Entertainment Digest | Week of Oct. 28

Youth Theater Production of ‘Frozen Jr.’ Continues

BOARDMAN –  The Oakland theater company’s Kids First Initiative’s production of the area premiere of “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” will continue with performances at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2 and 2:30 P.M. Nov. 3 at Trinity Fellowship Church, 4749 South Ave.

Tickets are 15 ($13 for senior citizens and $5 for students) and can be purchased in advance at OaklandCenter.info (fees apply) or at the door.

Maureen Donofrio is the director. The cast of more than 40 includes Alexa McAughtry as Anna and Annabelle Himes as Elsa.

‘The Mousetrap’ Opens at Trumbull New Theatre

NILES – Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” opens Nov. 1 at Trumbull New Theatre, 5883 Youngstown-Warren Road, for a three-weekend run.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16; and 3 p.m. Nov. 10 and 17. Tickets are $14. For reservations, call 330 651 1103 or go to TrumbuillNewTheatre.tix.com.

Ron Sinesio is the directer of the whodunnit play, in which a group of strangers is stranded in a boarding house. A policeman arrives, a murder is committed, and the suspects are whittled down.

Auditions are Scheduled for ‘The Spitfire Grill’

NILES – Auditions for Trumbull New Theatre’s upcoming production of “The Spitfire Grill” will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4, at the theater, 5883 Youngstown Road.

High School Students Create Mail Art for YSU exhibition

YOUNGSTOWN – The third annual High School Mail Art Show opens Nov. 4 in the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery in Bliss Hall, at Youngstown State University, and runs through Nov. 15.

The gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admssion is free. An opening day reception and awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. The show is sponsored by the YSU art department and will be held in the Gallery space on Monday, November 4, 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

Mail art is an artistic movement focused on sending small-scale works through the postal service. 

It was developed in the 1950s as a means for artists to connect with other artists. The practice started is an alternative way for artists to network and share their work beyond the traditional art market, but it is now common to see exhibitions of mail art in gallery spaces.

High school juniors and seniors from school districts in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania were invited to create an image on thick paper the size of a postcard that could be sent through the mail.

More than 150 postcards in a variety of media and themes were entered, and will be juried by art department professors Claudia Berlinski and Christine McCullough.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place as well as honorable mention, and will be presented at the public reception.

Stambaugh Youth Band Receives Grant, Readies Season

YOUNGSTOWN – The Stambaugh Youth Concert Band has received a $10,000 grant from the Monday Musical Club Fund of the Youngstown Foundation to help underwrite its 2019-2020 season. 

Founded in 2001, the Stambaugh Youth Concert Band provides extracurricular, high-quality music education and performance opportunities to a select group of young musicians. The program provides the students with an opportunity to expand their musical knowledge and expertise, and an opportunity to work with like-minded peers. 

Membership is an honor bestowed on 78 young musicians representing 28 high schools for the 2019-20 school year. 

Under the leadership of directors Brandt Payne and Tyler Husosky, the SYCB has begun weekly rehearsals and will open its season on Nov. 19 with a 7:30 p.m. concert in Stambaugh Auditorium. For tickets, to to StambaughAuditorium.com or call 330 259 0555. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available; contact JoAnn Stock at jstock@stambaughauditorium.com or at 330 747 5175. 

‘Christmas in Many Lands’ at Tyler History Center

YOUNGSTOWN – “Christmas in Many Lands,” which will celebrate the holiday season by exploring various ethnic traditions, will take place Nov. 4 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St., downtown.

The event is part of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s Culture and Cuisine series.

George W. Johnson will be the featured speaker and will present a screen presentation and display of objects from various cultural traditions, including many German customs.

Johnson has been collecting antique Christmas decorations for over 30 years, and is a member of the Golden Glow of Christmas Past, a club for enthusiasts of Christmas memorabilia.

The event will also include a holiday-inspired meal provided by Carolyn Catering. To purchase tickets, call Suzanne at 330 743 2589.

Mahoning Valley Cultural Alliance has organized the series.

Donnie Iris and the Cruisers Coming to Robins Theatre

WARREN – Donnie Iris and the Cruisers will bring its 40th Anniversary Tour to the Robins Theatre on Jan. 18 for an 8 p.m. concert.

The Pittsburgh rocker’s career took off in the 1970s with his first hit “The Rapper,” which he wrote and sang as a member of the Jaggerz. Iris and the Cruisers had a string of hits in the 1980s, including “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like A Rock.”

Donnie Iris and the Cruisers continue to tour and record. Two of their most recent songs, “Sing the Songs of Summer (All Night Long)” and “Pittsburgh Made” are available to download at the band’s website, DonnieIris.com.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at RobinsTheatre.com, by phone 234 430 0005 and at the theater’s box office at 160 E Market St, which is open weekdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

A 24-hour online-only presale will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 31 for 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.

The Robins Theatre, 160 E. Market St., has been closed for several decades but is currently in the final stages of a complete renovation, and will reopen on Dec. 7.

Josh Turner Coming to Packard Music Hall

WARREN – Country music artist Josh Turner will come to Packard Music Hall on Jan. 29 for an 8 p.m. concert.

Tickets are $28, $42, $52, $62 and $78 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at Ticketmaster.com (fees apply) and the Packard box office, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW. An online-only presale will take place Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (use the password PACKARD).

The deep-voiced Turner is a multiple Grammy and CMA Award nominee who is known for hits such as “Hometown Girl,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Your Man,” “Time Is Love,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Long Black Train.”

A country music traditionalist, Turner has been a member of Grand Ole Opry for a decade.

His latest album, “I Serve a Savior,” hit No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country and Top Christian album charts. It is a gospel music collection that includes versions of classics such as “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.”

Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey Bands Will Square off in Concert

YOUNGSTOWN – Battle of the Bands: the Glenn Miller Orchestra vs. the Tommy Dorsey Orchestera will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Stambaugh Auditorium Tickets range from $15 to $75 and are available at the box office, 1000 Fifth Ave.; online at StambaughAuditorium.com, and by phone at 330 259 0555 

In a manner similar to the Big Band battles from the ’30s and ’40s, the two bands will take the stage in a back-and-forth competition that showcases jazz, swing, and standards from the music genre’s heyday. 

With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered one of the greatest bands of all time. The present orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year around the world.

In big-band history, Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra is recognized as one of the best all-around dance bands and could shift from swing to sentimental ballads.

Area Artists Annual Exhibition Winners Announced

HOWLAND – The winners of the Butler Institute of American Art’s Area Artists Annual Exhibition were announced Oct. 27 at a reception at the museum’s Trumbull Branch.

The exhibition, now in its 81st year, will remain on display at the Trumbull Branch through Nov. 27.

The exhibition is open to artists who live in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties. 

Louis A. Zona, executive director and chief curator of the museum, gave awards to the following:

  • Best in Show: Justin Reese of Youngstown for his porcelain vessel “Lotus and Worm.”
  • Robert Yalch Memorial Award: Carol Gallo of Girard for her monoprint piece.
  • Juror’s Special Mentions: Nils Johnson, Canfield, for his oil painting, “First Fish,” and to Marianne Whitehouse, Youngstown, for her rust dyed coffee on canvas, 4-pannel piece titled, “Rust Study x 4.”

Other top prize winners include: 

  • First Place: Evian Zukas-Oguz, Greenville, Pa., “Outburst,” fiber.
  • Second Place: Robert Demechko, Poland, “Destiny,” wood sculpture
  • Third Place: Thomas Harwood, Niles, “First Light,” oil.

Honorable Mention: 

  • Tazim Jaffer, Girard, “Baby Playing in the River,” photograph. 
  • Maryann Limmer, Poland, “Blue Lagoon,” clay vessel.
  • Jody Nudell, Girard, “Street Sounds, Nashville,” watercolor painting. 
  • Hoda Rouweyha, Warren, “Swirling Mawalawi’s,” bronze sculpture. 
  • Mark Scheuring, Salem, “Spirit Draining Sphere,” print.
  • Rick Shale, Youngstown, “Triptych,” acrylic/yupo painting. 
  • Guy Shively, Austiintown, “Vintage Vermin,” oil painting.
  • Gail Trunick, Burghill,” “PTSD,”mixed media. 
  • Clara K. Wick, Hubbard, “Unfurled,” mixed media. 
  • Don Wright, Canfield, “Hart-Parr Tractor Circa 1925,” watercolor painting. 

Westminster Presents ‘The Glass Menagerie’

Brandon Williams of Sandy Lake, Pa., portrays Tom Wingfield in the Theatre Westminster production of “The Glass Menagerie.”

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” will be performed this weekend in Beeghly Theatre on the Westminster College campus.

Show times for the Westminster Theatre production are Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Directed by Karen Dabney, visiting assistant professor of theater, the cast includes Brandon, Alexis, Montana Ferita and Travis.

Tickets are 15 ($10 for senior citizens, military, or non-Westminster students; free with a Titan ID card) and can be purchased at ShowTix4u.com.

Hurdy Gurdy 25th Annual Reunion Party

SALEM – The Hurdy Gurdy’s 25 reunion party will take place Nov. 8 at Feed and Sing, 38135 Salem Unity, with proceeds benefiting the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley’s Move Our Mission capital campaign.

Doors will open at 4 p.m. The event will feature favorite Hurdy Gurdy musical artists, including Doug Smith, Dave and Val Mayfield, and Shawn & Friends. Nashville recording artist Terry McBride will perform from 8:30-10:30 p.m. with no cover charge.

Turkey Trot food, Wine Pairings at Grand River Wineries

MADISON –  Fall foliage is at its peak in the Grand River Valley wine region as the harvest continues through  October, and the 12th Annual Turkey Trot will take place Nov. 2 from noon to 5 p.m.

Five wineries – Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards and St. Joseph Vineyards – will take part in the drive-yourself tour that features a wine tasting paired with a different Thanksgiving meal food sample at each stop.

All five participating wineries are within 10 minutes of each other.  Each winery will feature a different part of the meal and pair two wines that compliment it.  In addition, recipes will be given out.

The cost is $5 per person at each winery; those who bring a canned food item to each winery will receive $1 off. The food items will be donated to local food banks.

“The Turkey Trot is really a celebration of the end of the fall grape harvest and the kick off to our holiday season here in wine country,” says Kim Laurello, of Laurello Vineyards.

Many of the wineries’ gift shops will be open for holiday shopping. For information, call 440 466 3485 or go to WGGRV.com.

Model Railroad Club Sets Open House Dates

AUSTINTOWN – The Youngstown Model Railroad Association’s annual open house will take place Nov. 2-3 and 9-10, and Dec. 7-8, from noon to 6 p.m. all six days.

The event takes place at the YMRA clubhouse, 751 N. Four Mile Run Road (at intersection of North Raccoon Road), and features two room-size model railroad displays: one in O gauge and the other in HO gauge.

Admission is $5 per person (free for children 11 and under with an adult).

Red Wanting Blue Announces Holiday Concert

AKRON – Red Wanting Blue will present its 2019 Holiday Bash concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St.

Tickets for the rock concert range from $35 to $49.50 and are available at GoodyearTheater.com. VIP packages are also available.

New Castle YMCA to Host 5K Run on Thanksgiving

NEW CASTLE, Pa – The New Castle Community YMCA will host the annual T-Day 5K Run/Walk on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. This year’s race features a new race addition, the Fun K, for those wanting to participate but may not want to run/walk an entire 5K.

Runners and walkers, along with their families and friends, are invited to gather at the Y for a fun walk/run before gathering together at the table to give thanks. 

Proceeds from the event, now in its 11th year, provide financial assistance to those in need and allows the Y to offer free programs to the community. Nonperishable food items will be accepted for local food pantries. 

Early registration for the 5K is $25 per person over the age of 6; early registration for the Fun K is $15/person; children 6 and under can compete for free.

Participants can register online at NCYMCA.org. Everyone who pre-registers by Nov. 10 will receive a free tTshirt. Same-day registration and packet pick-up begins at 7:30 a.m. inside the downtown YMCA the morning of the race. 

The Fun K begins at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 9 a.m. both start in front of the Downtown YMCA and the course winds through downtown New Castle. Registration forms and course maps are available on the website.

Pictured above: Annabelle Himes plays Elsa in the Kids First production of “Disney’s Frozen Jr.”

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