The Gusto Blog

Comedian Brian Regan announces a show at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 in Shea's Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St.

Tickets are $42.50 and $47.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. April 26 through the box office, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 745-6000.

For more information, visit www.sheas.org.

Tod A. Kniazuk, executive director of the Arts Services Initiative of Western New York, in his office in December, 2011. Photo by Robert Kirkham / Buffalo News.

In 2012, the the Arts Services Initiative of Western New York, under the direction of Tod A. Kniazuk, has been working on a number of projects aimed at improving the health of the region's cultural vitality. It's tough work, but according to the organization's 2012 annual report, released this week, ASI (still in desperate need of a better name) has been making progress. Check the report out here.

--Colin Dabkowski

Screenwriter, producer, director, author, comedian and actor (best known as "Silent Bob") Kevin Smith will head to the University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts (North Campus, Amherst) for a talk and Q&A session at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7.

Tickets are $39.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 through the Center for the Arts box office, online at www.tickets.com or charge by phone at (888) 223-6000.

For more information, call 645-ARTS (2787) or visit www.ubcfa.org.

Meet the improv comedy duo Babushka!, made up of Eclectic Improv members Todd Benzin and Don Gervasi. The duo has two more performances at this year's Infringement Festival, tonight at 6 p.m. in El Buen Amigo and Friday at 8:30 p.m. in Burning Books.

--Colin Dabkowski

Later this week, look for my Gusto story on the upcoming Infringement Festival, which runs in an estimated 72 venues from July 26 to Aug. 5. In the meantime, check out the festival's full (and very much subject-to-change) schedule, just posted at infringebuffalo.org.

--Colin Dabkowski

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, the stars of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," will present an evening of improvisational comedy at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts (North Campus, Amherst).

Tickets are $32-$40 and go on sale at 10 a.m. May 2 through the box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information, call 645-ARTS (2787) or visit www.ubcfa.org.

Due to a scheduling conflict, comedian Nick Swardson's show on April 28 at Niagara University has been canceled.

Ticket refunds are available at point-of-purchase. Tickets purchased by phone and over the internet will be refunded automatically.

The Men of "Chelsea Lately", featuring Brad Wollack, Chris Franjola and Josh Wolf, head to the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts on the North Campus, Amherst for a night of comedy beginning at 8 p.m. May 4.

Tickets are $25 and are available through the box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information, visit www.ubcfa.org, www.929JACKfm.com or call the Center for the Arts at 645-ARTS (2787).

   It’s good that not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Case in point: the Scintas ("Buffalo’s First Family of Music") and entertainer Clint Holmes are well-known for their Vegas shows, but once again they are coming home to help others.

But before they appear on the 50th annual Variety Kids Telethon, airing Sunday (March 25) on Channel 7, you can catch them live during the seventh annual "A Salute to the Kids" benefit concert at 7 p.m. today (March 24) in the Riviera Theatre (67 Webster St., North Tonawanda). Expect plenty of great music and entertainment from the Scintas (brothers Joe and Frank, sister Chrissi and that "Irish Scinta" Peter O’Donnell); Holmes, whose hit "Playground in My Mind" remains a crowd pleaser; Terry Buchwald performing the music of Elvis; and an appearance by Mr. Food.

Here’s an extra-special treat: the Channel 7 broadcasting team of Irv Weinstein, Rick Azar and Tom Jolls are reuniting for the event. Bring your autograph book.

Doors open at 6 p.m. today. Tickets are $20; call 854-7577 or visit www.varietykidstelethon.com to learn more.

-- Toni Ruberto

Comedian, radio host, potential Celebrity Apprentice are just a few of the hats Adam Carolla will wear when he performs at 8 p.m. July 28 in the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts on the North Campus, Amherst.

Tickets for the show are $36.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. March 9 through the box office, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information, call 645-ARTS (2787) or visit www.ubcfa.org.