"You Can’t Stop the Beat… But You Can Sanitize It" Hairspray asks audiences to celebrate integration and social change. But what happens when we remember the joy and forget the struggle? My latest Standing Ovation? What are we applauding when the curtain comes down? shorturl.at/VeTLk

My latest essay, Seen and Unseen: Blackness, Queerness, and Theater's Double Language, explores visibility, representation, Blackness, queerness, and the complicated role theater plays in cultural change. annettedanielstaylor.substack.com/p/seen-and-u...

The arts have long made room for people who exist beyond rigid categorization. That thought stayed with me while rehearsing The Legend of Georgia McBride and watching Pure Glitter at Second Generation Theatre. My new essay: “Who Gets to Be Seen? Queer Art, Visibility, and the Expansion of Culture”

After theater, I may hear: “That wasn’t for me.” Is that about taste? Or craft? Episode 3 of Standing Ovation? explores: performative support critique vs. cruelty Because “I didn’t connect” and “this failed” are not always the same thing. open.substack.com/pub/annetted...

Theater of Youth’s *Corduroy* is filled with physical comedy, theatrical magic, giant vacuum chaos, and genuine emotional warmth. The production captures the joy of watching children fully experience live theater in real time. My review: shorturl.at/cW0Im

Today I launch Episode 1 of Standing Ovation? on Substack. Theater criticism, essays, performance analysis, audience memory, and the emotional architecture of live performance. For theater people and audience members still thinking about a line weeks later. Annettedanielstaylor.substack.com

RUNWAY 2026: AMPLIFY treated fashion as community engagement, storytelling, and advocacy—not just aesthetics. My review: read here www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Who is Buffalo musical theater for? The tourists? Subscribers? Artists? Wealthy donors? Families? Young people? Black audiences? Working-class audiences? My new essay explores who gets invited into the room — and who doesn’t. Read + subscribe on Medium. medium.com/@annettedani...

Who is Buffalo musical theatre for? My new Medium essay explores audiences, artistic risk, and the future of regional theatre culture — and introduces the upcoming Standing Ovation? podcast. medium.com/p/e2d196a0a8...

What happens when the infrastructure collapses but the dinner party must go on? 🍷🌉 I just posted a review of "Things with Friends" at Alleyway Theatre. It’s a masterclass in tension, humor, and technical spectacle (yes, there was actual rain). Read more on the blog: medium.com/p/review-the...

Thank you for coming out to Mediations In Blue Gratitude to Drea D’Nur @justbuffalolit.bsky.social UB Writng Collective and TornSpace Theater photo:Pat Cray

Just published: My latest review for The Challenger on MusicalFare’s "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Shea’s 710. 🎭 This production cuts through the spectacle to find the grit and contemporary relevance in a classic. A massive achievement for the local Buffalo arts scene. Buffchallnews.com

Are you going to Meditations I. blue tomorrow TornSpace theater?

Drea D’Nur channels the spirit and legacy of Roberta Flack in a new tribute that explores memory and community. 🎼 Check out the full story via the Buffalo Challenger on why this requiem is such a pivotal moment for the local arts scene. 🦋 Read more: rb.gy/wgf3a1 #Music #Arts #Buffalo #RobertaFlack

It feels like flying." 🕊️ This Sunday at @BuffaloAKG, witness a powerful handoff of legacy. I spoke with Drea D’Nur and Sehrea N’Dayu about their Roberta Flack Requiem, musical healing, and the sound of survival. Don't miss this "spirit-led" performance. www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Grateful to have the opportunity to write about Buffalo’s vibrant arts community. Covering Buffalo Fashion Runway’s Black Carpet III at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre was a reminder of how powerful creative spaces can be. If you missed the article earlier, here it is: www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Buffalo’s creativity was on full display at Black Carpet III. I wrote about the incredible energy of Buffalo Fashion Runway’s latest production at Shea’s — where fashion, and community came together in one unforgettable night. Read the review: shorturl.at/9gse8 #BuffaloArts #BlackFashion #BuffaloNY

There’s lots of theater to experience in Buffalo. There’s Hedda Gabler The Kavinoky Theatre, Exit Strategy at Road Less Traveled Productions God of Carnage, at Second Generation Theatre , Diary of a Wimpy Kid at Theater of Youth , and The Brothers Size Ujima Collective!!! www.buffchallnews.com

Blood Iron and the Orishas: The Divine Brotherhood of The Brothers Size. I recently saw Ujima Theaters production of Tarell Alvin McRaney’s play The Brothers Size. Read my review at The Challenger News : www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

The Power of Presence is: read my conversation with actor Roderick Garr about his return to Buffalo theatre! www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Check out this video, "annette daniels taylor" share.google/tgawIKSYVtnb...

Exit Strategy by Ike Holter is playing at Roadless Traveled Theater in Buffalo. What a fantastic production! Read my review at Challenger News about it here: www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

If you’re in Buffalo this Friday and you want to dress up and dance, check out the 18th Annual “Black Tie for Black History Extravaganza”! Read about it here in the Challenger News! www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

There are still a few days left in February for celebrating and Honoring Black History! I wrote about some events in the Challenger News you may find exciting. You can check them out here: www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

There are so many events happening this month in Buffalo that are for and about Black American History. Read about them in the Challenger News! www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

America has been officially celebrating Black History Week and later Month since Dr. Carter G. Woodson announced it in 1926 the same year Shea’s Wonder Theater opened. Read how Buffalo Fashion Runway is renewing Buffalo’s Black History with a visionary collaboration with Black Carpet III at Sheas!

I started a new arts initiative with The Challenger News, Spotlight, where I interview Western New York African American artists. Read my conversation with film and theater artist Pete Johnson. Have you seen Pete’s work? Who would you like me to interview next? www.buffchallnews.com/theatre-arts...

Straight White Men gave playwrights Young Jean Lee the distinction of being the first Asian American woman to have a play produce on Broadway. I have thoughts about that but before we discuss that read my review of Ujima theater’s production of this piece: www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Terry Guest’s newest play Oak, part of the New Play Networks Rolling Premiere was stage at Alleyway Theater in Buffalo. Read my review of this exceptional production! www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Dawn Meredith-Simmons is an award winning theater artist, educator and administrator from Buffalo living and working in Boston, Mass. Read about our conversation about her working visit back in her hometown here: www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Have you seen Brandon Jacob’s-Jenkins play Everybody? It was mounted at Ujima Theatre in Buffalo read my review of this hilarious existential production here in the Buffalo Challenger Community News: www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

The revival of The Wiz blew me away! Did you see it on Broadway or on tour? Below is my Buffalo Challenger Community News review of when the show visited Buffalo, NY. www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

Have you seen the play Folks at Home? It was produced at Alleyway Theater in Buffalo, here’s my review from the Buffalo Challenger Community News! www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...

My Buffalo Challenger Community News review of Ujima Theaters The African Company Presents: Have you seen it? What did you think? www.buffchallnews.com/arts-enterta...