WARREN, Ohio – Judy Collins will come to the Robins Theatre on July 18 for an 8 p.m. concert.

Tickets range from $67 to $33 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 21, at RobinsTheatre.com and the box office, 160 E. Market St.

A presale for members of Friends of the Robins Theatre will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Collins is best known for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own original compositions.

Her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Her intimate version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical “A Little Night Music,” won Song of the Year at the 1975 Grammy Awards.

‘The Wedding Singer’ at Squeaky Wheel Theater

COLUMBIANA, Ohio – Squeaky Wheel Theater Company’s production of the comic musical “The Wedding Singer: The Musical” will open a two-weekend run April 4 at the Columbiana Arts Theatre.

Performances are at 7 p.m. April 4-5 and 11-12; and 2 p.m. April 6 and 13.

For tickets, click HERE.

“The Wedding Singer: The Musical” is a stage adaptation of the hit 1998 film starring Adam Sandler. Set in 1985, it follows Robbie Hart, a charming and passionate wedding singer who dreams of making it big but gets left at the altar. Heartbroken, he meets Julia Sullivan, a kind-hearted waitress engaged to a selfish Wall Street broker. As their friendship grows, Robbie realizes he’s falling for Julia and must find a way to win her heart before she says, “I do.”

Winners of Juneteenth Playwriting Contest

YOUNGSTOWN – The Youngstown Playhouse has announced the winners of its inaugural Juneteenth Festival Playwriting Contest.

  • First place: Torah Adams-Lewis for “Murder in a Small Town: When Secrets Kill.”
  • Second place: A tie between Ariel Alli’s “Angel Song” and Michele Day’s “Weary in Well Doing.”
  • Third place: Ramona Austin’s “It’s Time.”

Each recipient received a monetary award and a certificate.

Honorable mentions were given to:

  • Sherry A. Franklin-Berry for “Deliverance is Available to Me.”
  • Yvonne Burt-Carter for “Breaking Barriers.”
  • Melvin L. North Jr. for “Give Them What They Want; Give Them What They Need.”

All plays will receive staged readings at the Playhouse’s Juneteenth Festival of New Works on June 19 at the Playhouse and on June 20 at the McGuffey Centre, at 7 p.m. both evenings. Auditions for the roles will take place April 26 at the Playhouse and May 3 at the McGuffey Centre. 

For information, call director Lundeana Thomas at 502 210 1252.

Mill Creek Golf Courses Set Opening Dates

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Mill Creek MetroParks has announced the opening dates for its golf facilities for the 2025 season.

  • North Course: 10 a.m. March 19.
  • Wick Par-3 Course (Wick Recreation Area, Youngstown): 10 a.m. April 1.
  • South Course: 10 a.m. April 4.
  • Outdoor Practice Range: 10 a.m. April 11.

Opening dates may be adjusted due to weather. Tee times can be booked online HERE or by calling the Golf Shop at 330 740 7112.

Ohio Offers Wildflower Bloom Reports 

 COLUMBUS, Ohio – As the Buckeye State welcomes the arrival of spring, wildflower enthusiasts and nature lovers can track when, where and what is blooming by accessing the weekly Ohio Spring Wildflower Bloom reports published by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. 

The weekly bloom reports will be shared every Friday through mid-May.

From late March until mid-May, Ohio’s woodlands will provide a large and lovely setting for an array of native wildflowers. During the spring, the leaves are budding, allowing sunlight to stream through the tree limbs to the wildflowers on the forest floor. The best and most diverse wildflower shows are found in relatively undisturbed locations away from urban areas. State nature preserves, parks and forests are excellent places to find a variety of wildflowers in bloom.

The ODNR reports are organized by region (north, south and central), and each report offers an extensive list of which wildflowers are blooming and the best places to see them. Additionally, the reports include wildflower and state nature preserve spotlights.

Though the southern and northern regions of the state may be several weeks apart in bloom time, by mid-April, dozens of wildflower species such as spring beauty, bloodroot, squirrel-corn, Virginia bluebells and trout lily may be just hitting peak bloom. Others, such as Jack-in-the-pulpit, wild geranium and Solomon’s plume, won’t arrive until early May. 

Wildflower enthusiasts can keep track of what they see by using ODNR’s Spring Wildflower Checklist.

TourismOhio is also celebrating the beauty of Ohio’s spring wildflowers. Visitors can explore guides to the best wildflower viewing spots, discover scenic trails bursting with color and learn about u-pick flower farms across the state. Go to Ohio.org.

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park Summer Festivals

GARRETTSVILLE, Ohio – Nelson Ledges Quarry Park’s 2025 schedule will include eight festivals, including Grassfire on July 3-6, with more to be announced.

Two highlights will be Tropidelic’s Sunny Day Festival, May 16-18; and Grassfire, featuring Greensky Bluegrass, July 3-6. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Here is the schedule so far:

  • Earlybird, April 19-20: Rumpke Mountain Boys, Duprees, Dead Band and more.
  • Blesstival, a Tribute to Pops, May 3-4.
  • Sunny Days, May 16-18: Tropidelic, Collie Buddz, Passafire, Aurorawave and more.
  • Spring Badfish, May 30-June 1: Badfish, the Quasi Kings, Joe Sam Samba, the Ries Brothers and more.
  • Classic Fest, June 13-15.
  • Grassfire, July 3-6: Greensky Bluegrass, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Del McCoury Band, the Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth and more.
  • Gratefulfest, July 25-27.
  • Lazy Daisy, Aug. 15-17.

Pictured at top: Judy Collins will come to the Robins Theatre on July 18. (Photo by Shervin+Photo)