Upcoming theater productions – Information for our 2022-23 theater guide came from individual theater and organizational websites, Facebook pages and organizational Twitter accounts. Additions and changes should be sent to in**@me**********.net. Theater-goers are advised to confirm the ticket and show availability due to rescheduling and possible cancellations.
Easy Street Productions. 865 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown 44509; 330-743-8555. www.easystreetshows.com…. This Youngstown-based, professional stock theater company began in 1988 when cofounders, Todd Hancock and Maureen Collins, wrote, directed, and starred in “429 Miles Off Broadway.” The show featured moments from their favorite musicals, including “Pump Boys and Dinettes.” In 1993, after four successful years of original performances at the Uptown Theater, they moved to their current main venue, the DeYor Performing Arts Center.
- Miracle on Easy Street returns to Powers Auditorium Dec. 16-18. Shows: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16; 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17 and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18. $35-$19. Call 330-744-0264 or visit deyorpac.org….
Hopewell Theatre (formerly the Victorian Players), 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown 44502. 330-746-5455. hopewelltheatre.org…. Shows occur at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for students/seniors. Musicals are $17 for adults and $14 for students/seniors.
- Steel Magnolias. Set in a small-town Louisiana beauty parlor, “Steel Magnolias” reveals the lives of six very different women. The play offers sharp, funny dialogue and a tender story about friendships and family. Oct. 28-Nov. 6.
- Child of Glory: A Gospel Nativity. The Christmas story is brought to life with gospel songs, carols, and original music. Written and directed by Carla D. Gipson. Dec. 2-3, 9-11.
- Avenue Q. By Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Whitty. The Millennial Theatre Company and the Hopewell will present. Jan. 13-15, 20-22.
- James Baldwin: Notes of a Native Son. Hopewell Theatre and Lit Youngstown will present. March 2023.
- Becky’s New Car. By Steven Dietz. Directed by Christopher Fidram. April 21-22, 28-30.
- Crowns. By Regina Taylor. Directed by Carla D. Gipson. May 26-27, June 2-4.
Kent State University at Trumbull Theatre. 4314 Mahoning Ave., N.W.; 330-675-8887. www.trumbull.kent.edu…. Kent Trumbull Theatre will offer two main stage shows and a “Young Playwrights Festival” at the end of the year. Call for more information. The theater is under the direction of Eric S. Kildow, associate professor, and program director.
- Die Mommie Die! By Charles Busch. March 3-5, 10-12. This comic melodrama evokes the 1960s “Grande Dame Guignol” movie thrillers that featured aging cinematic icons like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, and Susan Hayward.
- Kent Trumbull Theatre Young Playwrights Festival. Kent Trumbull will stage the results of its playwriting competition for high school juniors and seniors from Trumbull and neighboring counties. See fresh new works from young voices in Northeast Ohio. April 21-23, 28-30.
- Special: Kent Trumbull continues its “Sips & Scripts” program in collaboration with Modern Methods Brewing Co. Preliminary reading dates are Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 18, Feb. 1, March 8, and April 5.
New Castle Playhouse. 212 E. Long, New Castle, Pa. 16101. 724-654-3437. www.newcastleplayhouse.org…. Performances: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Doors open one hour prior to the show. Adult, $16; seniors (60 and older) $13; students, $13; youth (12 and under) $11.
- Seussical the Musical. Dec. 9-18.
Oakland Center for the Arts. 4749 South Ave, Boardman 44512; 330-406-0606. www.oaklandcenter.info… This interdisciplinary arts center was founded in Youngstown in 1986.
The Rust Belt Theater Company. 221 Belmont Ave., Youngstown 44502. 330-507-2358. www.Twitter.com… Follow Rust Belt on Twitter and Facebook. Previous productions include How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas, Dating Sucks: The Musical, and Forbidden Youngstown!
Salem Community Theatre. 490 E. State St., Salem 44460; 330-332-9688. www.salemcommunitytheatre.org…. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
- Evil Dead: The Musical. Takes the elements of classic cult films and combines them in a crazy theatrical experience. Oct. 28-29, Nov. 4-5. $12.
Top Hat Productions. 4220 Youngstown-Poland Road, Youngstown 44514. 330-881-0980. www.tophatproductions.org…. Evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
- Nativity. Journey back in time as you experience the birth of Christ. Dec. 2-3.
Trumbull New Theater. 5883 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles 44446. 330-652-1103. www.trumbullnewtheatre.com…. Performances: 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. on Sunday. $17, for adults; $15, for students. Musicals: $20, for adults; $18, for students.
- The Play That Goes Wrong. Comedy by Lewis/Sayer/Shields. Directed by B. Bunker. Things go from bad to worse during Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” Sept. 9-10, 16-18, 23-25.
- Inlaws, Outlaws, and Other People (that should be shot). Comedy by Steve Fanco. Directed by T. Gilbert. Nov. 4-5, 11-13, 18-20.
- The Laramie Project. Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie, Wyoming during the trial of the men accused of killing Matthew Shepard. They conducted interviews with the townspeople, some of whom were directly connected to the case. Docu-drama by Moises Kaufman. Directed by L. Bennett. Contains adult language. Jan. 13-14, 20-22, 27-29.
- Disaster! Musical by Rudetsky, Geraci, Plotnik. Directed by A. McKinnon. An homage to classic disaster films of the 1970s. March 10-12, 17-19, 24-26.
- Plaza Suite. Neil Simon’s classic comedy. Directed by E. Wason. May 5-6, 12-14, 19-21.
University Theatre. Ford Theater, Bliss Hall. YSU, Wick Avenue at Spring, Youngstown 44555. 330-941-3105. www.ysu.edu… Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Season subscriptions are $50 for adults. Discounts are available for members of the YSU Alumni Society, Penguin Club, and Regional Chamber; YSU faculty and staff and retirees; and non-YSU students. Free for YSU students.
- Godspell, in collaboration with the YSU Dana School of Music. Boasts a score of chart-topping songs. Nov. 11-13, 18-20.
- The Last Five Years, in collaboration with the YSU Dana School of Music. A modern musical chronicling the five-year life of a marriage. Feb. 16-19.
- Antigone, based on the original play by Sophocles, was first performed in Paris in 1944 during the Nazi occupation. March 31-April 2; April 7-9.
Youngstown Playhouse. 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown 44511. 330-788-8739. www.theyoungstownplayhouse.com…. Satellite box office: DeYor Performing Arts Center, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown 44503. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Individual tickets will go on sale six weeks prior to each show’s opening. Tickets: $27, $22, and $17, plus a $3 fee per ticket.
- The Day They Shot John Lennon. Moyer Room. Written by James McLure. A group of strangers meets at the location of Lennon’s murder to reminisce about his life with humorous and moving anecdotes. Frank Martin directs. Nov. 11-20.
- A Tuna Christmas. Moyer Room. By Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jaston Williams. An unexplainable Christmas phantom spooks town citizens by vandalizing yards during its annual Christmas Yard Display Contest. Pat Foltz directs. Dec. 9-18.
- Outside Mullingar. Moyer Room. By John Patrick Shanley. This romantic comedy tells the story of lifelong neighbors Anthony and Rosemary, a couple of introverted, middle-aged misfits. Directed by Christopher Fidram. Feb. 24-March 5, 2023.
- Pass Over. Moyer Room. By Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu. Directed by Thomas Fields. This play explores the lives of two African-American males who spend day and night under a lamp post passing time and hoping that today will be different. The play exposes the raw spirit of young men stuck and looking for a way out. April 14-23, 2023.
- Newsies Jr. Main Stage. Youth Production. Music By Alan Menken. Book by Harvey Fierstein. Script adaptation by David Simpatico. Directed by Savannah Teter. When a publisher raises prices for newsboys’ delivery services, Jack Kelly rallies newsies around the city. May 19-21, 2023.
Compiled by the Metro Monthly staff.
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