Image by Justin Gould / WNY News Now.LAKEWOOD – The Lakewood Pizza Hut location is slated to close Wednesday due to the novel Coronavirus outbreak.A restaurant employee told WNYNewsNow the regional franchise owners in Western New York made the decision, effecting several restaurants in the area.As of Monday morning, Dunkirk’s Pizza Hut was closed and workers at the Olean location said they are scheduled to close Wednesday as well. Workers in Olean explained they are running low on some supplies and those who want to get a final slice should do so sooner than later.Last month, New York State ordered restaurants to close their dining room facility’s and move solely to takeout service. In Chautauqua County, officials launched a website geared towards promoting local restaurants and retail businesses who were still providing services amid the pandemic.Employees at Jamestown’s Pizza Hut say they hope to reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic concludes, although they were not specifically told they would.Workers at the Warren, Pennsylvania Pizza Hut location say they will remain open. Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window),The quality and mainly the service at this location has been getting worse since they remodeled the store..Covid19 just sealed the dael,A blessing in disguise, the Jamestown location was always understaffed.,This headline could be worded better, it makes the reader think there was an outbreak at the store. read more
via Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Sheriff is responding to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent executive order directing law enforcement agencies statewide to enact police reform, or face losing all state funding.Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone. WNY News Now File Image.Sheriff Jim Quattrone, in a letter to Chautauqua County residents on Monday, said the Governor’s order implies that all police agencies and officers are racist and abusive, an assumption that the Sheriff says is not true.“Speaking for the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, I can state unequivocally that the Governor is wrong in that suggestion,” wrote Quattrone.Furthermore, the Sheriff took a stand against the Governor who threatened fiscal reparations part of the executive order. “And the Governor is wrong to threaten our county with financial ruin to get us to make improvements in police operations, which is something we work on every day, without his misinformed bullying,” furthered Quattrone.The Sheriff says that he does not answer to the Governor, but rather, the people in Chautauqua County.“I will continue to work to improve policing for all my citizens, without respect to race, and will do so despite, not because of, the Governor’s attempt to bully our county,” said Quattrone. “I hope that someday in the near future the Governor will take the time to find out about all the good things that are actually going on in Sheriffs’ Offices, and other local police agencies around the State, and perhaps then we can work together on these important goals, in an atmosphere of mutual respect.”The full letter, released by the Sheriff’s Office, is posted below.Failed to fetch Error: URL to the PDF file must be on exactly the same domain as the current web page. Click here for more info Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window),Thank you, Sheriff Quattrone, for boldly speaking truth to the governor. We are with you!,Thank you Sheriff!! We are behind you 100 percent. Thank you for all that you guys do.,Stop being so sensitive. It’s a good thing. Now go evaluate things and stop making people feel uncomfortable. Gee… it’s like you’re trying to hide something. I really like Chautauqua officers. The State Police… now there’s something that needs some reform. Take care.,What an arrogant and self righteous response. I am sure there is room for improvement, no department is perfect. This attitude is part of the problem. I support Gov Cuomo and the improvements he is trying to make.,Cuomo is the epitome of arrogance and self-righteousness. He is acting as if he is King Cuomo or Dictator Cuomo.,Way to go Sheriff Quattrone!!!,Thank you Sheriff! Thank you for having the backs of all your officers! It’s about time someone stood up and spoke out. Respect for these hard-working officers needs to begin at the top. Your letter was accurate and spoken in a respectful manner. I am so thankful that you wrote it.,How many non-white officers does he employ?,Excellent article. 100% correct. Nice to see a constitutional fact based voice of reason.,It is interesting we are celebrating the signing of the Decaration of Independance that states condition in which changes in government are required.,Thankyou Well Said !! read more
WNY News Now Stock Image.ALLEGANY – A Town of Allegany man is facing charges for allegedly driving his lawn mower while intoxicated.New York State Police say Robert Volgenau, 52, was observed by troopers operating a riding lawn mower on Five Mile Road in the Town of Allegany on Friday while allegedly exhibiting signs of intoxication.Police say Volgenau refused to perform standardized field sobriety tests at the scene.Volgenau was then arrested and transported to the State Police Barracks in Olean, where troopers say he also refused to submit to a chemical breath test. Volgenau is charged with driving while intoxicated and released with appearance tickets for Allegany Town Court, where he is due to appear in November. Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) read more
Get back in the Hee Haw saddle with the show’s iconic tune “You Was Gone!” View Comments It might be a good time to take a swig of that moonshine, because the wacky 1969 TV variety show Hee Haw (yes, Hee Haw) has been made into a musical—and it could be pickin’ and grinnin’ on Broadway as early as spring 2015, The New York Post reports. Featuring a book by Robert Horn (Jason Robert Brown’s 13) and music and lyrics by country singer-songwriters Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark, Hee Haw held an industry only reading in December that was reportedly attended by several big-name Broadway producers. No official opening dates or theater have been announced. Although there are plenty of silly songs in Hee Haw: The Musical, there are also reportedly a few “tear your heart out country ballads,” one attendant of the reading said. “I haven’t laughed so hard since I saw The Book of Mormon,” said another. Whoa! Maybe this doesn’t seem like such a chicken-fried idea after all. Instead of a variety show format like the original series, the musical boasts an actual plot about a woman from Kornfield Kounty who wants to see the world before getting hitched to her beau. But don’t worry, Hee Haw fans—the tuner will still feature all of your favorite characters, including Misty Rowe, Lulu Roman, Junior Samples and Grandpa Jones. read more
Billy Porter Show Closed This production ended its run on April 7, 2019 Related Shows Kinky Boots Star Files His boots are kinky and his voice is soulful! Tony winner Billy Porter’s new album, Billy’s Back On Broadway, will be released by Concord Records on April 15. As previously reported, the album will feature ten tracks made famous by leading men and women of the stage, as well as a special appearance by Kinky Boots composer and Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Cyndi Lauper. Billy’s Back on Broadway is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Check out an exclusive first listen of Porter singing (and scatting!) his way through a jazzy rendition of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” below! View Comments read more
View Comments TGIF, Broadway.com readers! Our heads are spinning from all the star-studded events and Broadway opening nights this week, but before we crawl into bed for a 48-hour nap, it’s time to take a look back at all of the weird, wild and crazy stuff that happened over the last seven days. Ready? Let’s go!Audra McDonald Could Make HistoryThe Tony committee will consider the Lady Day star in the Best Leading Actress in a Play category, meaning Audra McDonald could be the winner of a Tony Award in every possible acting category. Well, unless she pulls a Hedwig, gets a sex change and sweeps the male categories too.Santino Fontana Taught Us EverythingThis week’s Show People was 10 lessons in itself: Santino Fontana can sing the “hooker musical” The Life on command, his weird smoldering headshot was taken by Alexandra Silber, he runs over a mile during each performance of Act One… You want us to go on? We can go on.Jeanna de Waal Needs a DateThe single Kinky Boots star offered up her e-mail address in hopes of getting dates with our readers (but sadly, she was kidding). Wait, there’s no dating site for Broadway stars? Is this an untapped market? Do we need to launch bHarmony.com?Beyonce Taught NPH to Walk in HeelsHow did Neil Patrick Harris get so adept in walking, dancing and scaling walls in giant platform boots? The Hedwig star studied videos of Beyonce and Tyra Banks. What, no Drag Race? Everything we know about walking in heels we learned from RuPaul.Marin Mazzie Naps in a OnesieBullets Over Broadway star Marin Mazzie schooled us in all things diva this week, and one of her must-haves is a leopard-print onesie to take naps in. Marin, are you sure this isn’t a subtle hint that you want to play Bombalurina in the Cats movie? We’re pretty sure Audra’s playing Gumbie Cat.Jarrod Spector Wants to Be the BossBeautiful star Jarrod Spector has a new role he’d like to try on for size: Bruce Springsteen in a bio-musical about the Boss’ life. That sounds fun, Jarrod, but Marin Mazzie told us there’s this Cats movie happening and it sounds like a lot of stars are getting on board. Don’t miss your chance to play Rum Tum Tugger.Lena Hall Is Packing HeatHedwig’s Lena Hall makes a convincing dude in the gender-bending rock musical, but did you know she’s actually got a realistic, uh, member tucked away in there? Ladies and gentlemen, this is method acting at its finest.Ramin Karimloo Plays Hide & SeekEver wanted to find out what it’s like to hang out with Les Miz star Ramin Karimloo all day? Just check out his new video blog—he’ll sing you songs, introduce you to his son, hide under tables and of course, wear a rubber mask that scares the complete sh*t out of you.Sutton Foster Had an Accent, Y’AllWe knew she was born in Georgia, but we had no idea Violet star Sutton Foster used to have a thick southern drawl. We’ll pay a handsome reward to anyone who can provide video proof—anyone got this episode of Star Search on VHS?Idina Is Woman, Hear Her RoarVariety put If/Then star Idina Menzel on the cover of their new issue and named her one of NYC’s top “Women of Power.” This is something we’ve obviously known since 1996, but we’re thrilled the rest of the world has finally caught up. So if you care to find her, look to the western sky… Star Files Idina Menzel read more
Pageant: The Musical We know you have a pretty, sparkly dress lying around somewhere, Taye. The Murder in the First star stopped by Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live clubhouse on June 10 to chat with host Andy Cohen and Grammy winner John Legend. Diggs was asked if he had any plans to return to the Great White Way, and he seemed to be all for it. “I’m a song and dance guy,” Diggs said as he flashed some jazz hands. “I’m also getting old, so I want to do a musical where I can sing and dance before I lose me knees.” Right on cue, the tiara-crazed girls of Pageant: The Musical (Nick Cearley, Alex Ringler and Seth Tucker), who just so happened to be manning the bar that night, suggested he head off-Broadway to join them. Hey, we’re all for it! Check out the fun clip below! Related Shows View Comments Show Closed This production ended its run on Oct. 26, 2014 read more
View Comments Jessica Lange is ready to lead the big top. No, not in Pippin (but OMG let’s all imagine that for a moment. OK, great). We finally have our first full trailer for American Horror Story: Freak Show, and it features a whole host of stage vets getting their freak on. Step in if you dare, and sneak a peek of Kathy Bates as bearded lady Ethel Darling, Michael Chiklis as strong man Wendell Del Toredo, Angela Bassett as the three-breasted Desiree Dupree and Sarah Paulson as the conjoined Bette and Dot Tattler (who would probably make Daisy and Violet wet themselves). One person who’s missing? Half human/half goat Lea Michele. The new season of the terrifying Ryan Murphy series takes center ring on October 8 on FX.
Related Shows Star Files Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Show Closed This production ended its run on Oct. 27, 2019 View Comments What’s our idea of “Some Kind of Wonderful”? Being trapped inside a giant mountain of ice cream, obviously. The cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical came awfully close on September 16 when they headed to Serendipity 3 to celebrate the ice cream shop and restaurant’s 60th anniversary. The iconic New York City dessert spot unveiled a new sweet treat inspired by the hit musical: The “Pleasant Valley” sundae! Serendipity 3 founder Stephen Bruce greeted Beautiful stars Ashley Blanchet, Jake Epstein, E. Clayton Cornelious, Joshua Davis, Alan Wiggins, and composing duo Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, whom the musical is partially based on. Check out this shot of the stars before they dive into their delicious sundaes, then catch Beautiful at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre! Jake Epstein read more
View Comments Stalking the Bogeyman Good theater boils down to one thing: a great story, told well. Since 1995, nerd heartthrob Ira Glass and his team have been unearthing compelling stories from around the country for the uber-popular radio show This American Life. It’s where many people first heard The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris’ hilarious tale of working as a Macy’s elf that was later adapted into a hit off-Broadway show. Now, another TAL tale is making the leap to the stage, though this one is as grim as it is gripping. Stalking the Bogeyman, opening September 29 at New World Stages, is based on the true story of David Holthouse, a successful journalist secretly planning a brutal revenge on the man who had violently raped him 25 years earlier. With hundreds of sensational stories all in one place, it’s amazing that more TAL tales haven’t gotten the dramatic treatment. So listen up, playwrights and composers! Below, we have a few suggestions for stories that we’d love to see on stage. “Runaway” From Episode 75: Kindness of Strangers Get this: In 1940, a 14-year-old Jewish boy named Jack Geiger knocked on the door of a Harlem apartment, and asked the pioneering black actor Canada Lee if he could move in. (They’d previously met backstage at a Broadway production of Native Son.) Lee said yes (?!) and Geiger spent a year hanging out with many of the major figures of the Harlem renaissance, like poet Langston Hughes, author Richard Wright and politician Adam Clayton Powell. Like Moss Hart in Act One, Geiger struck out to discover what he wanted of the world, and it changed the trajectory of his life forever. Plus, with all that vibrant history to plumb it’s a colorful bio-play waiting to happen. “Inside the Romance Industry” From Episode 247: What is this Thing? A TAL reporter went to the annual convention of the Romance Writers of America, and it was everything and nothing like you’d expect it to be—and perfect for a musical. Hotel ballrooms full of women pitching stories about swarthy pirates and sexy vampires sounds like hilarious song material to us, and of course it’s a genius setting for romance. Maybe the newbie writer trying to sell her book falls for the junior editor at a romance novel publishing company? There’s something of a How to Succeed vibe to this one—but instead of wickets, the business here is loooooove. “21 Chump Street” From Episode 528: The Radio Drama Episode When Lin-Manuel Miranda writes a musical, you make it a musical, dangit! For TAL’s live radio drama episode at BAM, Miranda took his Tony-winning talent and turned out 21 Chump Street: The Musical, about a cop who went undercover in a Florida high school to try and track down drug dealers. When a classmate gets a crush on her (like teenage boys do), he ends up doing things he shouldn’t to impress this new girl at school, and it gets him in serious trouble. Puppy love! Prom dates! Police sting operations! A recipe for musical success. Related Shows “Tom Girls” From Episode 374: Somewhere Out There The stars of one of TAL’s most moving stories are Lilly and Thomasina, who are eight years old and best friends, even though they live across the country from one another. They were both born as boys but knew early on they were meant to live as girls, and meet at a conference in Seattle on transgender parenting. They immediately hit it off, delighted to finally have someone to really talk to. Even though the parents are a major part of the story, this play wouldn’t be a God of Carnage-esque dramatic bloodbath, but a timely, tender story of unconditional love and personal acceptance. “Team Spirit in the Sky” From Episode 378: This I Used to Believe At a Christian high school in Texas, a football coach started urging his team’s fans to cheer for the opposing team, who were bussed in from a local youth correctional facility. And they did. There were some crises of faith, but they did. If that’s not uplifting, we don’t know what is. We’re seeing football practice dance numbers, we’re seeing an action-packed big game, we’re seeing heartfelt numbers about achieving your dreams and a player who wants to win at any cost—basically we’re seeing Bring It On meets Friday Night Lights. You know you want it. Show Closed This production ended its run on Nov. 9, 2014 read more