the Orient Express this March with Aurora Players.
Devin Klumpp
Devin Klumpp is a recent graduate from Niagara University’s performance theatre BFA program and is delighted to make his ART debut! Favorite credits include: Once in my Lifetime (Ethan) at Lancaster Opera House. Company (David), Diary of Anne Frank (Peter), and Much Ado About Nothing (Don Pedro) at Niagara University. Devin is excited to be working with ART and is thankful for the opportunity to perform on this stage.
Shelby McNulty-DeCaro
Shelby McNulty-DeCaro (Avery Make It Last / Elaine Manger Scene of the Crime) is an actor, Stage Manager, and enthusiastic email-sender. Shelby graduated from Niagara University with a BFA in Theatrical Performance, with a minor in ASL and Deaf Culture. Recent performance credits include Diana Barry U/S (Anne of Green Gables, Theatre of Youth), John/Curly (Drunk Peter Pan, Drunk Theatre Buffalo), Various Roles (Deadly Delights Theatre Co. — Murder Mystery experiences).
Recent production credits include Book of Will (Stage Manager, co-production with RLTP & SDP), Burn This, (Stage Manager, RLTP), Our Lady of 121st Street (Stage Manager, RLTP), Shipwrecked (Assistant Stage Manager, RLTP), The Curious Case of the Watson Intelligence (Stage Manager, RLTP), TEACH (Stage Manager, Buff State Theatre Department), Air Heart (Stage Manager, Revelation Theatre), etc. When she isn’t onstage or backstage, you can find Shelby working the box office at Irish Classical Theatre Company, creating “princess magic” for families with Enchanting Birthdays of WNY, or cuddling her pitbull CiCi! All her thanks to the entire ART team for bringing her aboard for her first ART production!
Jo O'Donnell
Jo O'Donnell loves stories and will bring them to life any way she can. Some of her favorite local shows include: Sylvia with the Towne Players, "Night of The Living Dead" [Judy] with the Ghostlight theater, and "As You Like It" [Rosalind] with Inclusive Theater. You can hear her in local horror anthology podcast "Gray Matter." Also see Jo O'Donnell in film or as a director of her own short films. She's no stranger to being unscripted either, see her improv with ComedySportz Buffalo!
Akshat Sharma
Akshat Sharma is thrilled that Concrete Christmas is first show with ARTWNY. He is grateful to the multi-talented team at the helm of this ambitious and highly affecting show. Previously, Akshat has worked with First Look, Inclusive Theatre and BUA in Buffalo. He also has a long history of acting in Madison, WI and Boston, Mass. By day, he is Dr. Sharma, an immunologist at Roswell Park-- perhaps his greatest performance 😉.
Nicholas James Winger
Nicholas Winger – Nicholas Winger is an actor and drummer based in Buffalo NY, and is ecstatic to be making his ART debut. He graduated from SUNY Brockport in 2017 with a major in Journalism/Broadcasting and a minor in both Theatre and Music. He also received his Masters Degree in Theatre & Performance from The University at Buffalo in 2021. Most recently in 2023 Nicholas performed Off-Broadway in WHISPERING INHIBITIONS as Rob Konti, a new play written and directed by Victoria Visiko-Knox at the Birdland Theater in NYC. Other favorite theatre roles include Superman in IT’S A BIRD… IT’S A PLANE… IT’S SUPERMAN! THE MUSICAL (TYKES – Theatre Young Kids Enjoy, 2019), Ant in DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER, AND A FLY (TYKES, 2018-19), Ensemble in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Geva Theatre, 2017), John Wilkes Booth in ASSASSINS (SUNY Brockport Mainstage, 2017), and Kurt Kelly in HEATHERS (Brockport Harlequins, 2017).
When Nicholas isn’t acting, you can find him bartending at Road Less Traveled Productions! He will also be a featured guest with Unscripted Comedy Improv at RLTP in March.
Andrew Zuccari
Catherine Burkhart
Catherine is originally from Syracuse, NY and has a BFA in Theater Performance from SUNY Fredonia. Acting and directing in WNY for over 30 years, she is proud to be a part of this production. Previously directing “London Calling” as well as several other short play showcases for ART, she also appeared in the Artie winning production of “The Informer”. She works a day job at N&T Bank. When not on stage she practices yoga to keep her sanity and volunteers at Whispering River Farm Rescue to soothe her soul. She also enjoys cooking, reading and karaoke. Thanks to all involved in this production…CHeers!
Mariangela Mercurio
Billy Horn Altamirano
Billy is ecstatic to return to ART of WNY for this collaborative and creative production. Previously he music directed ART's Artie Award winning productions of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and American Idiot. He also music directed award winning productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Joe Hill's Last Will, Finnegan's Farewell, Moxy Cabaret's Choise of Valentines, Tick Tick Boom, as well as Robin Hood and Much Ado About Nothing, both of which he composed original music for. He also authored the musical Legacy, and the plays Knight's Elite, RPG, and Kayfabe. During the Covid lockdowns he created the Patchwork Radio Theatre which allowed the continuation of theater in a radio play style, the majority of which he wrote himself. He's composed the scores to several independent films including Apollyon, Ride or Die, Sour Notes and SLA. He can be seen performing in the music acts BD2, Ziggy and the Flea Circus and Moxy Cabaret.
Sheri Sante
Sheri is the Stage Manager for the American Repertory Theater of WNY. CONCRETE CHRISTMAS is the fourth show Sheri has stage managed. Her previous works include THE GODS OF PADEREWSKI DRIVE, THE INFORMER, and the Buffalo Writers Workshop this summer. When she's not at ART, you can find her teaching math at John F. Kennedy Middle School. Previous to working with ART of WNY, Sheri served as the director of the Drama Department at John F. Kennedy High School for 8 years. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and encouragement.
Yianna Russo
Matthew LaChiusa
Matthew is the Technical Director for the American Repertory Theater of WNY for the past 17 seasons. Some of his favorite sets include KINDNESS OF STRANGERS, PARADIGM BOMB, MERCY SEAT., LONDON CALLING and THE INFORMER. His favorite ART/WNY Lighting designs include MERCY SEAT, PARADIGM BOMB and SOMETHING WICKED. Matthew is also the Executive/Artistic Director for the American Repertory Theater of WNY for 16 of the 17 seasons and is grateful for all who have help build this plucky theater from the ground-up. Namaste.
Who is ART?
With another season underway, American Repertory Theater of WNY is proud of being one of the only theater companies in the Western New York region that dedicates season slots to highlight local playwrights.
Although the artistic vision is noble in merit, there are some drawbacks from this model. The average Buffalo theatergoer has a tendency to migrate to more familiar plays and playwrights. They also lean towards companies with name recognition for validation of works they may not be familiar with. This is an uphill battle ART/WNY faces ever since the company decided to focus on local works.
Yes, the company has been around for 17-seasons and should have built up the reputation but multiple factors have stunted the growth established theater companies have seen.
Although the days in which theaters were able to produce in rent-free or low rents facilities are coming to a close, ART/WNY's has never benefited this constant luxury. Instead, as is the case with the 545 Elmwood space, every month the company has to pay for the use of it's space. As a result, money that could be used for improving production values, increasing salaries for production personnel, hiring staff for non-production purposes (marketing, grant research, etc..) is difficult to achieve. Much like a goldfish stuck in a small tank, this doesn't allow for ART/WNY to grow outside it's confines.
Additionally, with an over-saturated theater scene that is only producing name recognizable works, ART/WNY struggles for attendance due to an overabundance of easy digestible material that only serves to entertain through familiarity, gimmicks, and non-thought provoking narratives. With ticket prices rising and the ability for people to only afford one or two shows every month, they are going to feel more comfortable not taking chances on a new play or unfamiliar playwright.
The population of Buffalo is roughly 274,678 (in 2023), the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area has a combined population of about 1.3 million (World Population Review). But despite this number working in favor of ALL theaters in the region, a small percent are actual theatergoers. ART/WNY, with other companies, struggles to find ways to emphasize the strong presences of the Dramatic Arts in the region. The primary reason is the lack of media support. There are no longer sources of print-media to reach non-theatergoers to interest them in the Arts. The only current print-media source, The Buffalo News has completely abandoned coverage of the Arts (yet continues to focus on Sports) that has lead to even more apathy and disinterest towards the Arts, especially theater. Online sources for the Arts have emerged but the audiences they reach are far from the numbers The Buffalo News once reached with its subscription base. This leaves a small budgeted theater company, with little means to advertise or promote, only social media and posters in selected neighborhoods (because the price of printing large quantities of posters is financially limiting), new works to a small percentage of people who may be interested in attending the Dramatic Arts.
Perhaps Buffalo, New York isn't the best city to attempt new works. Perhaps the only financially successful companies in this city are those who continue to produce the same well-known musicals and plays. Perhaps those with name-recognition will continue to receive sponsorship, grants, government support, advertisement and attention because of reputation and not creativity. Perhaps small, cutting edge, NYC 1980's Village circa theaters no longer have a place in 21st century America. Perhaps we are finally seeing the end of Dramatic Arts as we once knew it to be.
Perhaps.
But as long as ART/WNY can continue to fight for the company's place at the table, as long as it can continue to survive in a Jurassic Park filled with over-fed apex predators, and as long as there are people who still want to be inspired, enlighten and see thought provoking theater, ART/WNY will continue to be here.
So, who is ART/WNY?
A company that believes in the community in which it serves
A company that supports local artists in their creative journeys
A company that provides a forum for those who are passionate about their crafts but cannot find opportunities to develop them
A company that keeps ticket prices affordable so that all may attend theater
A company that provides a reasonable priced space for other arts organizations to produce their works for extended periods.
A company with a history of taking chances on material
A company with a core belief that theater is a craft and not a popularity contest
A company with limited budgets but will do everything in its power to put on engaging, provocative, powerful and insightful theater despite financial limitations
This is ART/WNY
Love the Art in You.
ART/WNY Special Thanks
| American Repertory Theater of WNY would like to thank the following for the generosity and support for the 2025-26 season: | |
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Thomas LaChiusa Catherine Burkhart Mark Humphrey Jason Stopwinski Paul McQuillen Megan Zoladz Sheri Sante Yianna Russo Peter Hall
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Danette Pawlowski Margaret Hodson Nate Chateaux Ann Perno Erika Kissack Kristine Brown Juli Grygier Melinda Miller |
The 2025-26 Board of Directors
Season Dedication
American Repertory Theater of WNY dedicates it entire 2025-26 season to company alumni Hugh Davis Jr who's life was tragically cut short this past summer. The company recognizes the need to draw attention to this country's chronic problems of untreated mental illness, military vets who receive poor health care & services, and gun violence. At the end of this season, ART/WNY will take a portion of ticket sales and donate, in the name of Hugh Davis, to organizations addressing these issues.
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RIP HUGH DAVIS
