Legendary leading lady Betty Buckley named artist-in-residence at 菠萝视频app

betty buckley artist in residence at mercyhurst universityMany a red carpet has been rolled at the feet of Betty Buckley, but there鈥檚 one upon which she has chosen to linger.

One of theatre鈥檚 most respected and legendary leading ladies, Buckley鈥檚 career as a singer and actress spans theatre, film, television, and concert halls around the world. And yet, tucked away in the corner of northwest Pennsylvania, she has discovered a haven of creativity and hospitality at 菠萝视频app University that beckons her return.

In the summer of 2021, Buckley headlined The 501 Summer Soir茅e, hosted by the 菠萝视频app Institute for Arts & Culture. She returned last fall to conduct a weeklong workshop for students and to perform a second concert. Today, Buckley and 菠萝视频app announce a more permanent association as Buckley becomes an artist-in-residence at the university, beginning in the fall.

鈥淚 am so looking forward to returning to 菠萝视频app University,鈥 Buckley said. 鈥淚t is one of my greatest joys to share what I have learned from master teachers and watch students use those tools in their own work. I was knocked out by the caliber of students at 菠萝视频app, led by the wonderful Brett Johnson. He has created an atmosphere of total support and freedom of expression while instilling the discipline, skill, and knowledge of history necessary to pursue a career in the performing arts.鈥

Buckley鈥檚 affinity for 菠萝视频app spells opportunity for the university鈥檚 arts programming, its students, and the greater Erie community. As part of her 菠萝视频app residency, she will return to campus annually to teach, direct, and concertize.

鈥淭his partnership with Betty Buckley is a major step for 菠萝视频app University, which has become a premier destination for world-class performing arts experiences and has long been recognized as a center of excellence in training the next generation of artist/scholars,鈥 said MIAC Artistic Director Dr. Brett D. Johnson. 鈥淭he depth of knowledge and experience that Ms. Buckley brings to 菠萝视频app is awe-inspiring, and her impact on our students and community will resonate for years to come.鈥

Speaking to Buckley鈥檚 original workshop at 菠萝视频app, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joanne Hosey-McGurk recalls, 鈥淪he left an indelible mark on our students, on Brett, and on everyone in her audience at the public concert. Nine months later, students are still talking about the lessons they learned from her week at 菠萝视频app. 聽In addition to technique and craft development lessons, Ms. Buckley taught them object lessons about dignity and owning one鈥檚 gifts. 聽No matter what careers the students pursue, they will take those lessons with them wherever they go.鈥

Final details of Buckley鈥檚 inaugural year in residence have just been released: She will be in residence at 菠萝视频app Sunday through Thursday, April 14-18, and offer a public concert at Walker Recital Hall on Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, priced $45 for adults, $40 for seniors, and $35 for non-菠萝视频app students and youth 12 and younger, go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 15, at noon.

Tickets can be purchased via the or by calling the PAC box office at 814-824-3000.聽Each order is subject to a $4 per ticket processing fee, regardless of purchase or payment method.

Betty Buckley Biography

The recipient of honorary doctorates from Boston Conservatory of Music and Marymount Manhattan College, Buckley has taught at Boston University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Central University, Carnegie Mellon, Boston Conservatory of Music, Syracuse University, Ball State University, Marymount Manhattan College, Fordham University, College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California, University of North Texas, and University of Texas at Arlington. She has also taught workshops at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Festival, and Smith Barney Investment Firm, and has been on the faculty of T. Schreiber Studio in New York City for over 40 years.

Buckley is a 2012 Theatre Hall of Fame inductee and the 2017 recipient of the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement from The Actors Fund. She won a Tony Award for 鈥淐ats鈥 and received her second Tony nomination for 鈥淭riumph of Love.鈥 She garnered an Olivier Award nomination in London for her performance in 鈥淪unset Boulevard,鈥 which she repeated to more rave reviews on Broadway.

In 2018 and 2019, Buckley headlined the first national tour of the new Broadway production of 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥 Her other Broadway credits include 鈥1776,鈥 鈥淧ippin,鈥 鈥淪ong and Dance,鈥 鈥淭he Mystery of Edwin Drood,鈥 and 鈥淐arrie.鈥 She starred in the London productions of 鈥淒ear World鈥 and 鈥淧romises, Promises鈥 (Evening Standard nomination).

Off Broadway she has starred in 鈥淭he Old Friends鈥 (2014 Drama Desk nomination), 鈥淲hite鈥檚 Lies,鈥 鈥淛uno鈥檚 Swans,鈥 鈥淓dwin Drood鈥 for the NYSF, and 鈥淚鈥檓 Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road.鈥 Regional credits include 鈥淭he Perfectionist,鈥 鈥淕ypsy,鈥 鈥淭hreepenny Opera,鈥 鈥淐amino Real,鈥 鈥淏uffalo Gal,鈥 鈥淎rsenic and Old Lace,鈥 and 鈥淕rey Gardens鈥 (2016 Ovation Award nomination).

Her film credits include M. Night Shyamalan鈥檚 hit film, 鈥淪plit,鈥 released in January 2017, in which she co-stars with James McAvoy and for which she received a Saturn Award nomination. Other film credits include Shyamalan鈥檚 鈥淭he Happening,鈥 Brian de Palma鈥檚 鈥淐arrie,鈥 Bruce Beresford鈥檚 鈥淭ender Mercies,鈥 Roman Polanski鈥檚 鈥淔rantic,鈥 Woody Allen鈥檚 鈥淎nother Woman,鈥 and Lawrence Kasden鈥檚 鈥淲yatt Earp.鈥

Her recent television credits include a recurring role on 鈥淟aw & Order: SVU鈥 for NBC and a guest starring role on the new Fox/Warner Bros. show 鈥淭he Cleaning Lady.鈥 She co-starred in the third season of AMC鈥檚 鈥淧reacher,鈥 NBC鈥檚 鈥淐hicago Med,鈥 HBO鈥檚 鈥淭he Leftovers鈥 and 鈥淕etting On,鈥 the miniseries 鈥淭he Pacific,鈥 and the series 鈥淥Z.鈥 She starred for four seasons as Abby Bradford on the hit series 鈥淓ight is Enough,鈥 and has made guest appearances on 鈥淲ithout a Trace鈥 and 鈥淧retty Little Liars.鈥 She also starred in the miniseries 鈥淏onnie and Clyde,鈥 鈥淩oses for the Rich,鈥 and 鈥淓vergreen,鈥 along with various films for television. Buckley has received two Emmy nominations.

She recorded the audio play 鈥淭he Vanishing Negative鈥 by Aaron Mark for Audible in 2020. In 2022, Buckley released the compilation recording 鈥淏etty Buckley Sings Stephen Sondheim鈥 as a tribute to the late composer. The recording consists of 24 songs previously recorded throughout her career. Buckley has recorded 18 CDs, including 鈥淗ope,鈥 released in 2018; 鈥淪tory Songs,鈥 released in April 2017; and 鈥淕hostlight,鈥 produced by T Bone Burnett, released in 2014. She has received two Grammy nominations and tours extensively in concert with her ensemble of musicians.

Buckley has been honored with three Lifetime Achievement Awards for her contributions to theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, The Shubert Theater in New Haven, and the T. Schreiber School in NYC. For her work in the national tour of 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥, she was honored with the Sarah Siddons Award for outstanding performance in a Chicago Theatrical Production.