MusicalFare scraps plans for new theater in Amherst

Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - MusicalFare Theatre has announced it no longer plans to build a theater as part of the new Amherst Central Park on the site of the former Westwood Country Club.

"It's become clear that the project has stalled," said MusicalFare executive director Randy Kramer. "Funding from the town is not available at this point. There's also still a lawsuit pending against the town. We can't afford to be at a standstill, so we need to start a search elsewhere."

The project hit a standstill after Amherst residents rallied to oppose the Town Board's decision to borrow up to $11 million toward the cost of the theater. Residents collected enough signatures to put the bond up to a public referendum, forcing the board to rescind its approval of the borrowing earlier this year.

MusicalFare must leave its longtime Daemen University home when their current season, which begins next week, comes to an end.

"We have secured a temporary agreement with Shea's 710 (Theatre) for the 2025-2026 season, but we are looking for something more permanent," Kramer said.

There is no timeline for that search, but Kramer said the group is looking for a central location in Erie County.

"I'm happy for MusicalFare, because the people that signed the petitions, they didn't want to spend $11.4 million for a private entity," said former Amherst Town Board member Shelly Schratz. "That zoning was meant to allow MusicalFare, to allow the historic houses to move there, to do whatever. That takes all the zoning off of everything, so the taxes would have went up 11.4% because they needed they were getting rid of the bill they were making all the changes," Schratz said.

Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa issued the following statement: “It is disappointing that MusicalFare will not be operating in Amherst Central Park as this is an award-winning production company, capable of bringing in hundreds of patrons for a performance. Cultural institutions are an asset to communities and MusicalFare has always been a great community partner. It would have been a benefit to keep them in town, however, unfortunately, at the end of the day, the timing did not work and I wish MusicalFare all the best.”