WARREN, Ohio – Ezra Ray Hart, a new act consisting of the frontmen of three popular ’90s rock bands, will bring its 90s Hits & Xmas Riffs tour to Packard Music Hall on Nov. 22.

The band is Kevin Griffin of Better than Ezra, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray and Emerson Hart of Tonic.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com.

The long list of hits produced by the three bands includes Sugar Ray’s “Every Morning” and “When It’s Over” and “Fly”; Better than Ezra’s “Good” and “In the Blood”; and Tonic’s “If You Could Only See” and “Open Up Your Eyes.”

Walking Tour of Downtown Warren Highlights the Past

WARREN, Ohio – The Trumbull County Historical Society will present a walking tour of downtown that focuses on the shops and businesses of the 1950s. 

The Shopping in the 1950s walking tour will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Attendees are to meet in front of the Trumbull County Courthouse.

It will offer the opportunity to experience what life was like in Warren in the 1950s. The tour will feature topics such as Strouss, Kresge’s and more. A special sweet treat will be offered at the end of the tour as well. 

Tickets are $20 per person, with registration required due to limited space. Proceeds will support the Trumbull County Historical Society’s mission. Attendees will be able to reflect on the past and see how Warren has changed over the years. 

For information or to register, go to TrumbullCountyHistory.org or call 330 394 4653. 

Opera Western Reserve Unveils ‘Faust’ Cast

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Opera Western Reserve will return to Powers Auditorium on Sept. 20 to present the timeless opera “Faust.”

Under the stage direction of Scott Skiba and music direction of Susan Davenny Wyner, the production features Erica Petrocelli in her OWR debut as Marguerite, Jonny Kaufman as the titular Faust and James Eder as the demon Méphistophélès. 

“Faust,” composed by Charles Gounod with a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré and adapted from the play “Faust et Marguerite” by Michel Carré, is a five-act opera that tells the tragic tale of an aging man who makes a pact with the devil to regain his youth. As Faust embarks on a passionate romance with the innocent Marguerite, the deal leads to heartbreaking consequences.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at 330 259 9651, in person at the DeYor box office, 260 W. Federal St., downtown; and at OperaWesternReserve.org.

State Awards Funding for Film Projects

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Development has awarded more than $46 million in funding to support 27 film production projects taking place in 14 communities across the state.

The awards, issued through the Motion Picture Tax Credit program, will support a diverse slate of productions – including 11 feature films, four television miniseries, five full television series, four Broadway/theatrical productions, two documentaries and one digital media. 

Together, these projects are expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs, contribute more than $150 million in eligible production spending and drive $196 million in production-related expenses, according to a press release.

The program provides a refundable tax credit of 30 percent on production cast and crew wages and other in-state spending for eligible productions, including feature-length films, documentaries, pre-Broadway productions, miniseries, video games and music videos.

Projects being awarded are:

Broadway/Theatrical Productions

  • “Elf the Musical,” Springfield, $463,877.
  • “Hell’s Kitchen – First National Tour,” Cleveland, $1,354,833.
  • “Spamalot Tour,” Cleveland, $1,045,826.
  • “The Notebook,” Cleveland, $613,270.

TV Series

  • AEW 2025-2026 Productions, Cleveland, $2,134,560.
  • “Brick Wall Bars,” Cincinnati, $258,974.
  • Buggy and Beyond Entertainment LLC Project (miniseries), Canton, $757,800.
  • “Gabriel and the Guardians,” Columbus, $2,010,159.
  • “The Blueprint Miniseries” (miniseries), Gahanna, $194,715.
  • “The Guest List” (miniseries), Lorain, $3,048,900.
  • “Triple Dare – Nickelodeon Miniseries” (miniseries), Worthington, $135,084.
  • WWE 2025-2026 Productions, Cleveland, $1,096,941.
  • “Zombie Reno Ohio S1,” Columbus, $264,132.

Feature Films

  • “10 Cent,” North Canton, $3,657,702.
  • “Carousel,” Medina, $517,137.
  • “Funnybone,” Columbus, $185,131.
  • “Love is Not the Answer,” Cincinnati, $1,546,645.
  • “Safe Space,” Cleveland, $249,322.
  • “Spain Thief,” Cleveland, $10,533,057.
  • “Sunny,” Canton, $8,483,314.
  • “Synthetic,” Cincinnati, $1,287,577.
  • “The Chaperones,” Cincinnati, $2,867,270.
  • “The Christmastyme Traveller,” North Canton, $3,066,331.
  • “The Darker Side,” Middletown, $205,872.

Documentary

  • “Parma,” Lakewood, $165,000.
  • “The Peoples College,” Warrensville Heights, $119,310.

Digital Media

  • Brave Wilderness, Lewis Center, $101,221.

Applications are reviewed and awarded in two rounds each year. The program provides $50 million annually, evenly divided between the two rounds, plus any rollover amounts from the proceeding period and any recaptured funds from previous productions. 

There is $5 million withheld annually from the full amount specifically for Broadway and theatrical productions. Projects are awarded first to television series or miniseries, then to all others, based on the extent of positive economic impact in Ohio and the effect on developing a permanent workforce in motion picture or theatrical production industries in the state. 

The application and additional program information can be found HERE.