August 9th, 2011 | by Jason C. McLean
As the bus takes me back to Montreal away from a weekend away from the ordinary at the 2011 Buffalo Infringement Festival, one thought seems to dominate my mind: next year, I'm going to go for longer. I've been for longer, in fact last year I spent a little over a week at the BIF, but this year circumstances limited my time there to four days. Four wonderful days jam-packed with underground art and chillin in the park, sometimes both at the same time. A mere ten minutes after arriving in town, I was in The Bend watching Infringement cab driver (yes, the fest has its own cabbie), visual artist and now spoken-word comedy artist Scott "Skitchy" Steele
July 29th, 2011 | by Jason C. McLean
For those readers who live in Western New York State, Toronto or the area surrounding it who are looking for something to do, for my fellow Montrealers and friends in New York City who can travel a bit and for pretty much anyone into original and underground theatre, independent music and bearing a will to be artistic and different, I have one destination to recommend for the next ten days: Buffalo, New York and in particular the seventh annual Buffalo Infringement Festival
January 5th, 2011 | by Cassie Doubleday
What the fuck is up with our Arts & Theatrics section? We've given you reviews of half-naked people dancing around various stages via our Burlesque coverage. We've attended art and theatre shows that focus on breaking the glass ceiling by portraying women as silicone objects and transvestite grand-mamas
December 26th, 2010 | by Jason C. McLean
I must admit, I'm a bit confused. I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to write about here. It's a year-in-review piece, so at least the time frame is solid, but the subject matter, hmm, that's another story. You see, I don't really have a clear beat. I started off 2010 as a theatre writer, but now that's done by others and occasionally me, at least when it comes to burlesque shows (heh heh, but seriously, check out my reviews of Blood Ballet and Glam Gam). I do write about news and politics, even in this space, but I'm not the only one, so this can't be a year in the news piece. I could write about the year it was for FTB. (and in fact I will, but that's coming up New Year's Eve, not here.) So I guess I'm just going to have to talk about the year in random things that caught my attention
August 2nd, 2010 | by Jason C. McLean
To say spending a week at the Buffalo Infringement Festival is a good time is like calling a Sasquatch a bit hairy. Without any qualifiers, my seven day experience at the BIF this year was the most rewarding time I have had as an artist, audience member and general participant in recent memory or possibly ever. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a giant banner hanging over Allen Street reassuring us that we were in the right place for infringing. I knew this festival was successful and I knew it was big - over 700 performances isn't exactly a secret event known to a few. No amount of advanced knowledge of size and scope, however, could prepare me for what I was about to experience
August 9th, 2009 | by Jason C. McLean
First off, I have to admit that walking into The Manny Fried Playhouse, I wasn't familiar with The Hairy Ape or even much of storied American playwright Eugene O'Neil's work (and somehow I got a gig as a theatre writer guess it helps to also be the site's editor). That said, I don't think a familiarity with this play was needed to get the most out of this Subversive Theatre production running as part of Buffalo's Infringement Festival
August 2nd, 2009 | by Jason C. McLean
As you read this, assuming you're one of my regular Sunday readers, I'll probably be standing on a street corner, in a parking lot or a park. Maybe I'll be sitting down in a car. No matter what spot I'll be in, I'll either be performing or backstage waiting to perform. As you try to wrap your head around that one, I'll give you a little hint: I'm performing this weekend in Car Stories as part of the fifth-annual Buffalo infringement Festival
July 26th, 2009 | by Jason C. McLean
As festivals go, an event with 556 performances taking place in 43 venues over 11 days would count as a large one in most people's books, even for those who live in cities with over a million residents. Imagine a festival of that scope in a community with just under 300 000 residents. Imagine a festival of that scope centered around one area of town. Imagine a festival of that scope that stays true to it's underground roots. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Buffalo Infringement Festival
