Venues

The UB Center for the Arts offers ideal and flexible settings for a variety of events and performances, and can accommodate groups from 20 to over 1780. From the intimate Black Box to the large scale Mainstage Theatre, there is a space for everyone.

Atrium

A spectacular two-story Atrium Lobby, topped by a vaulted skylight, establishes a dramatic first impression for visitors to the Center for the Arts. It can accommodate a standing reception for up to 800 people, or seat 400 for an elegant dinner. The skylight and glass walls make the Atrium a room with a view of the sky above or Lake LaSalle beyond. At night, our LED lighting system creates a memorable atmosphere.

Annie Bielski’s (UB MFA 2019) exhibition “Strutting, Fretting” was organized by UB Art Galleries in partnership with UB Arts Collaboratory and on view in the Center for the Arts Atrium in spring 2020. Photographer: Nicholas Ostness

During the “Art in the Open” event in October 2019, the Center for the Arts opened studios, rehearsal spaces and classroom doors and brought creativity and innovation of UB out into the open. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

"Work In Real Time," a new arts salon-meets-project incubator, debuted on March 10, 2020 in the Center for the Arts atrium. Artists from across the disciplines presented their works in progress to a panel of judges, with a total of $1,500 and expertise from artists and funders awarded to the winner. Photographer: Douglas Levere

The award-winning TV series "Music is Art LIVE @ the Center," produced by the UBCFA, was recorded in the Atrium for over 40 episodes and highlighted local artists, and provided internships to UB students. Photographer: Douglas Levere

The Center for the Arts showed its support of the hometown team by lighting the Atrium in the Buffalo Bills' colors of red, white, and blue as the team took on the Kansas City Chiefs, with the winner earning a spot in the Super Bowl. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Electrical Engineering students celebrating commencement. Photographer: Douglas Levere.

UB students took to the stage in the Center for the Arts atrium for the first "UB on Stage" open mic event. The event featured 39 student acts presenting music, comedy, poetry and dance. It was sponsored by the CFA with support from the undergraduate Student Association and Campus Living. Photo: Chad Cooper

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Mainstage Theatre

The Center's 1,748-seat Mainstage is the largest of our four theatres. It is unique not only for its outstanding facilities, but also for the niche it fills in existing area performance space. Our theatre is ideal for national touring concerts, comedians, dance, theatrical productions, presentations and more.

Interiors of Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre Photographer: Douglas Levere

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Drama Theatre

The 378-seat Drama Theatre is an intimate space ideal for plays, musicals, dance, and presentations. With an adjustable-width proscenium, 40 line-sets, a fully trapped stage, and an orchestra pit for 40 musicians. It's an ideal setting for creating synergy between audience and performer. Each seat offers a spectacular view

Interiors of Center for the Arts Drama Theatre Photographer: Douglas Levere

The UB community gathered on Jan. 28, 2019 for a sneak peek at the U.S. entry to the prestigious Prague Quadrennial, which was fabricated and built by a team of UB faculty, staff and students. Jonathan Shimon, assistant professor of theatre and dance, is leading the team who fabricated and built two cutting-edge multimedia exhibits for the PQ. Photographer: Douglas Levere

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Black Box Theatre

For those who aspire to a create-it-yourself aesthetic, the Black Box Theatre allows just that. This theatre can accommodate up to 120 seats in any configuration, providing flexible space for avant-garde productions, experimental theatre, music, and multimedia productions. It is also suitable for luncheon, dinner events; and receptions.

Alan Zweibel, a five-time Emmy Award-winning and UB alumni, participated in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Visiting Professor in the Arts endowment with a three-part workshop at UB. He met with students in February 2020 in the Black Box Theater in the Center for the Arts. Photographer: Douglas Levere

Dress rehearsal of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Men in Boats” in the UBCFA’s intimate Black Box Theatre. Photographer: Douglas Levere

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Screening Room

The 210-seat Screening Room is suitable for digital screenings and film festivals, as well as video art productions, speakers and panel discussions, poetry readings, and press conferences. The recently updated projection system is 1080p HD capable for computer and Blu-Ray projection, with 7.1 surround sound

The Fourth Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition, hosted by the Graduate School and Blackstone LaunchPad. The presentations took place in the Screeen Room at CFA in March 2020. Presenter: Oladapo Ogunbodede Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

The Fourth Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition, hosted by the Graduate School and Blackstone LaunchPad. The presentations took place in the Screeen Room at CFA in March 2020. Presenter: Christopher Spence Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Signature Series, A Conversation with Abbe Raven, Acting Chairman, A+E Networks at the CFA Screening Room Photographer: Douglas Levere

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Support Spaces

Dressing Rooms

We have seven dressing rooms and 63 stations located at stage level that are able to accommodate up to 69 persons. All rooms have tables, chairs, mirrors, toilet and shower facilities and sinks.

Wardrobe

In addition to having a full costume shop and craft room, the UBCFA has a laundry room with washer/dryers, ironing board, iron, sewing machine and steamers.