Live comedy brings big laughs to West Side

By Matt Bove and Gabrielle Mediak
Bengal News West Reporters

Ricky Needham

In September, NBC kicked of its 39th season of the popular variety show Saturday Night Live, but at SUNY Buffalo State  the laughs start 24 hours earlier. 

Friday Night Live, better known as FNL, takes place in the Donald Savage Theater on the Buffalo State  campus  and provides entertainment to not only students, but anyone in the community looking for some laughter.  

“We provide our show every Friday night, and it’s a safe alternative to drinking and partying,” said Ricky Needham, a senior theater major at Buffalo State.  “It’s open to the public, so we draw in a lot of people from the community.”

Buffalo’s West Side isn’t known for is its comedy scene, but FNL could be changing that. 

“It’s nice because people can let off some steam after a long week and just sit back and enjoy the show,” Needham said.

For West Side residents there aren’t that many places to go for live comedy that's free of charge.

“It’s nice to finally have something to do out here that’s free,” said West Side resident Jeremy Kroll.   “It had me in tears, I’ll definitely be back next week and after tonight I would go even if it cost money, the casts and skits are too good.”

In 2007 Buffalo State unveiled the brand new improv show, but you would have never known it.  

“It’s changed so much, back when we first started we used to draw in like 15 people a night but now we get around 200 every night,” Needham said.

Growing crowds is a testament to the format of the show, which keeps performers on their toes at all times.

“Nothing is [prepared], it’s all off the top of our heads,” Needham said. “If an actor is too comfortable with whatever scene they’re doing it won’t be as funny.”

For Needham, getting into comedy wasn’t the original plan. He originally intended on coming to Buffalo State College as a music major, but after getting denied entry from the department after his first audition, he had to make a sudden change in plans.

“I got into the theater department kind of by accident,” Needham said. “I had to kind of scramble, and figured I’d just do theater for a year, and just re-audition.”

It’s performers like Needham that make FNL so successful. But improv isn’t something performers are classically taught, making the experience not only rewarding for the audience but for the performers as well.

“FNL has been one of the best opportunities for me to explore improv and improve my acting,” said Jesse Tiebor, a junior in the theater department and first-year FNL member.  “It’s more than just doing something for a laugh or nailing a pun; it’s about telling a story with humor in a more organic way.”

Tiebor, like Needham, agrees that FNL is something that will continue to grow and have a positive impact on the community for years to come. 

“FNL is great for the local and [Buffalo] State community,” Tiebor said.  “It’s free, it’s funny, it’s engaging and is great alternative to sitting around or going drinking." 

West Buffalo Charter to add 4th grade

By Matt Bove and Gabrielle Mediak

Bengal News Reporters 
           It’s a crisp fall afternoon as you take a walk down Lafayette Avenue.  As you continue down you hear children laughing and then see something that looks brand new.  What used to be a 41-unit apartment complex, now has a sign in front saying West Buffalo Charter School. 
           The school at 113 Lafayette Ave., which includes kindergarten through third grades, is about to expand.
          Construction on a new wing to accommodate a fourth grade  is set to begin in the early spring 2014 and will be completed in time for the August 2014 start of school.  A gymnasium will be added as part of this multi-phase construction plan, said  Elizabeth Sterns, the school’s finance and operations officer.

          Two years ago, School Leader Andrea Todoro signed the papers and took ownership of what was an apartment complex. With the goal of making it into a charter school in just eight short weeks, the construction team got to work and finished just two days before the school year starting.

           “In the beginning it was a mad dash. Friday we got the keys and the kids started on Monday.  We had 48 hours to take this beautiful building we had, and turn it into a school,”  Todoro said.

            The first year went surprisingly smooth for the brand new school. It  offered kindergarten through second grade and began an expansion to add the third grade for the next year.  The expansion money was generated through enrollment.  As a charter school, it only gets $12,000 per pupil from Buffalo, while public schools get $29,000 per pupil.

             “What’s different about a charter school and typical public school is that most public schools do not pay for their facilities, we have to,”  Todoro said.

            Todoro noted how when typical schools do building projects they get back 98 cents per dollar spent, only costing the school around two cents.  The charter school has to pay full cost since they aren’t a public school. 

            West Buffalo successfully added three classes of third graders, and even an additional class of second graders, adding over 100 students.  New teachers and an additional teaching assistant per class were hired.  

            “Our charter says we are going to be K-4 so we do have to add 4^th grade.  At the same time expanding we don’t have any more room in our building.  It will be tight financially to get 4^th graders in while building for them at the same time,” Todoro said.

            Deborah Raiford, a mother and former teacher herself, just recently enrolled her seven-year-old son. 

             “He loves it. He adjusted the first day and felt comfortable; we are new here in town.” Raiford said.  “He’s doing very well, the teachers work with the kids and it’s just great. I really do love this school.”

           Todoro describes the school as a "big, happy family, where everybody knows every child's name."

           "I think we have a school here, that really gets to know everybody on a personal level which helps because then you have that relationship, and with that your willing to work for each other," Todoro said. "And I think the kids can sense that we really do care about them.  We’re not just here to be their teacher, but to be a support to them in and out of school. “

            Not only is West Buffalo different because of the family atmosphere, but for what its charter entails.

           “What makes us different from other Buffalo schools is our charter was founded on the idea we would offer the language to literacy program as part of our school day.  We still abide by common core standards, but put focus on literacy and building literacy skills,” Todoro said.

            According to the school’s website westbuffalocharter.org  “WBCS is a place where students come first, individual differences are accepted, and student learning is maximized.”   

 “In the next few years I see our school in the new expansion, more classrooms and staff in place.” Todoro said. “The vision still stays the same, I’d like to be full, K-4 with a very long wait list, showing that our students are making progress and growing.”