The Update | New Theater Presents ‘Wonderful Life’; Holiday Gift Markets; Taylor Swift Ticket Raffle
COLUMBIANA, Ohio – The new Indigo Family Theater’s inaugural production, the radio play “It’s a Wonderful Life,” will open a two-weekend run on Friday at Main Street Theater.
The theater company was formed this year with a goal of bringing live theater back to Columbiana.
“We have seen the great people of this area rally behind our efforts and know we all benefit from family-centered entertainment,” said Dan Hudock, president of the Indigo board.
The radio play will be performed at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17; and 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18.
Tickets are $19 for general admission, and $16 for seniors, students and veterans, and can be purchased in advance online or at the theater before each performance.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” features a cast of 17 local professional and amateur actors. It’s the same classic story of George and Mary Bailey and Clarence the angel, made famous by the 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart.
But as a radio play, audiences hear the voices and see the actors and others make the sound effects. It’s like listening to a play on the radio and seeing the actors and performers in the studio.
Kristine Caporale is the director.
The mission of Indigo Family Theater is to offer wholesome plays, musicals, improv and other avenues of entertainment. The volunteer-driven company plans to produce five plays in 2023. For information, go to indigofamilytheater.org.
Playhouse to Present ‘A Tuna Christmas’
YOUNGSTOWN – The Youngstown Playhouse will present the comic plays “A Tuna Christmas” for six performances: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17; and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18.
The show is a sequel to “Greater Tuna,” the hit comedy by Ed Howard, Jaston Williams and Joe Sears that is set in a sleepy Texas town.
The plot revolves around an unexplainable phantom who vandalizes the annual Christmas yard display contest. Other townsfolk in the offbeat town also weave in and out of the plot. Pat Foltz is the director of the Playhouse production. The cast includes Molly Galano, Denise Sculli, Candace DiLullo, Jeanine Rees and Joanna Andrei.
Tickets are $17 and can be purchased in advance here.
‘A Christmas Carol’ at Salem Theater
SALEM, Ohio – Salem Community Theatre will present the classic Dickens tale “A Christmas Carol” for two weekends.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17; and 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18. The theater is at 490 E. State St.
Tickets care $12 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at salemcommunitytheatre.org.
Pictured are cast members Scott Sparks, Ali Baker, Richard Smiley and Jamie Boley.
Hometown Holiday Market This Weekend
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Cascade Galleria, in downtown New Castle, will host the 2nd annual Hometown Holiday Market on Friday, Dec. 9, from 4-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, from 12-8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 11 from 12-6 p.m.
It will feature unique and handmade gift ideas from more than 60 local artisans, bakers, jewelers, brewers, crafters and more.
Santa Claus Mrs. Claus, as well as the Grinch, will visit the mall each day. Parents can take their own photos, or use the services of a photographer, who will provide the service for $5.
Family horse and carriage rides will be available for $25 on Sunday, taking groups of four people for 15-minute rides. The carriage rides are provided by Misty Lane Farms Performance Horses. Reservations are recommended; call 724 283 5614.
The Hometown Holiday Market offers a nostalgic experience for those who remember when the mall was a destination location.
Cascade Galleria, formerly the Town Mall, reopened in December 2021 for this event and has since added six new permanent stores: Bones ‘n’ Stones, Swogger Lane, Locke & Key Boutique, Game Changers, R&E’s House of Horrors, and Love & Pawsitivity.
Barko and Friends Holiday Market Returns
YOUNGSTOWN – Youngstown-area fine graphic artist Bob Barko Jr’s third annual Steel Town Studios and Friends Christmas Market will take place Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, at Concept Studio, 217 W. Federal St., downtown. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.
The market will feature Barko’s Youngstown pop culture art, plus works by seven other local artists. They are:
• Jody Cercone: repurposed stage and studio lighting fixtures.
• Will Duck Jr.: paintings.
• Megan Factor’s Dash and Verve Design: hand-lettered home décor and custom creations.
• Mary Ann O’Leary: jewelry and photography.
• Daniel Rauschenbach: pottery and artwork.
• Jill Chambers and Dawn Elaine Muder’s The Sea Glass Sisters: Lake Erie beach art.
Taylor Swift Ticket Raffle Benefits Smarts
YOUNGSTOWN – Students Motivated by the Arts (Smarts) is raffling off two VIP floor Seat tickets to the June 167 Taylor Swift concert at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The tickets were donated to Smarts by Larry Mohn III and Sarra Mohn to help the group raise funds for future programming. Both Mohn children have taken classes at Smarts, which is a downtown community art school that provides access and early training pre-K to 12th grade students.
Smarts is selling 1,000 chances at $100 each to win the pair of Taylor Swift tickets; to purchase, go go https://one.bidpal.net/taylorswift.
The donors paid $1,110 apiece for the tickets.
To learn more, go to smartsartschool.org.
Pictured at top: The vocal cast of Indigo Family Theater’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” radio play includes Curtis Schaffer, Lisa Bircher, Steve Halas and Richard McBane.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
