Senator Sean Ryan Secures $280,000 For Irish Classical Theatre

BUFFALO – Today, June 5, 2025, New York State Senator Sean Ryan announced that he has secured a $280,000 state grant to fund essential upgrades to the lighting and sound systems at the Irish Classical Theatre Company (ICTC) on Main Street in downtown Buffalo. On Friday, May 30, Senator Ryan presented a ceremonial check to ICTC Artistic Director Keelie Sheridan before the theater’s opening night production of Crocodile Fever.

The grant will allow the theater to replace many pieces of lighting and sound equipment which have not seen improvements since their installation over 25 years ago. The upgrades will also allow the theater to properly serve patrons with hearing impairments and make the theater experience more accessible and inclusive for all.

The Irish Classical Theatre Company has been a beloved arts organization in Buffalo and Western New York since 1990 and moved into their permanent home in 1999. The venue was constructed specifically for the ICTC and is the only “theatre-in-the-round” in Western New York. The ICTC hosts many community outreach programs and strives to make theater accessible to underserved communities throughout the City of Buffalo.

Senator Sean Ryan said, “The Irish Classical Theatre has been an iconic part of our downtown community for years. Buffalo’s arts scene is one of the many things that make our city great, and it’s important that we continue to support organizations like ICTC wherever we can.”

John J. Earshen, Chair of the ICTC’s Board of Trustees, said, “This is a landmark moment in ICTC’s history. Senator Ryan’s advocacy and generosity represent the single largest public investment our theatre has ever received. It’s a testament to the power of the arts to unite, enrich, and transform a community, and to the leaders who champion that cause.”