Mission Statement

Buffalo United Artists is a self-supporting collective of professional theater artists working constantly to create accessible, professional-quality theater consistent with the great passion we feel for our art. We do not shy away from controversy, nor do we direct our production choices towards mass appeal or popular opinion. We believe one of the greatest endeavors we can pursue is to use our craft to play an active and visible role in the service of our community. We aspire to present theater that entertains, enlightens, and captures the imagination.

Company History

BUA was started in 1992 by Javier Bustillos, the company's executive producer. BUA 's first production was A...My Name Is Alice , which became the most performed (over 110 performances), widely attended, and popular theatrical production in the history of Buffalo theater.

Since 1992, under the leadership and direction of Mr. Bustillos, BUA has presented more than 90 productions at theaters throughout the Buffalo area, receiving awards and accolades from peers in the theater community.

Several BUA productions have received ArtVoice Artie Awards , including awards for:

• Outstanding Ensemble:
  A...My Name is Alice , Ten Percent Revue ,  Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Jeffrey, Fairy Tales, Bent, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Laramie Project
  
• Outstanding  Set Design:
  Patrick Shaughnessy for Johnny Bull
  
• Outstanding Production of a Play:
  The Baby Dance
  
• Outstanding Production of a Musical:
  A...My Name is Alice
  
• Outstanding Director in a Musical:
  Kelli Bocock-Natale for A...My Name is Alice , Lynne Kurdziel-Formato for Jerry's Girls
  
• Outstanding Director in a Play:
  Susan Shaughnessy for Johnny Bull
  Javier Bustillos for  Love!, Valour, Compassion!
  Chris Kelly for The Bad Seed and The Laramie Project
  
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play:
  Drew Kahn for The Baltimore Waltz, Jimmy Janowski for The Boys in the Band
  
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play:
  Eileen Dugan for Beautiful Thing, Anne Hartley Pfohl for Jeffrey, Catilin Coleman for Valhalla
  
• Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play:
  Eileen Dugan for The Baby Dance , Lisa Ludwig for As Bees in Honey Drown, Dava Jones for Dirty Blonde
  
• Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play:
  Manny Fried for Visiting Mr. Green 
  
• Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical:
  Jimmy Janowski for Ruthless!, Chris Kelly for Godspell
• Outstanding Choreography: Michael Walline for Naked Boys Singing!

During the course of its efforts to bring high-quality theater to Buffalo, BUA has employed more than 300 local artists.

In 1994, Mr. Bustillos decided to expand the production management of BUA to include other managing members. Biographical information for our current members is provided on the BUA Company page . As a collective, these artists plan/select BUA 's season of productions; coordinate all advertising, public relations, and community outreach; manage company finances and box office revenues; and establish policies, goals, and the mission for the company.

BUA's philosophy is:
A Passion for Theater...Theater With Passion.

We do not produce plays for the goal of making money. We produce theater that we feel has a message that needs to be heard in our community. BUA uses theater as a vehicle for social change, outreach, and a means of communicating important aspects of the human experience that Buffalo audience members might not otherwise view and explore. We do so with attention to artistic excellence, an eye on what is current and pertinent in today's world of theater, a passion for achieving and maintaining the highest possible standard of artistry and integrity, while constantly challenging ourselves to strive for even greater goals.