A play about Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night and an adaptation of the Disney animated feature “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” will be staged in 2022 by Youngstown Playhouse.

The Playhouse announced its plans for the new year fresh off a successful run of “Elf the Musical,” which sold out its six originally scheduled performances and attracted about 350 for an added matinee show. “Elf” was the Playhouse’s first main stage production since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

“We were so happy for the wonderful audience response,” Executive Director Kayla Boye said. “With the response to ‘Elf,’ we’re confident we could offer another big show this spring.”

That show will be “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which features songs written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for the animated movie as well as additional songs written specifically for the stage version. Peter Parnell wrote the book for the musical, which is based on the novel by Victor Hugo.

Disney Theatricals developed the stage production, but unlike many of its shows, it never played Broadway.

Artistic Director Joshua William Green will direct the Playhouse production, which will feature a choir in addition to the acting roles.

“Beyond just the characters, there are a lot of opportunities for those in the area who would like to take part as singers,” Boye said.

It will open May 27 for a two-weekend run.

Before that will be two shows in the Playhouse’s 75-seat Moyer Room.

First up is “The Mountaintop” on Feb. 18. Katori Hall’s play is a re-imagining of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on an encounter between the civil rights leader and a mysterious hotel maid the night before his assassination.

James Major Burns, who starred in “Elf,” will make his directing debut with “The Mountaintop.”

“He proposed it before the pandemic, and we’re finally able to bring it to the stage,” Boye said.

Auditions for the two-character drama are scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Also coming to the Moyer Room is “People Along the Way,” written by local theater veteran Terry Shears, who also was in “Elf.” It’s the story of a man given the opportunity to revisit his past to answer the question, “Were the good old days really the way we remember them?,” and most of the actors play multiple characters.

“It had its first premiere at Selah Dinner Theatre (in Struthers) and we’re excited to bring it to the Moyer Room to have its next iteration with a little more staging, and he’s continued to refine the piece,” Boye said.

It will open April 22. A director hasn’t been chosen yet.

The Playhouse also will bring back in July its Youth Valley Players Showcase, an original revue of scenes and songs created and performed by area high school students.

The Playhouse’s Youth Theatre program depends on daytime performances for area school children to help offset the production costs. With many schools discontinuing those trips due to lingering COVID-19 issues, the showcase allows the Playhouse to provide opportunities for students without the financial risks of a large-scale production, Boye said.

Last year’s showcase had one performance at the Playhouse and one at Youngstown State University’s Summer Festival of the Arts. Boye said they hope to do the same thing this year.

Only single tickets will be sold for the current slate of shows. However, those who have unused tickets on flex passes purchased for the fall 2021 slate will be allowed to use them for the 2022 shows.

In the past, Youngstown Playhouse has announced a season that ran from August / September until May / June. Boye said they plan to announce a 2022-23 season in the spring that follows that traditional model.

Youngstown Playhouse

spring 2022 season

• Feb. 18-27 — “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall (Moyer Room)

• April 22-May1 — “People Along the Way” by Terry Shears (Moyer Room)

• May 27-June 5 — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz and Peter Parnell and based on the Victor Hugo novel (Main Stage)

• July 16-17 — Youth Valley Players Showcase (Main Stage)