Although Weathervane is not a member of YACTA they are a welcome addition to the area. As Jack Ballantyne stated, many people from the Youngstown Area not only go to see a performance there, but also perform on their stage as well. That goes for the other theaters not in the immediate area. YACTA honor excellence in regional theater! Therefore Weathervane certainly falls inot that category as well as Salem, Columbiana, Lisbon Niles etc. We welcome all the theaters, members and non-members and hope that the several theaters that are not members will one day join. We are delighted that the theaters who are not in the Youngstown general area are doing wonderful things at their theaters. We are still in the growing stage. We are well aware that we are not a perfect organization..yet. We try hard to work with all theaters and welcome suggestions and feedback. We have no intentions of turning away any theater. Or cutting any theater out of the Marquees.
WOW! I made it to this site too late to read the comment posted by youngstowng2009, but from what I can read, it was pretty horrible. Kudos to all of the people who have defended Rob Joki, The Oakland and Easy Street as well. I have had the honor and privilage to be a part of community theater for almost thirty years now and there are never two theaters alike...and there shouldnt be. I will continue to support all theaters, all the time and congratulate each theater in this community for letting the creative juices flow, no mater what the subject matter is. You cant please all of the people all of the time! It doesnt matter, because in the world of theater, there is always something out there for somebody. Continue to do what you do and don't let the obvious ingorance of a few people bring you down! My name is Joyce A. Jones, and I am a continued supporter of the ARTS!
Ok so I lied. I really was not going to comment again but I have to. To ohhappyday16: thank you for putting it down as to the different genres each local theater caters to and by GOD I thought I was the only one who thought Easy Street had its own clique! But then again, I dont think Easy Street labels themselves as a "community theater" and therefore may be why they can get away with the clique and no one has brought it up.I think they are more like an ensemble group of players. Now if they do boast themselves as being a community theater,which I am sure that they don't, then they do have a hard core clique. NEXT: The Playhouse not only supplied area theaters with whatever they may have needed but we can't forget that those same theaters furnished the Playhouse in return. I recall Salem theater loaning The Playhouse costumes for their production of Carousel. Now THAT is true community theater commitment. All Theaters working together to bring quality entertainment and giving the public a variety of entertainment choices! If The Playhouse(the building) becomes extinct, and if one by one community theater as we know it disappears, I am so proud to have been a part of it!!! I am proud of all the fine people I have met in the 30 years I have been involved. I am proud to even know those who were "haters". I am proud that theater is the reason that my children are NOT doing drugs, are NOT school dropouts, are not criminals, but are still to this day involved in the arts! If anyone doesn't want to support the Playhouse, fine! But please continue to support community theater and whats left of it. Get involved! Join a theater board, go audition, work crew, attend classes. Get your children involved in the ARTS!!! God Bless the hard working people who dedicate their time and effort into bringing quality entertainment to the area. oh and one last thing: TheLostPatrol, may I ask what the hell does DMZ stand for?
This will be my last post, but I feel I must comment one last time to set the record straight. 1. The community has NOT given the Playhouse millions and millions of dollars. BUT it was awarded one million for renovations ONCE. This money, unfortunately went to filling in the arena (bad move)office furniture (another bad move) office renovations, new dressing rooms, some heating and air conditioning work and putting in an elevator(smart move). Half of the work, including the elevator wasnt completed until much later because the money ran out. 2.The Playhouse does give entertainment to the community but there was a time, not too long ago, that the Playhouse hosted Unity in the Community and at Christmas, we handed out toys (some donated, others bought by the Playhouse) to the needy children. There have been rummage sales to help the community and winter hat and coat drives.One year, they converted the lobby and arena into a haunted house and gave out candy to the neighborhood kids. Not much, but those little things are what made it a vital force in the community. The Playhouse also hosted many community functions and the youth theater program had a scholorship program for those who couldnt afford to pay for classes. 3. I will be the first to admit that money was mismanaged, and hopefully that wont ever happen again 4. The Playhouse will need to work on building the community closeness it once had but I think it can be done. 5. And The Youngstown Playhouse IS America's Oldest Ongoing Community Theater. Look it up! And until the building comes crashing to the ground, it will continue to be.
Erplane,I dont expect you to understand BUT race does indeed play into this. Fact is fact. 90% of the people who come to the playhouse are not african american and they live in the suburbs. How many times have you read on this, and other blogs, people saying they don't want to come to the Playhouse because of the neighborhood? If The Playhouse was in the middle of, lets say Oak Knoll Drive,just a few blocks from the playhouse in boardman, there wouldnt be nearly as many complaints. Race shouldnt be an issue but I am only one person with that opinion. I would bet money if the surrounding area of the Playhouse had middle to upperclass non minorities occupying the houses, no one would be talking about moving the playhouse, or being scared to come to the playhouse at night. I could sit here all day and argue the point but the bottom line is no one cares anymore. The word "community" just doesnt exist anymore. Granted, the building is just a structure and it's the people who made the playhouse,not the building itself, unless you have lived it, done it, you have no idea what the building means to so many of us and why it is important to keep the building where it is and up and running. Many of us have moved on to other great theaters in the area. There will always, hopefully, be a venue to get involved in. But there will never be another like the playhouse. Oh and if you look back there have been 3, sometimes more simultaneous musicals/ plays, etc... happening here and I dont think anyone suffered. There are enough people to get around. Youngstowners are DYING to be entertained. There can never be too much going on at one time that someone, somewhere, isnt going to attend.
Documenting home
Well done Ashley. Thank you.
May 2, 2011 at 8:04 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Jocelyn Dabney Story Teller
How wonderful! I have known Jocelyn for years. She was and still is one of my son Derricks mentors. She is truly a master storyteller!
May 2, 2011 at 1:06 a.m. permalink suggest removal
631
Thanks Bill for the video. I enjoyed talking to you. Derrick will be very pleased with your work
May 2, 2011 at 1:03 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Living up to name, Palumbo, Top Hat excel with ‘Ragtime’
Milan hit the nail on the head with this one!
October 5, 2009 at 1:04 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Weathervane, Oakland get most nominations for theater awards
Although Weathervane is not a member of YACTA they are a welcome addition to the area. As Jack Ballantyne stated, many people from the Youngstown Area not only go to see a performance there, but also perform on their stage as well. That goes for the other theaters not in the immediate area. YACTA honor excellence in regional theater! Therefore Weathervane certainly falls inot that category as well as Salem, Columbiana, Lisbon Niles etc. We welcome all the theaters, members and non-members and hope that the several theaters that are not members will one day join. We are delighted that the theaters who are not in the Youngstown general area are doing wonderful things at their theaters. We are still in the growing stage. We are well aware that we are not a perfect organization..yet. We try hard to work with all theaters and welcome suggestions and feedback. We have no intentions of turning away any theater. Or cutting any theater out of the Marquees.
July 11, 2009 at 5 p.m. permalink suggest removal
‘Music Man’ will delight fan base
WOW! I made it to this site too late to read the comment posted by youngstowng2009, but from what I can read, it was pretty horrible. Kudos to all of the people who have defended Rob Joki, The Oakland and Easy Street as well. I have had the honor and privilage to be a part of community theater for almost thirty years now and there are never two theaters alike...and there shouldnt be. I will continue to support all theaters, all the time and congratulate each theater in this community for letting the creative juices flow, no mater what the subject matter is. You cant please all of the people all of the time! It doesnt matter, because in the world of theater, there is always something out there for somebody. Continue to do what you do and don't let the obvious ingorance of a few people bring you down! My name is Joyce A. Jones, and I am a continued supporter of the ARTS!
May 11, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Has the Youngstown Playhouse seen its final curtain?
Ok so I lied. I really was not going to comment again but I have to. To ohhappyday16: thank you for putting it down as to the different genres each local theater caters to and by GOD I thought I was the only one who thought Easy Street had its own clique! But then again, I dont think Easy Street labels themselves as a "community theater" and therefore may be why they can get away with the clique and no one has brought it up.I think they are more like an ensemble group of players. Now if they do boast themselves as being a community theater,which I am sure that they don't, then they do have a hard core clique. NEXT: The Playhouse not only supplied area theaters with whatever they may have needed but we can't forget that those same theaters furnished the Playhouse in return. I recall Salem theater loaning The Playhouse costumes for their production of Carousel. Now THAT is true community theater commitment. All Theaters working together to bring quality entertainment and giving the public a variety of entertainment choices! If The Playhouse(the building) becomes extinct, and if one by one community theater as we know it disappears, I am so proud to have been a part of it!!! I am proud of all the fine people I have met in the 30 years I have been involved. I am proud to even know those who were "haters". I am proud that theater is the reason that my children are NOT doing drugs, are NOT school dropouts, are not criminals, but are still to this day involved in the arts! If anyone doesn't want to support the Playhouse, fine! But please continue to support community theater and whats left of it. Get involved! Join a theater board, go audition, work crew, attend classes. Get your children involved in the ARTS!!! God Bless the hard working people who dedicate their time and effort into bringing quality entertainment to the area. oh and one last thing: TheLostPatrol, may I ask what the hell does DMZ stand for?
January 11, 2009 at 8:29 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Has the Youngstown Playhouse seen its final curtain?
This will be my last post, but I feel I must comment one last time to set the record straight.
1. The community has NOT given the Playhouse millions and millions of dollars. BUT it was awarded one million for renovations ONCE. This money, unfortunately went to filling in the arena (bad move)office furniture (another bad move) office renovations, new dressing rooms, some heating and air conditioning work and putting in an elevator(smart move). Half of the work, including the elevator wasnt completed until much later because the money ran out.
2.The Playhouse does give entertainment to the community but there was a time, not too long ago, that the Playhouse hosted Unity in the Community and at Christmas, we handed out toys (some donated, others bought by the Playhouse) to the needy children. There have been rummage sales to help the community and winter hat and coat drives.One year, they converted the lobby and arena into a haunted house and gave out candy to the neighborhood kids. Not much, but those little things are what made it a vital force in the community. The Playhouse also hosted many community functions and the youth theater program had a scholorship program for those who couldnt afford to pay for classes.
3. I will be the first to admit that money was mismanaged, and hopefully that wont ever happen again
4. The Playhouse will need to work on building the community closeness it once had but I think it can be done.
5. And The Youngstown Playhouse IS America's Oldest Ongoing Community Theater. Look it up!
And until the building comes crashing to the ground, it will continue to be.
January 9, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Has the Youngstown Playhouse seen its final curtain?
WELL SAID WEST SIDER, WELL SAID!!
January 9, 2009 at 1:59 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Has the Youngstown Playhouse seen its final curtain?
Erplane,I dont expect you to understand BUT race does indeed play into this. Fact is fact. 90% of the people who come to the playhouse are not african american and they live in the suburbs. How many times have you read on this, and other blogs, people saying they don't want to come to the Playhouse because of the neighborhood? If The Playhouse was in the middle of, lets say Oak Knoll Drive,just a few blocks from the playhouse in boardman, there wouldnt be nearly as many complaints. Race shouldnt be an issue but I am only one person with that opinion. I would bet money if the surrounding area of the Playhouse had middle to upperclass non minorities occupying the houses, no one would be talking about moving the playhouse, or being scared to come to the playhouse at night. I could sit here all day and argue the point but the bottom line is no one cares anymore. The word "community" just doesnt exist anymore. Granted, the building is just a structure and it's the people who made the playhouse,not the building itself, unless you have lived it, done it, you have no idea what the building means to so many of us and why it is important to keep the building where it is and up and running. Many of us have moved on to other great theaters in the area. There will always, hopefully, be a venue to get involved in. But there will never be another like the playhouse. Oh and if you look back there have been 3, sometimes more simultaneous musicals/ plays, etc... happening here and I dont think anyone suffered. There are enough people to get around. Youngstowners are DYING to be entertained. There can never be too much going on at one time that someone, somewhere, isnt going to attend.
January 9, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. permalink suggest removal