Matinee Floods, Rebuilds, and Dreams Bigger: How You Can Help

If you've spent any time in the theater district, you know Matinee. That’s where you can find the cast of whatever's running that week, the crew, and the people who just love being around all of it, enjoying the hospitality of owners Rex Keppel and Kevin Shanahan.

In case you haven't heard, over Memorial Day weekend, disaster struck. A pipe burst in the apartment above the bar, and water poured down into Matinee for two full days before anyone noticed. By the time it was discovered, the damage was extensive.  It was not the kind of thing you mop up and reopen from in a weekend.

The insurance claim is finally being finalized, and in the meantime, the outpouring of support from the community has been remarkable. People keep asking the same question: how can we help?

That question forced Kevin and Rex to think hard about what they actually need, and the answer turned out to be bigger than simply restoring what was lost.

Rather than rebuild the kitchen and front stage area exactly as they were, Matinee is using this as a chance to reimagine the space entirely. The plans now include an expanded food menu, occasional live music, and a monthly Broadway karaoke night, the kind of programming that could turn Matinee from a beloved local hangout into something more: a genuine destination for theater lovers, performers, and musicians across the region.

Insurance is expected to cover lost wages eventually, but there's no telling how long those checks will take, and in the meantime, the bar has had no steady income. Every dollar raised right now goes toward bridging that gap and funding the bigger vision, including renovations and restoring missed traditions like the Artie Awards after-party.

Here's how you can help:

1. Tee off for Matinee. Round up a four-person team for the golf tournament on Sunday, July 12th at Delaware Park Golf Course.

2. Sing your heart out. Grab a $30 ticket to Broadway Karaoke, hosted by Matinee Buffalo, on Wednesday, July 8th at Town Ballroom, available at the box office or townballroom.com. Every ticket sold goes directly to Matinee, and Pizza Amoré's food truck will be parked outside all night, with a portion of those sales also benefiting the cause.

3. Give directly. Matinee has launched a GoFundMe: gofund.me/e132409be.

And if you'd rather contribute something tangible, Matinee is also accepting donated gift baskets, gift cards, and raffle items, both for Town Ballroom and the golf tournament.

A burst pipe took a lot from Matinee over Memorial Day weekend. But the response from this community suggests something else: that what comes back might be even better than what was lost.