Our Mission

Road Less Traveled Productions challenges audiences through provocative storytelling and passionate artistry. The RLTP Ensemble constructs bold and imaginative ways to explore, discuss, and understand timely and timeless issues that connect diverse communities, globally and locally, to the commonality of human experience. Our mission is to develop the canon of contemporary voices through production of new and notable works by regional and national playwrights, creating unforgettable live theatre experiences that bring value to our lives.

RLTP will create sustainable internal organizational systems, processes, structure and culture that encourage any person of any ethnicity or sexual orientation to engage with us. In creating an equitable culture, we actively seek diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility because we want the stories of all people to be reflected in the stories we tell.

Our Values

Our Dream

A narrow world view is undesirable and frankly, not theatrical. The diversity of opinion, depth of experience, and variety of histories is a way to keep us moving forward in human interaction and problem solving. We dream of a day when the theater is filled with every culture, race, and ethnicity and those conversations and stories are shared.

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) is an award-winning, nationally recognized, non-profit theatre company in the Western New York (WNY) region.

RLTP began in 2003, performing then at Buffalo’s New Phoenix Theater. In 2006, RLTP established its first home from the bones of a 1980's movie theater at the Market Arcade Film & Arts Center (MAFAC). When the city of Buffalo sold MAFAC in 2015, RLTP relocated to the former Forbes Theater at 500 Pearl Street.

Finally, in 2018, RLTP built a brand-new, state-of-the-art theater venue at 456 Main Street in downtown Buffalo, where it secured a long-term lease. RLTP continues to provide patrons high-quality entertainment, now with amenities including a full liquor lobby bar and comfortable stadium theater seating, all fully accessible on the ground level. 

From its earliest days, RLTP has connected Buffalo with the national theater scene. RLTP is the only WNY theatre company to import nationally known theatre artists to help educate and inspire Buffalo and connect these artists with our WNY community. In 2012, RLTP was selected as the first NYS-based member of the National New Play Network, an alliance of 43 non-profit theaters that champion the development, production, and continued life of new plays. In 2017, RLTP was selected as 1 of 12 companies to receive a National Theatre Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing (producer of the Tony Awards). 

RLTP has been heavily involved in the re-birth of Shea’s 710 Theatre (formerly Studio Arena Theatre), which re-opened in 2013 with RLTP’s production of Circle Mirror Transformation.  RLTP went on to produce six plays on that stage from 2013 to 2019.  In 2018, RLTP collaborated with industry peers Shea’s Performing Arts Center, MusicalFare Theatre, Irish Classical Theatre Company, and Theatre of Youth to establish All for One Theatre Productions, Ltd., which has now presented three large-scale productions at Shea’s 710 Theatre – The Three Musketeers (2018), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2021), and Murder on the Orient Express (2023).

In 2019, RLTP was 1 of 3 nominated finalists as Organization of the Year for the SPARK Awards by Arts Services Initiative. 

Today, the Road Less Traveled Theater is proudly located at 456 Main Street in downtown Buffalo, NY, in a bustling neighborhood of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, retail stores, hotels, parking and more.  In 2023, RLTP expanded its lobby space to become a 1600-sq-ft lounge complete with comfortable leather sofas, drawing room tables, and a state-of-the-art, full liquor cocktail bar.  As RLTP enters its third decade, it stands poised to continue its mission of challenging audiences through provocative storytelling and passionate artistry for years to come.

Overview/History

Programming

RLTP Ensemble

The RLTP ENSEMBLE is a stable home base for exceptional Western New York theatre artists, comprising select playwrights, actors, directors, stage managers, designers, and other theatre artists. As they live their lives and work creatively for us and for theaters across Western New York, the Ensemble shapes the company’s artistic aesthetic and acts as ambassadors in the community. 

Buffalo’s Own

RLTP’s commitment to providing a home to Western New York artists stretches beyond even those of us who currently live here.  BUFFALO'S OWN is a conduit for nationally known artists originally from Western New York to return to Buffalo as they collaborate with us.  Past WNY-native artists who have returned to work with RLTP include A.R Gurney, Pam McKinnon, Sean Cullen, Chris Ash, and Philip Carlson.  

American Theatre Masters Series

Our AMERICAN THEATRE MASTERS SERIES brings nationally recognized theatre artists to Buffalo during RLTP productions either relevant to their body of work or that directly involve their collaboration.  The series inspires local artists and exposes the WNY theatre community nationally.  To date, RLTP's American Theatre Masters include Broadway director Pam MacKinnon, playwrights A.R. Gurney, Edward Albee, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Donald Margulies, and Rajiv Joseph, and actors Alec Baldwin, Eric Bogosian, James Rebhorn, and Sean Cullen.  

Bridge Program

The BRIDGE PROGRAM is a 16-week, hands-on, paid internship program sponsored by Road Less Traveled Productions specifically for artists of color looking to gain experience in the theater industry as they develop their long-term career path. This unique opportunity is designed to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry and to advance artists of color seeking a serious career in the arts. This custom-built program provides members access to opportunities within any area of interest in the theatre industry that fits their needs.

Awards

2024

Artie Award Winners:

  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - Diane DiBernardo, The Light Fantastic

  • Outstanding Technical Element - Katie Menke & John Rickus, Special Effects, The Light Fantastic

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play - Scott Behrend & John Hurley, The Light Fantastic

  • Career Achievement Award: RLTP Ensemble Member Doug Weyand

  • Katharine Cornell Award: Sean Cullen, All My Sons

Artie Award Nominations:

  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - Diane DiBernardo, The Light Fantastic

  • Outstanding Actress in a Play - Davida Evette Tolbert, The Light Fantastic

  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - Greg Howze, The Light Fantastic

  • Outstanding Technical Element - Katie Menke & John Rickus, Special Effects, The Light Fantastic

  • Outstanding Actress in a Play - Emily Yancey, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence

  • Outstanding Ensemble of a Play - The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence

  • Outstanding Ensemble of a Musical - Murder Ballad

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play - Scott Behrend & John Hurley, The Light Fantastic

2023

Artie Award Winners:

  • Direction of a Play - Katie Mallinson, Guards at the Taj

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Production of a Play - Mysterious Circumstances, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Ensemble of a Play - Sweat, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Direction of a Play - Guards at the Taj, Katie Mallinson

  • Set Design - Mysterious Circumstances, Dyan Burlingame

  • Technical Element - Mysterious Circumstances, Lighting, John Rickus

  • Supporting Actor - David Mitchell, Sweat

  • Supporting Actress - Wendy Hall, Mysterious Circumstances

2022

Artie Award Winners:

  • BLOSSOM COHAN AWARD: Dave Wantuck, Tribes

  • Katharine Cornell Award - Heather Gervasi, Little Women … Now

  • Supporting Actress in a Play - Melinda Capeles, Tribes

  • Outstanding Set Design - Lynne Koscielniak, Tribes

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Production of a Play - Tribes, Road Less Traveled Production

  • Ensemble of a Play - Little Women…Now, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Ensemble of a Play - Tribes, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Supporting Actor in a Play - David Marciniak, Tribes

  • Supporting Actress in a Play - Melinda Capeles, Tribes

  • Set Design - Lynne Koscielniak, Tribes

  • Emanual Fried Award for New Play - Donna Hoke, Little Women…Now

2020

Artie Award Winners:

  • Lead Actor in a Play - Dan Urtz, Hand to God
    Set Design – Dyan Burlingame, The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Ensemble of a Play - The Antipodes, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Actor in a Play - Dan Urtz, Hand to God

  • Set Design – Dyan Burlingame, The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

  • Supporting Actress in a Play – Cassie Cameron, The Antipodes

  • Supporting Actress in a Play – Kristen Tripp Kelley, The Antipodes

  • Technical Achievement – Adam Kreutinger, Puppet Design, Hand to God

  • Technical Achievement – Katie Menke, Sound Design , The Antipodes

  • Technical Achievement – John Rickus, Lighting Design - The Antipodes

  • Costume Design – Jenna Damberger, The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

2019

Artie Award Winners:

  • Set Design – Lynne Koscielniak, The Illusion, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Costume Design – Jenna Damberger, The Illusion

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Production of a Play – Between Riverside and Crazy

  • Leading Actress in a Play – Christine Turturro, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now

  • Supporting Actress in a Play – Diane DiBernardo, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now

  • Set Design – Dyan Burlingame, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now

  • Set Design – Bethany Kasperek, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley

  • Set Design – Lynne Koscielniak, The Illusion

  • Technical Achievement  – John Rickus, Lighting, The Illusion

  • Costume Design – Jenna Damberger, The Illusion

2018

Artie Award Winners:

  • Production of a Play – Disgraced

  • Set Design – Lynne Koscielniak, Disgraced

  • Katharine Cornell Award – Afrim Gjonbalaj, Disgraced

  • Katharine Cornell Award – Candace Whitfield, Disgraced

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Production of a Play – The Christians

  • Production of a Play – Disgraced

  • Leading Actor in a Play – David Hayes, The Christians

  • Leading Actress in a Play – Kristen Tripp Kelley, Disgraced

  • Supporting Actor in a Play – Aaron Moss, The Christians

  • Supporting Actor in a Play – David Marciniak, The Nether

  • Supporting Actress in a Play – Lisa Vitrano, The Christians

  • Set Design – Dyan Burlingame, The Nether

  • Set Design – Lynne Koscielniak, Disgraced

  • Technical Achievement – John Rickus, Lighting Design, The Nether

  • Technical Achievement – John Shotwell, Sound Design,  The Christians

  • Costume Design – Maura Simmonds-Price, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

  • Katharine Cornell Award – Afrim Gjonbalaj, Disgraced

  • Katharine Cornell Award – Candace Whitfield, Disgraced

2017

Artie Award Winners:

  • Lead Actor in a Play – Anthony Alcocer, The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Lighting Design – John Rickus, Frankenstein

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Production of a Play – The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Ensemble of a Play – Dinner with Friends

  • Direction of a Play – Katie Mallinson, Dinner with Friends

  • Direction of a Play – Victoria Perez-Maggiolo, The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Lead Actor in a Play – Anthony Alcocer, The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Lead Actor in a Play – Christian Brandjes, The Country House

  • Lead Actress in a Play – Barbara Link Larou, The Country House

  • Lead Actress in a Play – Melinda Capeles Rowe, The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Supporting Actor in a Play – Rolando Gomez, The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Supporting Actor in a Play – Greg Howze, The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • Lighting Design – John Rickus, Frankenstein

2016

Artie Award Nominations:

  • Ensemble of a Play: Appropriate, Road Less Traveled

  • Supporting Actress in a Play: Danica Riddick, Farragut North

  • Set Design: Dyan Burlingame, Speed of Light

  • Emanuel Fried Award for New Play: Donna Hoke, Safe 

  • Emanuel Fried Award for New Play: Bella Poynton, Speed of Light

2015

Artie Award Nominations:

  • Production of a Play: Water by the Spoonful, Road Less Traveled 

  • Ensemble of a Play: After America: Wasteland 2015, Road Less Traveled

  • Set Design: Dyan Burlingame, Water by the Spoonful

  • Lighting Design: John Rickus, Water by the Spoonful

  • Emanuel Fried Award for New Play: Jon Elston, After America: Wasteland 2015

2014

Artie Award Winners: 

  • Best Actor: Matthew Witten, An Iliad

  • Supporting Actress in a Play: Diane Curley, Clybourne Park

  • Lighting Design: John Rickus, An Iliad

    Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winner: 

  • Best Writer: Donna Hoke

    Buffalo Spree Best of WNY Award Winner:

  • Best Actor: Matt Witten

    Artie Award Nominations: 

  • Best Production: Clybourne Park

  • Ensemble of a Play: Clybourne Park

  • Best Actor: Matthew Witten, An Iliad

  • Supporting Actor in a Play: David Mitchell, Clybourne Park

  • Supporting Actress in a Play: Diane Curley, Clybourne Park

  • Set Design: Dyan Burlingame, An Iliad

  • Set Design: Reed Rankin, Race

  • Lighting Design: John Rickus, An Iliad

    Buffalo Spree Award Winner:

  • Best Production: Buffalo Rises  

2013

Artie Award Winners: 

  • Ensemble of a Play: From the Mississippi Delta

  • Lighting Design: John Rickus, The Clean House

  • Best New Play: Seeds by Donna Hoke

    Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winner: 

  • Best Writer: Donna Hoke

    Artie Award Nominations: 

  • Best Production: The Clean House

  • Best Director: Derek Campbell, The Clean House

  • Ensemble of a Play: From the Mississippi Delta

  • Best Actress: Victoria Perez, The Clean House

  • Best Supporting Actress: Margaret Massman, The Clean House

  • Best Supporting Actress: Mary McMahon, The Clean House

  • Set Design: Lynne Koscielniak, The Clean House

  • Lighting Design: John Rickus, The Clean House

  • Best New Play: 2012 End of the Road by Jon Elston

  • Best New Play: Seeds by Donna Hoke

2012

Artie Award Winners: 

  • Best New Play: Clean Break by Darryl Schneider

    Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winner: 

  • Best Writer: Donna Hoke

    Artie Award Nominations: 

  • Best New Play: Clean Break by Darryl Schneider

  • Ensemble of a Play: Superior Donuts, Road Less Traveled Productions

  • Actor in a Play: Steve Jakiel, Superior Donuts

  • Supporting Actor in a Play: Gerry Maher, Superior Donuts

  • Lighting Design: John Rickus, St. Nicholas

2011

Buffalo Spree Award Winner:

  • Best Production: The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

    Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winner: 

  • Best Writer: Jon Elston

    Artie Award Winners: 

  • Best New Play: Insidious by Ibn Shabazz

  • Best Set Design: David Butler, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Best Production: The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

  • Best New Play: Bitch Bares All by Lisa Vitrano

  • Best New Play: The Couple Next Door by Donna Hoke

  • Best Actor: Jim Maloy, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

  • Best Actor: Jay Pichardo, Screen Play

  • Best Actress: Lisa Vitrano, Bitch Bares All

  • Best Supporting Actor: Rolando Gomez, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

  • Best Supporting Actress: Verneice Turner, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

  • Best Director: Scott Behrend, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

  • Outstanding Set Design: Zach Serafin, Bitch Bares All

  • Outstanding Lighting Design: Katie Menke & John Rickus, Bitch Bares All (Projection Design: Katie Menke)

  • Oustanding Costume Design: Maura Price, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot

2010

Buffalo Spree Award Winner:

  • Most Interesting Season Of Plays: Road Less Traveled Productions

    Artie Award Winners:

  • Best Production Of A Play: The Goat; Or, Who Is Sylvia?

  • Best Director Of A Musical: Kyle LoConti, American Deal

    Artie Award Nominations: 

  • Best Production Of A Musical: American Deal

  • Best New Play: American Deal by Tom Naples and Jon Elston

  • Best Actor In A Play: John Fredo, The Goat; Or, Who Is Sylvia?

  • Best Actress In A Play: Maggie Zindle, The Goat; Or, Who Is Sylvia?

  • Best Actress In A Musical: Mary McMahon, American Deal

  • Best Supporting Actor In A Musical: Phil Knoerzer, American Deal

  • Best Supporting Actress In A Musical: Diane Curley, American Deal

  • Best Ensemble: Diane Curley, Phil Knoerzer, Mary McMahon, Tom Naples, and Gordon Tashjian, American Deal

  • Best Director Of A Play: Derek Campbell, The Goat; Or, Who Is Sylvia?

  • Best Set Design: Ron Schwartz, The Goat; Or, Who Is Sylvia?

2009

Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winner: 

  • Best Playwright: Jon Elston
    (Category retired in 2010)

    Artie Award Winners:

  • Best New Play: A Little Bit Of Paradise by Annette Daniels-Taylor

  • Best Director: Scott Behrend, The Man Who Had All The Luck

  • Best Lighting Design: John Rickus, The Man Who Had All The Luck

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Best Production: The Man Who Had All The Luck

  • Best Actress: Sarieyls Matos, A Little Bit Of Paradise

  • Best New Play: Twice Around By Darryl Schneider

2008

Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winners:

  • Best Production: To Kill A Mockingbird

  • Best Playwright: Jon Elston

    Artie Award Winners:

  • Best Supporting Actor: Phil Knoerzer, Humpty Dumpty

  • Best Supporting Actress: Verneice Turner, To Kill A Mockingbird

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Best Production Of A Play: Humpty Dumpty

  • Best New Play: Bonegrinders by Melody Von Smith

  • Best Ensemble: Lisa Vitrano, Bonnie Jean Taylor, Phil Knoerzer, Tim Klein, and Tom LaChiusa, Humpty Dumpty

  • Best Director: Scott Behrend, To Kill A Mockingbird

  • Best Set Design: Matt Farmer, Humpty Dumpty

2007

Artvoice Best Of Buffalo Award Winner:

  • Best Playwright: Jon Elston

    Artie Award Winners: 

  • Best New Play: War Room by Darryl Schneider

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Best Supporting Actress: Christina Rausa, War Room

2006

Artie Award Nominations: 

  • Best New Play: The Peddler’s Bones by Jon Elston

  • Best Actor: Brian Riggs, The Good Thief

2005

Artie Award Winner:

  • Best Actress: Lisa Vitrano, Private Viewing

    Artie Award Nominations: 

  • Best New Play: Private Viewing by Jon Elston

  • Best New Play: Two To The Head by Darryl Schneider

  • Best Lighting Design: John Rickus, Private Viewing

2004

Artie Award Winners:

  • Best New Play: Interrogation Room by Jon Elston

  • Best Supporting Actor: John Buscaglia, Interrogation Room

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Best Director: Scott Behrend, Interrogation Room

2003

Winner, Source National Theatre Prize: 

  • Interrogation Room by Jon Elston

    Artie Award Nominations:

  • Best New Play: ProJect by Jon Elston

  • Best Supporting Actor: Phil Knoezer, ProJect

  • Best Ensemble: Phil Knoerzer, Tim Newell, Brian Riggs, and Todd Benzin, ProJect

  • Best Director: Scott Behrend, ProJect

Past Seasons

2023-24

  • Murder Ballad

  • All My Sons

  • The Light Fantastic

  • The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence

2022-23

  • Mysterious Circumstances

  • Guards at the Taj

  • The Thin Place

  • Sweat

2021-22

  • Hand to God

  • Tribes

  • Little Women…Now

2019-20

  • Hand to God

  • The Antipodes

  • Interrogation Room

  • The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

At Shea’s 710 Theatre:

  • Superior Donuts

2018-19

  • The Undeniable Sound of Right Now

  • Between Riverside and Crazy

  • The Illusion

  • Speed-the-Plow

    At Shea's 710 Theatre:

  • Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley

  • Almost, Maine

2017-18

  • John

  • Glengary Glen Ross

  • The Nether

  • Disgraced

  • The Christians

    At Shea's 710 Theatre:

  • It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

2016-17

  • Dinner with Friends

  • True West

  • The Chimes

  • Frankenstein

  • The Motherfucker with the Hat

  • The Country House

2015-16

  • Speed of Light

  • Appropriate

  • The Santaland Diaries

  • Freud's Last Session

  • Safe

  • Farragut North

2014-15

  • Deathtrap

  • The Santaland Diaries

  • A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney

  • After America: Wasteland 2015

  • Water by the Spoonful

2013-14

  • Buffalo Rises

  • Very Fine Use of a Grenade

  • An Iliad

  • Race

    At Shea's 710 Theatre:

  • Clybourne Park

2012-13

  • From the Mississippi Delta

  • 2012: End of the Road

  • Seeds

  • The Clean House

    At Shea's 710 Theatre:

  • Circle Mirror Transformation

2011-12

  • Internal Continuity

  • Superior Donuts

  • St. Nicholas

  • Clean Break

  • Ancestral Voices

2010-11

  • The Couple Next Door

  • Antony & Cleopatra

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas

  • Bitch Bares All

  • Screen Play

  • The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

  • Insidious

2009-10

  • Grenadine

  • American Deal

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas

  • A Light Lunch

  • The Goat; or Who is Sylvia?

  • Insidious

2008-09

  • A Little Bit of Paradise

  • Triangles

  • Twice Around

  • The Man Who Had All the Luck

2007-08

  • Boilermakers & Martinis

  • Homeland

  • Bonegrinders

  • Humpty Dumpty

2006-07

  • The Dodo Bird

  • War Room

  • Buffalo Movie

2005-06

  • The Peddler's Bones

  • The Good Thief

    At Irish Classical Theatre Company:

  • ProJect

2004-05

  • Private Viewing

  • Two to the Head

2003-04

  • ProJect

  • Interrogation Room