2022-2023 HARP Season
May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m.
May 7 and 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Get tickets here.
About HARP
The newly formed HARP (Darryl Hart and Elaine Roberts) Productions will now be performing at the Kenan Center’s Taylor Theater. With decades of experience in acting, directing, and producing, the duo is ready to bring their high-quality work to the Taylor Theater stage.
HARP formed when Elaine Roberts returned to the WNY area after living in the Carolinas for almost a decade and had the chance to work with Darryl Hart. Elaine and Darryl met when she cast him in Camelot as Lancelot, the show she was directing/producing at the Lancaster Opera House. Over the years they worked on several other projects including productions at the Taylor Theater such as Prisoner of 2nd Avenue and Same Time Next Year.
“It was evident that we shared likeminded artistic views, work ethic and love of theatre,” says Roberts. “From those projects and collaboration and friendship it seemed like at natural evolution to become a production company. HARP is hoping to strike a balance of shows to appeal to a wide audience range to keep the spotlight shining as brightly as possible at the lovely Taylor Theater,” she says.
Sponsor the 2022-2023 HARP Theater Season by clicking here.
About Elaine Roberts and Darryl Hart
Elaine Roberts – Artistic Director
Elaine has been directing and producing theatre since 1990 when she co-founded and co-owned Stage Struck Productions, Inc., an in-house company for 15 years at the Lancaster Opera House. With over 55 shows, her directing credits include large musicals such as “Camelot”, “Guys and Dolls”, “My Fair Lady”, “Evita”, “West Side Story”, “Tommy” and most notably “Jesus Christ Superstar”. While in WNY Elaine has directed shows in several historic venues including The Palace Theatre (Evita), The Riviera Theatre (Jesus Christ Superstar) and The Lancaster Opera House.
While living in the Carolinas, her love and appreciation grew for more intimate theatre shows in more intimate venues. While there she free-lanced as a director for several theatres and companies. Her show credits include “Tokens of Affection”, “Tuesdays with Morrie”, “Marriage is Murder” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” to name a few.
After returning to WNY, Elaine joined the Carriage House Players at the Taylor Theater as Stage Manager for “Prisoner on 2nd Avenue”. She followed as director of “Same Time, Next Year” last season. Most recently assigned as lead producer for “Proof”.
Elaine has directed a number of original one-act plays and musicals which have inspired her to begin writing short plays of her own. Acting credits include: Mother in “True West” and Amanda Wingvalley in “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls” among others.
Darryl Hart
Darryl is one half of HARP and has been in local theater in WNY for almost 40 years with credits from the professional stages throughout Buffalo, as well as Movie and Advertising. He has performed several time on the Taylor Theater stage, most recently he was seen in Same Time Next Year and before that, Prisoner of Second Avenue. His Television credits include, but not limited to, Carpet Factory Outlet as the company spokesperson. He has several independent film starring role credits as well. Darryl has worked with several theater companies throughout Buffalo including; Buffalo United Artists, Alleyway Theater, New Phoenix Theater, American Repertory Theater, Ujima Theater, Stagestruck Productions and many more.
Recently he has built the set for the show Proof, at the Taylor Theater, and is the “Set Builder” for all of the shows being offered here at the Taylor by HARP.