Entertainment Digest | Week of Nov. 4

John Denver Tribute Artist Coming to Packard

WARREN – Ted Vigil, a John Denver tribute artist, will come to Packard Music Hall on Nov. 14 for a 7 p.m. concert.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling 330 841 2931 or at Ticketmaster.com. All seats are general admission.

A Seattle native, Vigil bears a strong resemblance to the late Denver, and also faithfully recreates his music and vocals. Vigil was part of the Kings of Country Tour in Australia, starring Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and John Denver tribute artists.

Vigil’s appearance is part of the Warren Civic Music Association 2019-20 series.

Hopewell Theatre to Present Victorian High Tea

CANFIELD – The Hopewell Theatre will present a Victorian High Tea on Nov. 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Piccadilly Parlour, 114 S. Broad St.

The cost is $35 per person ($15 of the ticket price is tax deductible). Checks payable to the Hopewell Theatre may be sent to Hopewell Theatre, c/o 17B Hunters Woods Blvd., Canfield, OH 44406.

Reservations are required due to the limited seating. For information or to make a reservation, call 330 533 8789 and ask for Marlene.

Proceeds will support the theater’s handicapped accessibility project. Doors will open at 3:00 pm.

A luncheon will be served at 3:15 p.m. consisting of a cup of soup (several choices available), quiche, tea sandwiches, sweets and tea or coffee.

Entertainment by the Just Friends Community Chorus will begin at 4 p.m. Background music will be provided by Darlene and Joe MacBenn on harp and flute. There will be a live auction of unique new and vintage items, and a 50/50 raffle. Door prizes will be awarded. Credit cards will be accepted for live auction purchases.

Victorian dress is encouraged but not necessary.

Youth Workshops for Gingerbread House Exhibit

YOUNGSTOWN – Mahoning Valley Historical Society will conduct two youth workshops for its third annual Gingerbread House exhibit. The sessions will be Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 5 p.m., in the Carriage House, directly behind the Arms Family Museum at 648 Wick Ave.

Participants will be guided in the decoration of pre-made gingerbread house kits supplied by the historical society. Traci Manning, MVHS curator of education, and Heather Seno, museum educator, will instruct the sessions

Wedgewood Pizza, sponsor of the workshops, will supply complimentary pizza. MVHS is also offering each participant two free admission vouchers to the 12th annual Memories of Christmas Past exhibition, in which the gingerbread house entries will be on display, from Nov. 23 to Jan. 5 at the Arms Family Museum.

Children and adults, including team and group entries, must sign up by Nov. 8 to be included in the exhibit. Participants do not have to attend one of the workshops in order to submit an entry. Entry forms are available at Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St., downtown, and the Arms Family Museum. Completed forms may be dropped off at either location, Tuesday through Sunday between noon and 4 p.m., or returned via email to education@mahoninghistory.org.

Gingerbread entries must be dropped off at Arms Family Museum Carriage House on Nov. 20 between 4 and 7 p.m. or Nov. 21 between 8 and and 11 a.m.

For information, call Traci Manning at 330 740 2589 or email her at education@mahoninghistory.org.

Operetta Selections at Kent State Theater

KENT – Kent State University’s School of Music presents the Kent State Opera from Nov. 15-17 in Wright-Curtis Theatre at the Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16, and 3 p.m. Nov. 17.

Marla Berg, assistant professor of music, will direct a selection of operettas exploring the lighter side of opera.

The first half of the production will feature scenes by Jacques.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for group, $13 for Kent State faculty and staff, $8 for students, $13 for seniors and free for children. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Performing Arts Box Office, located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance at 1325 Theatre Drive in Kent, by phone at 330 672 2787.

‘Boom Boom’ Mancini to Speak at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN – Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in Kilcawley Center on the Youngstown State University campus.

Mancini’s address will take place in the Chestnut Room, and is part of YSU’s Centofanti Sumposium.

The lecture is free and tickets are not required. Parking is available in all campus lots ($5 per car without a YSU permit).

Mancini, a Youngstown native who still lives in the area, was the WBA lightweight champion from 1982-84, and has gone on to a career in film and as a sports commentator.

In 2015, Mancini was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Pink Floyd Tribute Band Coming to Robins Theatre

WARREN – Wish You Were Here, a Pink Floyd tribute act, will come to the Robins Theatre on Feb. 29 for an 8 p.m. concert.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 8 at RobinsTheatre.com, by phone at 234 430 0005 and at the Robins box office, 160 E. Market St., which is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The band will mark 25 years of recreating the sounds and sights of Pink Floyd on the 2020 tour. Wish You Were Here is one of the longest-lived and most popular Floyd tribute acts in the country. The nine-piece band plays music from the entire Pink Floyd canon, including classic favorites from “Dark Side of The Moon,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Animals” and “The Wall,” along with deep tracks for the true Floyd fanatics, with a multi-media stage production.

There will be a 24-hour online-only pre-sale starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 7. This pre-sale is available only to Robins Theatre email list subscribers. To sign up, go to RobinsTheatre.com. An email with the ticket buying link and access code will be sent out Thursday morning before the pre-sale.

All-Female String Quartet to Play at Butler North

YOUNGSTOWN – The Rhythm Method String Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at The Butler Institute of American Art North, 524 Wick Ave., as part of the Pipino Performing Arts Series of Youngstown State University.

The all-female quartet reimagines the string quartet in a contemporary, feminist context. This season, the quartet is continuing its Hidden Mothers Project, an initiative highlighting works by historical women composers.

It will also bring the third installment of Broad Statements, a celebration of creative music-making by women in a wide array of artistic styles. The Rhythm Method’s recording of “Silence Seeking Solace” (with soprano Alice Teyssier) was recently featured on Dai Fujikura’s “Chance Monsoon” and the quartet is prominently featured on cellist Meaghan Burke’s album “Creature Comforts.”

The Rhythm Method will release its debut album, featuring new works by all of the quartet members, in 2020.

The concert is co-sponsored by 88.5 WYSU-FM.

Tickets are general admission and available at YSU.tix.com or by calling the YSU Theatre box office at 330 941 2307. Prices are $22 ($17 for senior citizens and YSU faculty/staff; $5 for youth under 18 and free for YSU students and children).

Generations to Display Artist’s Work through November

COLUMBIANMA – Generations Café, 31 S. Main St., will showcase the work of area artist Tracey Wagner Ramun in an exhibition of 13 acrylic on canvas paintings that will run through November.

Original pieces and prints (all sizes) will be available for purchase. Additionally, the artist is accepting commissions.

Ramun, who specializes in portraits, is a Youngstown State University graduate. To reach her, email traceygg@gmail.com.

Dana School of Music Hosts Recitals

YOUNGSTOWN – The Dana School of Music has three free studio recitals scheduled this week.

On Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Bliss Recital Hall, Kathryn Thomas Umble’s Flute Studio will present a recital featuring music by Chaminade, Reinecke, Copland, Franck and Busser. Diane Yazvac will provide piano accompaniment.

The 19 students in James Umble’s Saxophone Studio will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave. Featured pieces are by Hindemith, Schumann and Poulenc. Diane Yazvac will provide piano accompaniment.

Susan Foster’s Voice Studio will present An Evening of Song at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in Bliss Recital Hall, on the lower level of Bliss Hall.

Collaborative pianists are Mary Ann Bilas, Jack Ciarniello and Jerry Rezanka. The repertoire includes music from Fauré, Menotti, Verdi and Barber, among others.

‘Anne Frank’ Children’s Book Illustrator Will Speak

YOUNGSTOWN — Erika Steiskal, an illustrator and graphic designer, will discuss her creative process in illustrating “Anne Frank and the Remembering Tree” at two events Nov. 11.

She will be at the Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

“Anne Frank and the Remembering Tree,” a children’s book written by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, tells the story of Anne Frank, who loved a tree and the tree who promised never to forget her.

“I hope my talks inspire the attendees -– especially the children who come – and also help raise awareness of the Holocaust and its important place in history,” said Steiskal, a Canfield native who now lives in Seattle.

Steiskal is a graphic designer/illustrator at Lantern Press, which designs souvenirs for a wide range of clients and markets. At Lantern Press, Erika has created art for Ellis Island, the Grand Canyon, and other historic sites around the country. As a freelancer, Erika’s clients include Penguin Books for Young Readers, Arkansas Art Center, and Seattle Weekly.

The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center of Youngstown are sponsoring her appearance.

Dana and Symphony Orchestras in Concert

YOUNGSTOWN – The Dana Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave.

Conducted by Stephen L. Gage and Joseph Kromholz, the concert will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Dana School of Music and of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture.

The Sunrise Brass Quintet, coached by Professor Andrew Mitchell, will perform Paul Dukas’ Fanfare from “La Peri.”

Tickets are $7 ($6 for students and senior citizens and free for anyone with a YSU ID) and are available at the Stambaugh box office in advance or the night of the concert.

Regional Poets Read Works at Soap Gallery

YOUNGSTOWN – Lit Youngstown will host regional poets Pamela Anderson and Steven Thomas at its monthly First Wednesday Readers Series Nov. 6 at the Soap Gallery in downtown Youngstown.

The 7 p.m. reading, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by an open mic hosted by Beth Franklin.

Anderson, of Kent, was awarded a Bisbee Fellowship. Much of her writing focuses on the Holocaust, with one of her Holocaust poems receiving an AWP Intro Journals award.

Thomas, of Cleveland, is the author of “The Strength of Flowers” (Crisis Chronicles Press 2018), and his poems have been published in The Mill and the Hessler Street Fair Anthology.

Lit Youngstown is a nonprofit dedicated to the literary arts. For information, email info@LitYoungstown.org or go to LitYoungstown.org.

Square Dance Club Announces Monthly Dance

NILES – The Friendly Squares will host its monthly square dance Nov. 9, from 7:30 to 10 p.m., at the Niles SCOPE Center, 14 E. State St. Admission is $6.

Gene Hammond will be the caller and Frankie Hammond will be cuing line dances. The theme for the dance is Veterans. This will be a High/Low dance with alternating tips for new dancers currently taking lessons and tips for more experienced dancers. Dress is casual and light refreshments will be served.

For information, call Gene Hammond at 330 506 3370.

Pictured at top: Ted Vigil, a John Denver tribute artist, will come to Packard Music Hall on Nov. 14.