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Butler seeks 88th Midyear submissions

The Butler Institute of American Art is now accepting entries for the 88th National Midyear Exhibition which will open June 23.

Internationally acclaimed painter, sculptor and pioneer of photorealism Audrey Flack will be this year’s juror. She enjoys the distinction of being the first photorealist painter whose work was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art for its permanent collection.

Entries and fees are due April 11. All information relating to this exhibition can be found online at butlerart.com.

Center plans Harry Potter trivia night

A Harry Potter trivia night is planned at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Collingwood Center, 633 Porter Ave., Campbell, to raise money and awareness for the BC Educational Center.

BC is in the process of developing educational programs primarily focused on pre-apprenticeships for the trades and workforce development. It also will offer DIY workshops and arts programming at Collingwood.

Tickets are $15 and include a dessert / candy bar. Themed beverages and food will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased in advance at collingwoodcenter.com or at the door on Saturday.

St. Columba presents organ concert

Organist Ralph Holtzhauser will perform at 6:30 p.m. Friday at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown, as part of its organ recital series.

Holtzhauser has been the cathedral’s music director and organist since 2022. He earned his master’s degree from Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with organist Todd Wilson. In his playing career, he’s ventured into jazz and progressive rock and is currently working on a CD of African-American organ music.

Admission is free, but donations will be collected to support the cathedral’s music programs.

Stambaugh hosts YSU invitational concert

Dana School of Music will have its annual Youngstown State University Band Invitational tonight at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.

The Bay High School Symphonic Band, directed by YSU alum Darren Allen, and the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Wind Ensemble, led by Steve Cocchiola, will get to rehearse with guest clinician Benjamin Rochford, associate director of bands at Ithaca College, and share the stage the YSU Percussion Ensemble and Wind Ensemble.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are $5 for adults, $4 for students and senior citizens and free for children and are available online at experienceyourarts.org and by calling 330-259-9651.

Warren Library hosts ‘Freedom to Read’

The program “Freedom to Read: Uncensored Accounts of the Black Experience” is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, 444 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren.

Youngstown State University professor Dolores V. Sisco will discuss some of the books that illuminate the Black experience in America, and how these books tie into what is going on currently with book bans at public libraries.

Admission is free. For more information, go to wtcpl.org or call 330-399-8807.

Playhouse sets ‘Flight Path’ auditions

Auditions are scheduled March 10 and 11 for “Here on the Flight Path,” which will be staged at Youngstown Playhouse’s Moyer Room in May.

Norm Foster’s comedy focuses on a man whose quiet life is interrupted by the women who move into the adjoining apartment. Cast requirements are one man ages 30 or older and three women ages 25 or older. Those auditioning should be prepared to read from the script.

Ben Gavitt is the director. Auditions are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. each day. For more information, go to youngstownplayhouse.org/auditions.

Kent-Trumbull production seeks 2 actors

Kent State University at Trumbull Theatre will have auditions from 7 to 9 p.m. March 3 and 4 for its production of Lauren Gunderson’s “I and You.”

The play about two very different high school students — one ill and homebound, the other athletic and popular –working together on a poetry assignment has flexible casting. Both roles are open to all ethnicities and gender identities. According to the playwright’s instructions, “The only essentiality is that the characters not be the same race.”

Actors need to be able to play high-school ages characters and be prepared to do a cold reading from the script. Email director Eric Kildow at ekildow@kent.edu with any questions.

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YSU hosts ‘Till’ screening and Q&A

Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past and Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business will present a screening of the movie “Till,” followed by a Q&A with the film’s co-producer and co-writer.

The 2022 film chronicles the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till, and his mother’s battle for justice. Keith Beauchamp co-wrote the film and served as a researcher on the project. He previously directed the documentary “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till.”

The movie will be shown at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Williamson auditorium. Admission is free, but tickets are required and can be requested by calling 330-207-4467. Parking will be provided at Rayen Early College High School, 20 W. Wood St., Youngstown.

Improv troupe coming to Playhouse

Tickets are on sale now for the touring improv troupe Scriptless in Seattle, which will perform March 16 at Youngstown Playhouse.

Scriptless is an interactive comedy show with no script. Each line, song lyric, movement and gesture is created on the fly based entirely on the directions by audience members.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show range from $17 to $27 and are available online at experienceyourarts.org.

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Polka Pals plan Paczki Dance

The Penn-Ohio Polka Pals will have its annual Paczki Dance from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at DiLucia’s Banquet Center, 2610 Elm Road NE, Warren.

The dance will feature music by the Rex Taneri Orchestra and the Wayne Tomsic Combo. There will be food available and a cash bar.

Admission is $10 at the door.

Make a ‘Date’ for TNT auditions

Auditions are scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18 and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19 for the musical “First Date” at Trumbull New Theatre, 5883 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles.

Cast requirements are four men and three women ages 20 to 70. Those auditioning should prepare 32 bars of a song from the rock, pop or musical genres. No accompanist will be present. A Bluetooth speaker will be available for use with phones.

Rehearsals will start March 11, and “First Date” will open May 3 for a three-weekend run. For more information, email director Josh Crank at jccrank89@gmail.com.

McGuffey program features mob talk

The culture and impact of the Mahoning Valley Mafia is the focus of the next William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society’s Memories of a Lifetime program.

Speaker James Naples is the grandson of James Naples Sr. and great-nephew of Youngstown crime figures Sandy, Billy and Joey Naples. He is co-creator and co-host of the Youngstown Mob Talk podcast and founder of the Youngstown Mob and Pittsburgh Mob social media groups.

The program starts at 10 a.m. Feb. 17 in the meeting room at Denny’s, 4020 Belmont Ave., Liberty. Admission is $10 for McGuffey members and $15 for nonmembers. For reservations or more information, call 330-726-8277.

Entries sought for art contest

Gateways to Better Living Inc. is sponsoring a Stomp Out the Stereotype art contest in conjunction with Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March.

Artists are invited to create original artwork on the soles of shoes that illustrates the theme and submit photos of their completed works by March 15. A panel of judges will pick the winner, who will receive a $100 gift card. There also will be runner-up and honorable mention prizes of $50 and $25, respectively.

Complete rules and details are available online at www.gatewaystbl.com. For more information, call 330-792-2854, ext. 238.

Sharon group hosts vampire program

Tickets are on sale now for the Sharon Historical Society’s “Love at First Bite: Vampires and Craft Beer” event.

Former professor Ronald Brooks and physician Gregory George of the Warren Historical Players will give the story behind the story of vampires through myths, superstitions, legend and reality with authoritative historical research.

It’s scheduled at 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at Croaker’s Brewing Company, 74 N. Sharpsville Ave., Sharon, Pa. Tickets are $20 and include one alcoholic or two nonalcoholic beverages. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at sharonhistoricalsociety.com.

AAC gallery show explores ‘Universes’

Ashtabula Arts Center gallery will display the work of Gregory Alan Johnson in February.

“Several Universes: Explorations of the Inner” features drawings and mixed media works by Johnson, a Brook Park native and Ohio Arts League member whose work has been shown in several Columbus galleries and at Stella Art Gallery in Willoughby.

A reception is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at the gallery, 2928 W. 13th St., Ashtabula, and the exhibition runs through Feb. 29. For more information, go to ashtabulaartscenter.org.

‘Love Letters’ sent to New Castle stage

Two different casts will stage “Love Letters” on the Annex stage at New Castle Playhouse.

A.R. Gurney’s play, directed by Michael Cavalier, chronicles the relationship between Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III through the letters they exchange over five decades. This weekend the roles will be played by Amy Warner and Robert S. Hazen. Lynn Rafferty and Phillip L. Clark Jr. will play the characters the second weekend.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Feb. 15, 16 and 17 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 18 at the playhouse, 212 E. Long Ave., New Castle, Pa. Tickets are $16 and are available online at newcastleplayhouse.org and by calling 724-654-3437.

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Sips & Scripts series features ‘Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas’

Kent State University at Trumbull Theater presents a reader’s theater version of the new play “Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Darlene Lounge, 145 W. Market St., Warren, as part of its Sips & Scripts series.

Brian Westerley’s play focuses on three explorers traversing an endless and cyclical path while grappling with the forgotten purpose of their journey and the traumas of their individual pasts. It’s described as a darkly comedic odyssey through memory, trauma, religion and the ceaseless search for meaning in a world that eludes understanding. Admission is free.

Warren library will present touring black history show on Tuesday

Bright Star Touring Theatre will present “Empowered, Brilliant and Brave: Great Women of Black History” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, 444 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren. The audience will be introduced to some of black history’s most inspiring women from abolitionist Harriet Tubman to mathematician Dorothy Vaughan to singer Ella Fitzgerald.

The program is suitable for children and adults of all ages. Admission is free. For more information go to www.wtcpl.org or call 330-399-8807.

Davis Family YMCA plans final FIVE Squared art show and sale

The FIVE Squared Finale art show and sale opens Sunday at Davis Family YMCA, 45 McClurg Road, Boardman. About 150 artists donated 350 creations, all measuring 5 inches by 5 inches and those attending the reception from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday will have the opportunity to purchase the works, without knowing who created each piece.

The show will run through Feb. 25, and proceeds benefit arts programming at the YMCA. This is the 10th and final year for the event. For more information, go to ymcayo.org/arts-humanities or call 330-480-5656.

Journalist / writer booked for First Wednesday reading at Trophy Room

Journalist and creative nonfiction writer Eric Sandy will be featured at Lit Youngstown’s First Wednesday Reader Series event at Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown.

Sandy is a graduate of the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts Program and writes stories about local people, businesses and events.

It starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Trophy Room, which is accessible only by stairs, and it will be followed by an open mic hosted by Samantha Ensminger. Admission is free. For more information, go to lityoungstown.org.

JCC gallery celebrates ‘Abilities’ with show planned in Youngstown

“A Celebration of Abilities” is on display at the Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art Gallery at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown.

In honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month, the gallery is working in collaboration with Fairhaven Foundation for the display, an exhibition showcasing artwork from local artists served through Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Fairhaven Foundation.

The work will be on display through Feb. 29, and a meet-the-artists reception is planned from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Press Club presents program on jailed journalist Evan Gershkovich

Tickets are on sale now for #IStandWithEvan at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at DeYor Performing Arts Center’s Ford Family Recital Hall, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown.

The guest speaker will be Wall Street Journal assistant editor Paul Beckett, who is in charge of the efforts to free Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been detained in Russia since March 29, 2023. Accused of spying by the Russian government, Gershkovich was only doing his job as a journalist, according to the newspaper. Beckett will talk about Gershkovich and what is being done to secure his release.

To support journalists’ rights, the Youngstown Press Club will make a donation to the Committee to Protect Journalists. A reception with refreshments and a cash bar will follow the event.

Tickets are $30 and are available online at experienceyourarts.org, the DeYor box office and by calling 330-259-9641.

Starting at $3.23/week.

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