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First Wednesday reading puts poets in spotlight

Two poets will be the featured readers for Lit Youngstown’s next First Wednesday Reader Series event. Sean Thomas Dougherty is an Erie, Pa., poet whose books include “Death Prefers the Minor Keys” from BOA Editions, and “The Dead are Everywhere Telling Us Things,” winner of the 2021 Jacar Books Prize. His book “The Second O of Sorrow” won the Housatonic Book Award and was cowinner of the Paterson Poetry Prize. Ben Gulyas lives in South Euclid and tries to translate his poetry into something useful like seeds, birds and moon atlases. Sometimes it happens — birds ...

First Wednesday reading puts poets in spotlight

Staff report Two poets will be the featured readers for Lit Youngstown’s next First Wednesday Reader Series event. Sean Thomas Dougherty is an Erie, Pa., poet whose books include “Death Prefers the Minor Keys” from BOA Editions, and “The Dead are Everywhere Telling Us Things,” winner of the 2021 Jacar Books Prize. His book “The Second O of Sorrow” won the Housatonic Book Award and was cowinner of the Paterson Poetry Prize. Ben Gulyas lives in South Euclid and tries to translate his poetry into something useful like seeds, birds and moon atlases. Sometimes it happens ...

Federal Frenzy announces 2026 lineup

It took six years, but rapper Armani White finally is playing Youngstown. White, whose song “Billie Eilish” has been streamed nearly a half billion times on Spotify, will be the headliner for this year’s Federal Frenzy, presented by Youngstown State University’s Penguin Productions. White will be one of more than 20 acts performing on two outdoor and three indoor stages on or near West Federal Street on April 18. Carolyn Jesko, assistant director of student activities at YSU, said White was booked to play a Penguin Productions’ event scheduled at Westside Bowl in March 2020. ...

Kansas to perform at Robins Theatre in July; tickets on sale Friday

Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday for Kansas, which will play the Robins Theatre at 7:30 p.m. July 11. Kansas has sold more than 30 million albums and is known for such radio hits as “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind” and “Point of No Return.” The current lineup includes original members Phil Ehart, drums, and Rich Williams, guitar.

Labra Brothers bring new songs for 330 Day Concert

The Labra Brothers band is ready to make its “Move.” The Youngstown group will use its slot headlining this year’s The Summit FM’s 330 Day Concert to preview music from its upcoming album. Adrian Labra said the self-titled album is completed, but before it’s available, the band plans to release several singles, starting with “The Move” in April. It was made at Court Street Recording in Canfield. “We've got a nine-song album we're sitting on right now,” Labra said. “We spent most of 2025 working on it … We consider this just an awesome opportunity, anytime ...

Playhouse Downtown’s ‘Lyons’ has bite

YOUNGSTOWN — I have many fond memories of watching quality productions in the third-floor performance space of the Morley Arts Building. Add one more to the list. The former home of the Oakland Center for the Arts reopened Friday as The Playhouse Downtown, a satellite of the Youngstown Playhouse. New lights and sound and other tweaks have been made to the theater itself. Renovations in the lobby and other areas still need to be done. The Playhouse Downtown still may be a work in progress, but its production of “The Lyons” is a fully formed gem. Nicky Silver’s play ...