Blackfriars Theatre

Performing ArtsUnited States11-50 Employees

Blackfriars Theatre is a mid-sized professional theatre that has entertained audiences for 70 years in downtown Rochester, NY. Our mission is to enrich, entertain and inspire our community through exceptional theatrical arts while engaging local talent. We champion the ideals of diverse and challenging storytelling, and we passionately invest in the talent of local artists. Each year, Blackfriars reaches approximately 12,000 patrons through our artistic and community programming. Blackfriars also serves roughly 120 Rochester-based artists each year with performing, designing, directing and technician opportunities on all of our programming.

Blackfriars produces a year-round theatrical season comprised of one summer production and six subscription season productions (September - May), offering a diverse line-up that includes classics, dramas, comedies, musicals and original works. 

In addition to our subscription series, we also produce the Blackfriars Comedy Series, a season of hysterical long-form improv, original themed comedy specials and dark, irreverent sketch comedy, featuring artists from Rochester's premiere comedy groups "Unleashed Improv," "Thank You Kiss" and more. The Hourglass Play Reading Series became the in-house free play reading series at Blackfriars in 2016 and offers a series of free readings of thought-provoking, diverse plays that explore culturally-relevant themes. Imagination Station with Mrs. Kasha Davis is a free, family-friendly community program that launched in September 2017 and has flourished amongst Rochester families; this 12-event series features inclusive children's stories read by Mrs. Kasha Davis (from RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 7), with original music, custom animations, video sequences, a dance party, and a themed craft activity.

We are the leader for professionally-minded, artistically-ambitious community theatre in downtown Rochester.

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