O'Connell & Company

06/09/2026

🎭 Congratulations to Joey Bucheker on winning the 2026 Artie Award for Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role for Shrek! 🏆
We are incredibly proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of Joey’s outstanding talent, dedication, and unforgettable work on our stage. Your O’Connell & Company family is thrilled for you!
We would also like to congratulate all of this year’s Artie Award winners and nominees. What an incredible season of theater across Western New York! The Artie Awards continue to showcase the remarkable artistry, creativity, and passion that make our theater community so special.
A special thank you to everyone who helped make our productions possible this season—our artists, designers, technicians, volunteers, staff, and audiences. We are honored to be part of such a vibrant and supportive theater community.
Bravo to all, and here’s to another fantastic season of storytelling! 🎭✨
TheatreCommunity Congratulations

05/24/2026

The 35th Annual Artie Awards nominations were announced today, and O’Connell & Company is thrilled to celebrate 7 nominations recognizing the incredible talent and artistry of our productions and artists this season!
Congratulations to all of our nominees and thank you to our audiences and supporters for another unforgettable year of theatre.
The Artie Awards will be presented on Monday, June 8.

05/18/2026

O’Connell & Company Announces Auditions for our 2026–27 Season! 🎭

Join us for auditions on:
📅 Monday, May 18 & Tuesday, May 19
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Harlem Road Community Center – Amherst

We are currently casting for:

✨ GUYS AND DOLLS
(Sept. 11–27)

✨ RENT
(Jan. 29–Feb. 14)

✨ STEPPING OUT
(Feb. 19–Mar. 7)

✨ TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING
(Mar. 5–21)

✨ GYPSY
(Apr. 23–May 9)

Please prepare:
🎶 32 bars of two songs OR one song and a one-minute monologue. Accompanist will be provided
📸 Bring a headshot and resume

Please note: A few roles have already been cast.

🎟 Reserve your audition slot on the audition link above

Questions?
📧 [email protected]
📞 716-848-0800

Come be part of another exciting season at O’Connell & Company!

05/16/2026

Head Thataway to the final 2 performances of CURTAINS! O’Connell & Company Presents Kander & Ebb’s Curtains: The Whodunit Musical
thru May 16 at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, Williamsville.
From the legendary creators of Chicago and Cabaret. Book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Based on an original concept by Peter Stone, this hilarious and suspenseful musical delivers equal parts glamour, intrigue, and show-stopping Broadway flair.
Set in 1959 Boston, Curtains follows the opening night of a struggling musical—until the leading lady drops dead center stage. Enter Lt. Cioffi, a charming detective with a love for theatre… and a knack for solving murders. As the investigation unfolds, everyone becomes a suspect: the overly ambitious producer, the feuding songwriting team, the temperamental director, the hopeful understudy, and even the cast members themselves. With egos as big as their jazz hands, secrets abound, and the killer may still be in the room.
Packed with dazzling musical numbers, witty dialogue, and twists that will keep you guessing until the final curtain.
The production is directed and choreographed by Joey Bucheker, with musical direction by Joe Isgar. The cast stars Nicholas Lama, Lisa Ludwig, Ashleigh Chrisena Ricci, Aimee Walker, Joe Isgar, Emily Weber, John Kreuzer, Phil Salemi Jr., Michael Seitz, Guy Tomassi, Christopher Andreana, Steven Saelzler, and Maria Kreutinger.
Tix at oconnellandcompany.com / 716-848-0800

05/15/2026

If you haven’t seen Curtains yet, here’s a sneak preview of what you’re missing…
Final 3 performances!
O’Connell & Company Presents Kander & Ebb’s Curtains: The Whodunit Musical
thru May 16 at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, Williamsville.
From the legendary creators of Chicago and Cabaret. Book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Based on an original concept by Peter Stone, this hilarious and suspenseful musical delivers equal parts glamour, intrigue, and show-stopping Broadway flair.
Set in 1959 Boston, Curtains follows the opening night of a struggling musical—until the leading lady drops dead center stage. Enter Lt. Cioffi, a charming detective with a love for theatre… and a knack for solving murders. As the investigation unfolds, everyone becomes a suspect: the overly ambitious producer, the feuding songwriting team, the temperamental director, the hopeful understudy, and even the cast members themselves. With egos as big as their jazz hands, secrets abound, and the killer may still be in the room.
Packed with dazzling musical numbers, witty dialogue, and twists that will keep you guessing until the final curtain.
The production is directed and choreographed by Joey Bucheker, with musical direction by Joe Isgar. The cast stars Nicholas Lama, Lisa Ludwig, Ashleigh Chrisena Ricci, Aimee Walker, Joe Isgar, Emily Weber, John Kreuzer, Phil Salemi Jr., Michael Seitz, Guy Tomassi, Christopher Andreana, Steven Saelzler, and Maria Kreutinger.
Tix at oconnellandcompany.com /

05/14/2026

Experience the thrill of live theater with O'Connell & Company's production of CURTAINS at the Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center. This critically acclaimed musical showcases the brilliance of Kander & Ebb, combining comedy, dance, and mystery in a captivating performance. Don't miss your opportunity to see this talent-packed cast in action. Performances are this Friday and Saturday, with tickets available online. Join us for an unforgettable evening of Broadway magic!

https://conta.cc/42zPp4A

Email from O'Connell & Company Critics are raving about O’Connell & Company’s hilarious Broadway-style whodunit at the gorgeous Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center — with FREE parking and only a f

05/13/2026

Meet the Cast | MICHAEL SEITZ (Daryl Grady) is best known by the O’Connell & Company audiences for his spot on portrayal of Dorothy Zbornak in THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES series. He has worked for several WNY theater companies and is a company member of Buffalo United Artists. His productions for BUA include SILENCE! THE MUSICAL (Buffalo Bill), IT’S ONLY A PLAY (Peter Austin), and POSEIDON! AN UPSIDE-DOWN MUSICAL (Nonnie) which earned him an Artie Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical. Mike has also done commercial and feature film work including Sugar Wonder Blues and G.O.D..

O’Connell & Company Presents Kander & Ebb’s Curtains: The Whodunit Musical
thru May 16 at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, Williamsville.
From the legendary creators of Chicago and Cabaret. Book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Based on an original concept by Peter Stone, this hilarious and suspenseful musical delivers equal parts glamour, intrigue, and show-stopping Broadway flair.
Set in 1959 Boston, Curtains follows the opening night of a struggling musical—until the leading lady drops dead center stage. Enter Lt. Cioffi, a charming detective with a love for theatre… and a knack for solving murders. As the investigation unfolds, everyone becomes a suspect: the overly ambitious producer, the feuding songwriting team, the temperamental director, the hopeful understudy, and even the cast members themselves. With egos as big as their jazz hands, secrets abound, and the killer may still be in the room.
Packed with dazzling musical numbers, witty dialogue, and twists that will keep you guessing until the final curtain.
Tix at oconnellandcompany.com / 716-848-0800

05/13/2026

Meet the Cast | ASHLEIGH CHRISENA RICCI (Niki Harris) is so happy to be back at O’Connell & Company with this incredible cast! Most recently you might have seen her in LUCKEY STIFF (Annabel) at Lancaster Opera House, STRING (Clotho) at The D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre or PIPPIN (Catherine) with O’Connell & Company (Artie Nominee). When not on stage, Chrisena is the Host for WNED’s ‘Let’s Go!’ (Emmy Nominee) and voices various cartoon characters in “Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy”, “Transformers: Cyberverse”, and “Mini Beat Power Rockers”. Off-Broadway credits include HONESTLY ABE: THE MUSICAL and COME BACK ONCE MORE. She would like to thank her family, friends, and husband Chris for their love and support.

O’Connell & Company Presents Kander & Ebb’s Curtains: The Whodunit Musical
thru May 16 at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, Williamsville.
From the legendary creators of Chicago and Cabaret. Book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Based on an original concept by Peter Stone, this hilarious and suspenseful musical delivers equal parts glamour, intrigue, and show-stopping Broadway flair.
Set in 1959 Boston, Curtains follows the opening night of a struggling musical—until the leading lady drops dead center stage. Enter Lt. Cioffi, a charming detective with a love for theatre… and a knack for solving murders. As the investigation unfolds, everyone becomes a suspect: the overly ambitious producer, the feuding songwriting team, the temperamental director, the hopeful understudy, and even the cast members themselves. With egos as big as their jazz hands, secrets abound, and the killer may still be in the room.
Packed with dazzling musical numbers, witty dialogue, and twists that will keep you guessing until the final curtain.
Tix at oconnellandcompany.com / 716-848-0800

05/12/2026

O’Connell & Company Announces Auditions for our 2026–27 Season! 🎭

Join us for auditions on:
📅 Monday, May 18 & Tuesday, May 19
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Harlem Road Community Center – Amherst

We are currently casting for:

✨ GUYS AND DOLLS
(Sept. 11–27)

✨ RENT
(Jan. 29–Feb. 14)

✨ STEPPING OUT
(Feb. 19–Mar. 7)

✨ TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING
(Mar. 5–21)

✨ GYPSY
(Apr. 23–May 9)

Please prepare:
🎶 32 bars of two songs OR one song and a one-minute monologue
📸 Bring a headshot and resume

Please note: A few roles have already been cast.

🎟 Reserve your audition slot here:
https://www.slottr.com/sheets/18294212

Questions?
📧 [email protected]
📞 716-848-0800

Come be part of another exciting season at O’Connell & Company!