Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall Announces Fall Series

The Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall is excited to highlight its fall 2023 series, headlining the season with four-time Emmy- and Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, singer, satirist, and New York Times bestselling author Randy Rainbow on Thursday, November 2, at 8:00 p.m.

Rainbow is known for his popular web series The Randy Rainbow Show, and his debut memoir has received rave reviews. The Los Angeles Times noted that Rainbow “vividly recollects the alienation so many LGBTQ+ youth experience.” His musical parodies and political spoofs have garnered him worldwide acclaim and four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Short-Form Variety Series. Rainbow’s star-studded fanbase includes such notables as Carol Burnett, Ryan Reynolds, Hillary Clinton, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. He has appeared on screen in the FX comedy-drama series Better Things and as a lead on stage in the Encores! series revival of Call Me Madam at New York City Center. His holiday EP, Hey Gurl, It’s Christmas! debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Comedy chart and No. 1 on the iTunes Holiday chart. Rainbow’s first full-length studio album, A Little Brains, A Little Talent, also debuted at No. 1, earning him his first Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album in 2023. Touring the U.S. with sold-out solo musical comedy concerts, the influencer and Internet sensation has produced viral comedy videos that have received hundreds of millions of views. His fresh take on current events has led to interviews and profiles by the Washington Post, CBS, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CNN, NPR, People, and more. Get your tickets to see Randy Rainbow for President, Live on Tour, at the Performing Arts Center before the show sells out! Randy Rainbow is presented by Live Nation.

Swing and jazz band Squirrel Nut Zippers comes to the Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 10, at 8:00 p.m. First gaining national attention in the mid-1990s with an appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Squirrel Nut Zippers jumped on the scene with their quicky mix of jazz chords, folk music, and punk rock leanings. The band’s second album, Hot, became their first major commercial success, selling more than 3 million albums. The group went on to perform on notable stages and broadcasts, including Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve celebration, Carnegie Hall with Tony Bennett, and Bill Clinton’s Presidential Inaugural Ball, and even had a custom animated video made by The Simpsons. Their 2018 album, Beasts of Burgundy, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart, and their 2020 release “Lost Songs of Doc Souchon” has a combination of new original material with their take on songs from long ago. Don’t miss Squirrel Nut Zippers as they present Jazz from the Back O’ Town live at the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center on November 10.

Celebrate the holiday season with piano sensation Jim Brickman and his Joyful Christmas holiday show on Tuesday, December 5, at 7:30 p.m. Brickman is the best-selling solo pianist of our time, earning 21 No. 1 albums, 32 Top 20 radio hits, and two Grammy nominations. With his first album release in 1995, No Words, he’s gone on to sell 8 million albums worldwide. His star-studded vocal collaborations have crossed genres to feature luminaries like Martina McBride, Donny Osmond, Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Loggins, and many others. He’s written three bestselling books, starred in four TV concert specials, and is in his 23rd season as host of the popular syndicated radio show The Jim Brickman Show. Brickman’s captivating Christmas concert experience dazzles audiences with his signature piano style and soothing vocals. A heartwarming evening of music and laughter fill the air with the sounds of Yuletide carols, holiday classics, and all of Brickman’s biggest hits. Come and celebrate the spirit of the season with faith, love, and togetherness and be part of the fun with Jim Brickman’s A Joyful Christmas, live at the Performing Arts Center on December 5.