YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Two books about The Youngstown Playhouse were released Aug. 12.
“A Place Where the Stars Still Shine” ($29.95) and “A Youngstown Playhouse Scrapbook” ($16.95), both written by J.E. Ballantyne Jr. of Youngstown, reveal the history of the community theater that enters its 100th anniversary season.
“A Place” is a written history of the Playhouse from its earliest days to the present, while “Scrapbook” is a collection of photos and memorabilia.
Both books can be purchased at centennialproject.org and amazon.com.
Ballantyne is a longtime Mahoning Valley theater insider. An actor, director and playwright, he also serves as archivist of the Playhouse and is a theater critic for The Business Journal.
Ballantyne also released a 10-part documentary film about the history of the Playhouse titled “The Youngstown Playhouse: A Centennial of Live Theater” ($49.95 for a DVD), and a series of 39 filmed interviews with people who have been involved with the theater over the years titled “On the Marquee: Behind the Scenes with Playhouse Personnel” (price not yet determined).
The documentary will be available to purchase as an entire set at centennialproject.org or to view in individual episodes via Video On Demand. It will be released in increments beginning with Part 1.
The 39 interviews will be available on Video On Demand and in increments. The full set can also be purchased on the website but will not be complete until early September.
Both the documentary and the 39 interviews will also be screened at the Playhouse during the 100th season, and plans are being made for several book signings at the Playhouse.
Ballantyne describes his project as truly unique. “Nothing like this has ever been done to chronicle the entire history of The Youngstown Playhouse,” he says.
Work began almost nine years ago, when Ballantyne and co-producer Michael A. Rossi decided to put together as comprehensive a history as possible about the theater.
“To say that we sifted through a mountain of information would be an understatement,” Ballantyne says.
There were numerous ups and downs along the way, but the worst part of the journey came when Rossi, who was also cameraman and video editor, died suddenly March 15. “Mike was not only the technical genius of this project, but he also had a great artistic eye and sense, which is evident when you see the documentary and the interview,” Ballantyne said.
The project ground to a halt when Rossi died.
“The interview shooting was finished,” Ballantyne said, “and parts 1 through 8 of the documentary film were finished, but we had no idea where any of the files were.”
Parts 9 and 10 still needed to be edited, and Mario Ricciardi of Appleridge Productions stepped in and finished the documentary.
With the help of Lisa Rossi (Mike’s wife), Dave Tach and Nick Roncone, all of the lost files were eventually found. The project is being dedicated to Mike Rossi.
For information, or to hire Ballantyne for speaking engagements, email [email protected]. Call 330 799 6176 or 330 402 9273.
Pictured at top: Cindy Peters and the late David Jendre grace the cover of a documentary film about The Youngstown Playhouse. The two starred in the theater’s 1986 production of “A Chorus Line.”