Subversive Theatre

"We want no more bastard drama; no more attempts to dress out the simple dignity of everyday life in the peacock's feathers of false lyricism; no more straw-stuffed heroes or heroines; no more rabbits and goldfish from the conjurer's pockets, nor any lime-light.
Let us have starlight, moonlight, sunlight, and the light of our own self-respects."

-- John Galsworthy
1909

Click below for more info...

-- About the History of the Great Arrow Building

-- About Artist/Activist Emanuel "Manny" Fried

-- About "The Manny Fried Playhouse Fund Drive"

-- Directions to the Theatre

-- Photos of the Conversion Process

-- Return to THE MANNY FRIED PLAYHOUSE Main Page

PRESS COVERAGE:
-- Feature Article: Buffalo News 9/5/08

The Transformation!
Pictures of various steps in the process of converting a small warehouse space on the third floor of the Great Arrow Building into Buffalo's new home for peoples' theatre.

Please scroll down to see photos of each step along the way.

		*STARTIN' FROM SCRATCH* Here's the space when we first moved in -- the garage door was the only way in! Note the walls and ceiling are still white all over and the eschew floor boards.

*THEATRE-IN-THE-RAW!* The theatre begins to take shape as we borrow a scaffolding and begin painting the ceiling black. Notice the walls are also partially painted gray.

		*GREAT EXPECTATIONS* As you can see, the theatre is not the only new arrival expected. A visibly pregnant Jeanette Schneiderman* takes a break from painting to show off the little one on the way!

*GETTING THE WORD OUT* Our tireless Board of Directors stuffs envelopes with news of the grand opening of The Manny Fried Playhouse. From left to right: Brian Barrington, Vice-Chair David Granville, Patricia Armstrong, Marshall Maxwell, Secretary Jeanette Schneiderman, Michael Fanelli, and Diane Cammarata*.

		*THE GRAND OPENING!* Manny Fried* himself prepares to cut the ribbon as we unveil the new space to the world as part of our historic "Theatre Warming Party" on Friday, September 5th, 2008.

*LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN!* Board Members Jeanette Schneiderman* and Bobbi DeBose* staff the front table as the thronging crowds of well-wishers spill over into the hallway.

		*THE GANG OF FOUR* From left to right: Subversive Theatre's Chairman of the Board Keith Elkins, supporter Roz Cramer, Artistic Director Kurt Schneiderman, and Honorary Board Member Manny Fried* gather for this photo as the celebrations continue.

*ALMOST THERE!* After the "Theatre Warming Party" wraps up, Board Members Marshall Maxwell* (left) and Mike Fanelli (right) can't believe how far the space has come. Note the walls are now fully gray, the ceiling is fully black, and the new floor is 70% installed.

		*A DOOR!!!!!!!!* And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we had our brand new door installed. No more need for dramatic entrances through the garage door. This radical new invention should make it much easier to get audiences in and out.

*THE MAD LAST MINUTE DASH* Two nights before the debut performance in the new space, technicians scramble frantically to get everything ready in time. At center Director Virginia Brannon* talks to Sound Designer John Shotwell as Resident Set Designer Dyan O'Connell* (left) surveys the set and Resident Lighting Designer Carlie Todoro-Rickus* (right) prepares to ascend our brand new ladder.

		*CHAIRS!!!!!!!* Thanks to a very generous donation from Niagara University we received fifty plush chairs a full twenty four hours before opening night of our first show (we finally finished assembling them all about one hour before we opened up to the public!). Notice that the floor has now been completed and the newly erected divider walls at the top left form a small backstage area.

The Transformation! Pictures of various steps in the process of converting a small warehouse space on the third floor of the Great Arrow Building into Buffalo's new home for peoples' theatre.

The Transformation!
Pictures of various steps in the process of converting a small warehouse space on the third floor of the Great Arrow Building into Buffalo's new home for peoples' theatre.