The Update | Stage Left Presents Farce; Jazz in Park Concert at Penguin City

LISBON, Ohio – Stage Left Players’ production of the comedic farce “At This Evening’s Performance” will open tonight (Friday, March 17) and run for six performances over two consecutive weekends at Trinity Playhouse, 234 E. Lincoln Way.

The play, written by Nagle Jackson, is set in the fictitious totalitarian state of Strevia, where the Dunsk Players are putting on a play.

Guest director Paul Dahman of Austintown has his cast of seven barely avoiding collisions as they play the fearful cast who are under the scrutiny of the Minister of Culture of Strevia. The Dunsk Players bumble through their final dress rehearsal while making steamy stops in the dressing rooms for forbidden romance.

The cast includes Nate Garthwaite, Hannah Misko and Amy-Anne Kibler.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. tonight and March 18, 24 and 25; and 2 p.m. Sunday and March 26.

Admission is $12 ($10 for students and seniors). Reservations can be made HERE. Tickets will also be sold at the door. For information, call 724 426 1955.

Jazz in the Park Concert at Penguin City

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Russell Thompson and Free Agent will present a special concert to raise funds for the annual Jazz in the Park concert series.

The concert will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at Penguin City Brewing, downtown. For tickets, click HERE.

The full Jazz in the Park series lineup will be announced in the near future.

Federal Frenzy Festival will Return in April

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Federal Frenzy, sponsored by Penguin Productions of YSU, will take place from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 22, on Federal Street and Phelps Street Pedestrian Corridor.

The free event features local and national bands playing on three outdoor stages, as well as food and merchandise vendors. The list of performers and the performance schedule will be revealed soon.

Past headliners include Hunny, Smallpools, Red Wanting Blue, Bully and Robert DeLong.

Presentation on Transgender Surgery Pioneer from Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A presentation on the late Dr. Richard Murray (1921-2002), a Youngstown-based pioneer in transgender plastic surgery, will be given by Ginger Williams, a board member of TransOhio, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, in the President’s Suite of Kilcawley Center on the Youngstown State University campus.

The lecture, sponsored by YSUnity and the Melnick Medical Museum, is free to the public.

A pivotal yet under-examined figure in medical and transgender history, Murray was a force in Youngstown during the latter half of the 20th century. He was a patron of the arts, artist, author, prognosticator and highly accomplished physician. His Medart building on Glenwood Avenue was his palace; for many, it was a gender crossroads.

The presentation by Williams will offer a look at the career of the trailblazing plastic surgeon who saw his life’s work as helping people be the best version of themselves.

Williams is a recently retired engineer from Cleveland. She grew up in Boardman and has degrees from YSU and Case Western Reserve universities.

Ukraine is Focus of Culture and Cuisine Series Event

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s Culture and Cuisine series will return April 2 with an event that celebrates Ukraine at 3 p.m. at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cultural Center, 1025 N. Belle Vista Ave.

Admission is $30 for MVHS members and $35 for nonmembers. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Ukrainian Relief Fund.

The Rev. Mykola Zomchak, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Rev. Lubomir Zyhbak, pastor of St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church and Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, will speak at the event. Ukrainian music will be provided by Anna Prychodczenko, choir director at Sts. Peter and Paul. An ethnic meal will be served, including dessert. 

The Culture and Cuisine series is coordinated by the Mahoning Valley Cultural Alliance, an advisory group under the umbrella of MVHS.

Reservations for Ukraine: Culture and Cuisine are required and can be made by calling 330 743 1589. The deadline is March 24.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.