Shea’s Buffalo Theater Celebrates Record Success for Five Star Bank’s 2023-24 Broadway Season

Five Star Bank’s 2023-24 Broadway season at Shea’s Buffalo Theater. (Photo submitted)

Monday June 17, 2024 5:05 p.m.

Press release

Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Albert Nocciolino are celebrating the success of the 2023-24 Five Star Bank Broadway season, one of the busiest seasons in recent years.

The season began with the arrival of “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Moulin Rouge: The Musical” in Buffalo, leading technical rehearsals and other pre-tour activities at Shea’s Buffalo Theater. This set the stage for a spectacular season and brought a major economic boost of $12 million to the city of Buffalo. The influx of theatergoers and production staff spending on travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other local businesses underscored the profound impact of the Broadway season on the local economy.

Shea’s Buffalo Theater has proudly hosted 10 national touring Broadway launches, made possible by the strategic use of the Empire State Music and Theater Production Tax Credit. This program not only encourages qualified production companies to conduct technical rehearsals and other pre-tour activities at qualified regional theaters in upstate New York, but also helps make upstate entertainment venues state competitive with other northeastern states that offer similar tax incentives to music and theater venues. productions produced on Broadway.

“The success of the season can be attributed to the support of the local community, the exceptional quality of the shows presented and the unparalleled guest experience offered at Shea’s Buffalo Theater,” said Brian Higgins, president and CEO of Sheah. “From dazzling performances to memorable moments, the season is a testament to the dynamism of our region’s arts scene.”

The season’s final three productions, “Les Misérables,” “Mamma Mia” and “MJ: The Musical,” drew 72,000 theatergoers to Shea’s Buffalo Theater this spring. Of these, 49,500 were loyal subscribers. These three shows thrilled audiences and injected $14 million into the economy of the city of Buffalo.

“The overwhelming support from our season ticket holders has contributed to our success,” said Broadway producer Nocciolino, longtime co-anchor of Shea’s Broadway season. He expressed his immense gratitude to the loyal subscribers for their continued support. “Their sponsorship allows Shea’s to bring the best of Broadway to Buffalo and make the city a premier destination for Broadway tours.”

The economic impact of this season has been substantial, with performances of the Five Star Bank Broadway season and Gallagher Special Engagements contributing approximately $35 million to the local economy. This demonstrates the important role Shea’s Buffalo Theater plays in Buffalo’s cultural landscape and economic vitality.

More than 314,000 tickets were sold this season, making it the third highest attendance year in the last nine years.

A highlight of the season was “MJ: The Musical,” the highest-grossing one-week engagement in the history of Shea’s Buffalo Theater. This exceptional performance highlights the strong appeal and quality of the productions presented on the Shea stage.

To ensure you never miss a production and become part of our success story, we invite you to secure your place in history by subscribing to the upcoming 2024-25 Five Star Bank Broadway season. As a season ticket holder, you’ll enjoy exclusive benefits, including priority seating and the assurance of never missing out on the hottest ticket in town. Join us as we continue to bring world-class entertainment to Buffalo and create unforgettable live theater experiences. Subscribe today and be part of the excitement!

Five Star Bank’s 2024-25 Broadway season at Shea’s Buffalo Theater includes “Some Like it Hot,” “& Juliet,” “Disney’s The Lion King,” “The Wiz,” “Shucked,” “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond.” Musical” and “Back to the Future: The Musical”. “Hamilton” returns this fall as a special add-on for subscribers.

Shea’s Buffalo Theater has a rich history and plays a vital role in promoting arts and culture in Buffalo. This milestone is a testament to the dedication of Shea staff and volunteers to creating an exceptional theater experience for all participants.

For more information about Shea’s Performing Arts Center OR to purchase tickets for the Five Star Bank Broadway season, visit www.sheas.org or follow Shea’s on Facebook, Instagram and