Address:
646 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14202

Shea's Buffalo Theater, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was the crowning achievement of showman and theater entrepreneur Michael Shea when it opened in 1926. It was designed by C. W. and George Rapp and is a prime example of the big city movie palace complete with opulent marble and mirrored interiors, molded plasterwork and vaulted ceilings patterned after the great opera houses in Europe. It is also adorned with antique furniture designed by Marshall Field and Tiffany & Co., mammoth chandeliers and a grand old Wurlitzer theater organ. One of the best preserved big city movie theaters of its vintage, Sheas is located in the heart of Buffalo’s theater district and still today contains an overwhelming amount of its original décor.

The entrance rises to an impressive 100 feet and the grand lobby, which is 80 feet long and 30 feet wide, is a spectacular scene of marble walls and pillars. On the walls are beautiful candelabra, while from the ceiling hang four crystal chandeliers. Large arches extend up each side of the lobby.

A grand marble staircase leads from the lobby to the mezzanine promenade. This promenade is artistically furnished, laid with rich rugs, and has a lounge where strategically placed is a grand piano, divans and large easy chairs. Patrons can look down into the lobby.

The foyer, now known as the petite lobby, extends along the entire length of the auditorium to Pearl Street, where there is another entrance. This foyer is 22 feet wide and 90 feet long. It is separated from the auditorium by glass doors and, like the rest of the house, is strikingly and elaborately furnished.

Inside the auditorium, which seats 3,150 patrons, the ceiling dome is 89 feet above the orchestra floor and is subtly lighted. The whole interior decoration of the theatre is of a Spanish Baroque Revival style but with a modern and American adaption. The ceiling is covered with an infinite variety of interlacing woodwork designs on curving panels, painted in the dominant golds, pinks and blues, with many variations of these shades. The stage has an opening 66 feet wide x 32 feet deep.

In 1999, a $30 million stagehouse expansion and theatre renovation began and was completed a few years later. The expansion allows the theatre to accommodate large Broadway productions while serving as the anchor to the emerging Theatre District in downtown Buffalo.

Shea’s is a perfect fit for Rehearsal Dinners, Showers, Weddings, Banquets, Birthdays, Graduation or Cocktail Parties and more! We look forward to meeting you and providing a beautiful, historic setting for your special event.