Blackfriars Theatre

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Blackfriars Theatre Blackfriars Theatre is a mid-sized professional theatre that has entertained audiences for 75 years in downtown Rochester, NY!

Blackfriars is proud to invite you to our theater located in Rochester's "Theatre Row" along Main St. We are now in our 72nd season of providing quality theatrical entertainment to the Greater Monroe County and Finger Lakes region. Blackfriars Theatre produces 7 theatrical productions each year (6 in our subscription series and 1 special summer show through our Summer Intensive program from young artists). Our theatrical season starts each fall and runs through May. Our committed group of performers, technicians and volunteers are proud to bring live entertainment in the form of dramatic and musical productions to our local community in western New York.

We've been pleasantly surprised to see how the community has responded to this tiny gem of a play (one of our most antic...
10/20/2026

We've been pleasantly surprised to see how the community has responded to this tiny gem of a play (one of our most anticipated of the season!!) ... If you're looking to come this weekend ... grab 'em now folks!
🎟🎟🎟LINK IN COMMENTS🎟🎟🎟

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Kiefer Schenk is playing Frank Goodman in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1...
10/20/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Kiefer Schenk is playing Frank Goodman in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- I always delight in reading and auditioning for more contemporary works, especially when they're satirical in the way the show is. The more recent plays the better, I say!

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- The people I'm working with both on and offstage! I think we've created a supportive and open little ban of thems and fems. We've made one another laugh so much through this process, so that warms my little heart.

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- The boats that these men traveled in were NOT built for running river rapids, nearly to the point where they could be considered the opposite of what you'd want to be rowing down rocky river passages. Oh, well!

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- I think that many people wil lbe fascinated by the bizarre snapshot of masculine American arrogance that this play holds up to them. I hope that audiences will find both the humor and sad truths within.

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- I hereby name the three-lorr walkup to my apartment "Schenk's Rise (and Fall)." That or I would rename Mr. Everest to Mt. Kieferest. It just works.

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Sonni Amoroso is playing George Bradley in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov ...
10/18/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Sonni Amoroso is playing George Bradley in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- I've done 2 BTSI productions and they've been so fun, professional, and helped me grow a ton as an actor. I love working at Blackfriars and loved Men on Boats when I read it, so I pulled up to auditions 😎

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- I graduated college in May and this is my first time working with a cast that isn't all close in age to me. It's been so rewarding to apply everything I learned in school while working with a totally new group of amazing people and it makes me realize how endless the possibilities in theatre are.

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- How similarly the men on boats lived to people on survivor! That is a truly historical fact to me.

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- The whole idea of MEN on boats being a cast of entirely non-men. I think there are so many comedic moments in the script and acting, but I hope people continuously remind themselves all these characters are men. I think that's where the most comedy exists.

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- I would like to name a planet or star after myself ⭐🪐⭐🪐⭐🪐 I would name it "Sonni" (very complex, I know)

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Marge Mattioli is playing Old Shady in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!...
10/17/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Marge Mattioli is playing Old Shady in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- It was an interesting piece and I was available during the rehearsals and performances.

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- I has been a team effort, and it has been great to research this expedition.

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- Interestingly, Bradley was actually being dragged by the boat when he fell overboard.

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- The diversity of the cast to bring a historical event to life as entertainment.

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- The dog park in Washington Square park in NYC--"The Mattioli Woofy Playground."

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Delia Tillan-Figueroa is playing William Robert Hawkins in MEN ON BOATS, running...
10/17/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Delia Tillan-Figueroa is playing William Robert Hawkins in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- Thought it sounded cool! I love the casting requirements and always wanted to be in a funny play.

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- Working together with cool and sweet people! It feels so good being surrounded by fellow creatives!

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- I learned that it's not a great idea to keep all your barometers and flour on a single boat.

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- The sincerity, the bond that is felt between the group. The variety of different personalities. Seeing some serious--boat work!!

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- Ben & Jerry's flavor Graveyard in Vermont. It shall be MY flavor graveyard housed with my favorite discontinued snacks ❤️

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Katelyn Machnica is playing William Dunn in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov...
10/16/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Katelyn Machnica is playing William Dunn in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- I never pass up a chance to play a dude. I'm awesome at it. Especially when he's a jerk.

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- The team! It's collaborative, hilarious, and I feel so safe to play (and yell!) with such talented, kind, empathetic people.

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- John Wesley Powell repeated the expedition just 2 years later!

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- The audacity.

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- A beautiful waterfall, where the light catches the water and makes everything look miraculous. I'd call it "Deus Ex Machnica."

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Laura Varela is playing Andrew Hall in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!...
10/15/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Laura Varela is playing Andrew Hall in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- I moved to Rochester recently in the summer and was interested in building a community in theatre (also--I wanted to make friends!)

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- It's a delight to work with the cast! Not only is everyone the perfect mix of professional and fun, but each person brings a special bit of actor magic to the characters they play along with the dynamics of their fellow boatmen.

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- I play Andrew Hall, who, historically, as actually the youngest person on the expedition. Additionally, despite overall positive remarks about Hall in the journals, he was a terrible singer!

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- I think the fact that this was an original expedition will be very intriguing to audiences! And the added humor, drama, and absurdity will make the real story extra special.

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- So, fun fact: I am a writer and working on my debut novel, "Nowhere Men," a spaghetti Western with a Lovecraftian mix that also takes place in Colorado! I feel a good landmark should be inspired by it, so a landmark after myself would be called "harmonica's cry."

One month from today, all secrets will be revealed ... including why on Earth we would require the return of Mara's bear...
10/14/2026

One month from today, all secrets will be revealed ... including why on Earth we would require the return of Mara's beard-wig from Urinetown for Mary to wear ... only one way to find out!

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Trish Annese is playing John Colton Sumner in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - N...
10/14/2026

It's time for QUESTIONS WITH THE CAST!! Trish Annese is playing John Colton Sumner in MEN ON BOATS, running Oct 22nd - Nov 1st!

1. What made you want to audition for this show?
- I am always excited about an all-female cast and after reading the play, I knew I wanted to be part of a collaborative effort led and created by women. The ensemble nature of the play and its physical work called me as well.

2. What is the best part about working on this production so far?
- The cast has gelled particularly well under the leadership of our director, Rachel Solomon, and our stage manager, Bev Bauman; additionally, we have all worked hard outside of the theatre to effectively support one another in the rehearsal space.

3. What is the most interesting, funny, or absurd historical fact you’ve learned in this process?
- It’s gotta be the fact that these guys ran the river and its rapids and waterfalls on wooden boats! I mean, obviously, it was the 1800s and that makes sense, but the devil-may-care wherewithal to do so? Ridiculous!!!

4. What do you think audiences will love about Men on Boats?
- I think they will love the genuinely talented performance by the actors telling the story, of course, but I also think they will love the camaraderie that emanates from the players in the ensemble scenes—it is the essence of what makes a live performance so compelling.

5. If you could name a landmark after yourself, what would it be, and what would you call it?
- Hmm… I’d call it the Verdant Valley of Veritas, and it would be a large urban space that has been naturalized to attract birds and bees as a reminder to city dwellers and urban planners that the earth and its wild inhabitants are essential to humans—even amid its most populated arenas.

Soiree Teaser #3!! What song do YOU hope to hear Danny sing at this year's Season Soiree?!Get on the site and grab your...
10/13/2026

Soiree Teaser #3!! What song do YOU hope to hear Danny sing at this year's Season Soiree?!

Get on the site and grab your tickets by November 1st, folks!! Heavy hors d'oeuvres, a drink ticket, fabulous company, and the best entertainment in town included with the price of your ticket ... AND you get to vote for next year's big musical! Plus ... there might be some BUSHWHACKED guests joining in the fun ... 😎

Address

795 E Main Street
Rochester, NY
14605

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+15854541260

Website

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