Hopewell Theatre in Youngstown will stage Robert Harling's "Steel Magnolias" in October as part of its 2022-23 season. The cast features, seated from left, Maria Petrella-Ackley and Pat Foltz, and standing from left, Jeanine Rees, Elise Vargo, Emelia Sherin and Stephanie Cambro. (Submitted photo)

The last couple of years certainly have tested the old theater adage, “The show must go on.”

For several months, the state responded, “No it can’t,” at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some did shows online, Easy Street Productions moved its “Miracle on Easy Street” holiday show to television, and Trumbull New Theatre moved to a bigger space (Warren’s Robins Theatre) in order to produce shows under reduced capacity guidelines.

Some productions have been derailed by COVID-19 outbreaks in the cast, and some theaters have discovered that all audience members aren’t ready to return to crowded theaters even if restrictions and mask mandates have been lifted.

But that’s a national problem. The New York Times did a story this week about how many of Broadway’s biggest shows, the ones that were sold out months in advance pre-pandemic, are struggling to fill all of their seats today.

There are signs that local audiences are ready to return — at least for the right show. Both TNT and Millennial Theatre Company sold out their runs this summer for “Grease.” And with more than 10 college and community theaters mounting seasons in the area, they need all of the theatergoers they can get.

Here’s what area theater companies have planned for the coming year. Some have announced shows into the summer of 2023; others still are firming up plans for the rest of 2022.

As always, schedules are subject to change. This list was supposed to be accompanied by a preview of the drama “Steel Magnolias,” which was scheduled to open Friday at Hopewell Theatre. At least the “C” word that pushed back its debut until Oct. 28 wasn’t COVID-19. Construction delays on the installation of a handicap-accessible ramp forced the postponement.

Easy Street Productions

Dec. 16 to 18 — The holiday musical revue “Miracle on Easy Street”

After two years on television, “Miracle” returns to a live production with more than 100 singers, dancers and Little Rascals at Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Tickets will go on sale 10 a.m. Sept. 6 at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office, online at deyorpac.org and by calling 330-259-9651.

In addition to the public performances, school shows are scheduled at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 and 15. For information about reserving seats for a school performance, email easy streetproductionsytown@gmail.com.

Additional plans for the 2022-23 season will be announced at a later date.

HOPEWELL THEATRE

Oct. 28 — The drama “Steel Magnolias”

Dec. 9 — The holiday production “Child of Glory: A Gospel Nativity”

April 22, 2023 — The comedy “Becky’s New Car”

May 26, 2023 — The musical play “Crowns”

All shows except for the two co-presentations are scheduled for two-weekend runs at Hopewell Theatre, 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. For more information, go to hopewelltheatre.org or call 330-746-5455.

Kent State University at

Trumbull Theatre

Oct. 21 — The comedy “The Impracticality of Modern Day Mastodons”

March 3, 2023 — The comic melodrama “Die Mommie Die!”

April 21 — Young Playwrights Festival

Each production runs for two weekends at Kent State University at Trumbull, 4314 Mahoning Ave. NW, Champion. The Young Playwrights Festival will feature one-act plays written by area high school juniors and seniors.

For more information, email ekildow@kent.edu.

Millennial Theatre Company

Sept. 30 — The musical “Into the Woods” at Hopewell Theatre

Nov. 5 to 7 — The interactive musical “The Rocky Horror Show” at B&O Station

Jan. 13, 2023 — The musical “Avenue Q” at Hopewell Theatre

July 28, 2023 (tentative opening date) — The musical “SpongeBob SquarePants” at Youngstown Playhouse

Millennial Theatre Company will use three venues for its 2022-23 season, which technically started last month with “Grease” at the Playhouse. All shows except for “Rocky Horror” will run for two weekends. Tickets for MTC productions and more information are available at www.millennialtheatre.org.

RUST BELT THEATER COMPANY

Oct. 21 — The musical comedy “Serial Monogamy”

Dec. 2 — The musical comedy “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas”

Rust Belt Theater Company founder Robert Dennick Joki said other original productions are planned at its current home at Club Switch, 221 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, but these are the only two with confirmed dates. “Serial Monogamy” will run for two weeks and the holiday favorite is set for a three weekend run.

Tickets for Rust Belt shows are available through Eventbrite and by calling 330-507-2358.

SELAH DESSERT THEATER

Oct. 27 — The play with music “Spoon River Anthology”

March 2, 2023 — The comedy “Fully Committed”

May 11, 2023 — The musical “Thrill Me”

Selah Dessert Theater is changing its usual format for the upcoming season. It will only do three shows, but each show will run three weekends instead of two in the theater space above Selah Restaurant, 130 S. Bridge St., Struthers. Season tickets are not offered, but tickets for each performance will be available closer to the opening date at www.selahrestaurant.com/theater-events.

STAGE LEFT PLAYERS

Sept. 24 — The comedy “The Red Velvet Cake Wars”

Nov. 18 to 20 — The original Musical “Eureka! Let’s Hear It for Kids with Brains!”

Dec. 2 — The original musical “A Star Trek Christmas”

Jan. 13, 2023 — The musical “Willy Wonka Jr.”

March 17, 2023 — The comedy “At This Evening’s Performance”

April 21 to 23, 2023 — The original musical “The Prince’s Diaries”

June 16, 2023 — The musical “Big Fish”

All productions are staged at Trinity Playhouse, 234 E. Lincoln Way, Lisbon. “The Red Velvet Cake Wars” runs for three weekends. Other shows run for two weekends.

Pick seven flex passes are available for $75 for adults and $60 for students and senior citizens. Pick five flex passes are $55 for adults and $45 for students and senior citizens. Flex passes for the three youth theater productions are $30 adults and $25 students and senior citizens. Tickets are available online at stageleftplayers.org.

TOP HAT PRODUCTIONS

Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 — The musical “Kinky Boots”

Dec. 2 to 3 — The holiday show “Nativity”

Top Hat Productions stages its shows at Fairview Arts and Outreach Center, 4220 Youngstown Poland Road, Youngstown. The comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” also is listed on the website, but Director Brian Palumbo said “Kinky Boots” and “Nativity” are the only shows with confirmed dates at this time. For tickets or more information, go to www.tophatproductions.org or call 330-881-0980.

TRUMBULL NEW THEATRE

Sept. 10 — The comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong”

Nov. 4 — The comedy “Inlaws, Outlaws & Other People (That Should Be Shot)”

Jan. 13, 2023 — The drama “The Laramie Project”

March 13, 2023 — The musical “Disaster!”

May 5, 2023 — The comedy “Plaza Suite”

Each show runs for three weekends (7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees the second and third weekends) at Trumbull New Theatre, 5883 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles.

Season tickets good for admission to all five productions are $84 for a premium subscription (ability to pick performances and seat location at the time of purchase) and $80 for regular season passes (ability to pick performance and seat location one week before box office opens to general public for each show). www.trumbullnewtheatre.com.

YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE

Sept. 23 — The musical “Sister Act”

Oct. 27 to 30 — Playhouse Youth Theatre production of “Excalibur High”

Nov. 11 — The drama “The Day They Shot John Lennon” (Moyer Room)

Dec. 9 — The comedy “A Tuna Christmas”

Feb. 23, 2023 — The drama “Outside Mullingar” (Moyer Room)

April 14, 2023 – The play “Pass Over” (Moyer Room)

May 19 – 21 — Playhouse Youth Theatre production of the musical “Newsies Jr.”

June 16, 2023 — The comedy “The 39 Steps”

All performances are scheduled on the main stage at the Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane, unless specified otherwise. All productions except for Playhouse Youth Theatre shows run for two weekends.

Instead of charging the same price for all seats for mainstage productions, prices now will vary depending upon seat location. Tier 1 (seats in the first seven rows) will be $27 per show and $78 for a flex pass (good for four tickets in any combination). Tier 2 (rear orchestra, rows 8 to 12) are $22 per show or $63 per flex pass. Rear orchestra seats (the last six rows) are $17 per show and $48 per flex pass.

All ADA-accessible seating is $17, and all seats for Moyer Room shows are $17.

Flex passes are $78 for Tier 1, $63 for Tier 2 and $48 for Tier 3. Prices do not include a $3 fee per ticket or flex pass and a $2 fee per exchange. Individual tickets will go on sale six weeks before each production opens.

Flex passes are available online at youngstownplayhouse.org, by calling the Playhouse box office at 330-788-8739 between 10 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays and in person at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY

Sept. 30 — The comedy “The Revolutionists”

Nov. 13 — The musical “Godspell”

Feb. 16, 2023 — The musical “The Last Five Years”

March 31, 2023 — Lewis Galantiere’s adaptation of the Greek tragedy “Antigone”

All performances are at YSU’s Bliss Hall. Season subscriptions for adults are $50 (a discount over the single ticket purchase price of $64) and are available online at www.ysu.edu/theatertickets. Discounts also are available for YSU alumni, Penguin Club and Regional Chamber members; YSU faculty, staff and retirees; and non-YSU students.

University Theatre performances are free for YSU students.