The Update | Mother’s Day Comedy at Theater; Pure Prairie League in Kent; Bee Pollination Program

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Hopewell Theatre, 702 Mahoning Ave., will present “Laugh, Cry, Pee, Repeat” to celebrate Mother’s Day, with performances at 7:30 p.m. May 10 and 11.

For tickets, go to hopewelltheatre.org or call 330 746 5455. All women in attendance will receive a special treat.

The comedy is about womanhood, aging and everything in between. No topic is off the table as these women tell it like it is, was and should be.

The play, written by the Florida-based playwright team of Corsini, Fenstermaker and King, made its Ohio debut at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County in March.

“Laugh, Cry, Pee, Repeat” is directed by Carla D. Gipson. The cast includes Gerri Jenkins, Mary Tsimouris, Lois Thornton, Kim Akins, Kathleen Moliterno, Regina Rees, Jenny Long, Tina Duster, Gipson and Kathy Rogers.

Pure Prairie League at Kent Stage

KENT, Ohio – Pure Prairie League will come to Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., for a 7:30 p.m. concert May 17.

Tickets for this all-ages show are $30 to $45 and available at etix.com.

Pure Prairie League’s melodic mixture of country-rock and pop made it a staple of the ’70s and early ’80s FM radio.

The band’s breezy tunes and harmonies earned it commercial success and a reputation as an early influence for future luminaries such as Keith Urban, Nickel Creek, Wilco and Counting Crows.

But the band is not a nostalgia story, nor is it looking to make a comeback.

Formed in 1969 in southern Ohio, PPL has held to its vision for 50 years and multiple lineup changes.

The current PPL lineup features founding member/pedal-steel innovator John David Call, drummer Scott Thompson, keyboard master Randy Harper, Jared Camic on bass and lead guitarist Jeff Zona.

Pure Prairie League is best known for five radio hits: “Amie,” “Two Lane Highway,” “Let Me Love You Tonight,” “I’m Almost Ready” and “Still Right Here in My Heart.” Among the band’s most successful albums are “Bustin’ Out” (1972), “Two Lane Highway” (1975), “If the Shoe Fits” (1976) and “Firin’ Up” (1980).

“Firin’ Up” was the second Pure Prairie League album to feature young singer/songwriter and guitarist Vince Gill, who joined the band in 1978 and stayed until 1982. Gill later became a country music superstar and one of the genre’s most respected singer-songwriter-guitarists.

Craig Fuller, a PPL co-founder and “Amie” songwriter, became front man for Little Feat in the late ’80s before returning to Pure Prairie League in 1999.

Operation Pollination Program to Help Bees

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting our food supply. Unfortunately, they face numerous threats that jeopardize their existence.

In response, Operation Pollination, Rotary Club of Youngstown and Sweet Memories Vintage Tees have joined forces to launch the Operation Pollination Partnership.

To celebrate its launch, a family-friendly kickoff event will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19, at Sweet Memories Vintage Tees, 1282 Trumbull Ave.

The event will feature the launch of the Operation Pollination T-shirt line, free Operation Pollination stickers, a sampling of Honey Bun soda made from local honey, face painting and free mini scoops of Honey Lavender ice cream sponsored by Cockeye Creamery. 

An Operation Pollination educator will be on hand with educational information and to answer questions. Coloring books and puzzles will be available, along with the opportunity for attendees to learn more about how they can get involved in supporting pollinator conservation. In addition, local honeybee vendors will sell their handmade collections.

The heart of the Operation Pollination Partnership apparel line lies in a specially designed collection of soft-style T-shirts created by Sweet Memories Vintage Tees. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to Operation Pollination.

The exclusive T-shirt collection will be available for purchase at sweetvinbtagetees.com, Amazon.com and select retail locations, including the store’s location at 1282 Trumbull Ave.

Pictured at top: The cast of Hopewell Theatre’s production of “Laugh, Cry, Pee, Repeat.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.