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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 ...

Community theater has a new place to play downtown

YOUNGSTOWN — A new chapter for the Youngstown Playhouse and the Morley Arts Building begins Friday with the opening of The Playhouse Downtown. The dramatic comedy “The Lyons” will be staged in the 140-seat performance space on the third floor of the building, where Ballet Western ...

‘The Lyons’ will roar at new Playhouse venue

Connor Bezeredi only needed to read the synopsis before he agreed to direct Youngstown Playhouse’s production of “The Lyons.” Once he got the script, he knew he made the right choice. “It is telling a story about a family that really has no desire to make anything overly sweet or ...

Sean Jones impresses with his horn and his words

Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment: • Sean Jones delivered a spectacular homecoming Sunday, performing with the W.D. Packard Concert Band at Packard Music Hall. The acclaimed musician and educator, a Warren native and Warren G. Harding High School and Dana School of Music ...

YSU hosting Percussion Invitational on Saturday

The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University will host the first YSU Percussion Invitational on Saturday. It brings together college and high school percussion ensembles and soloists from across the region for an afternoon of performances. Participating groups include ensembles from Youngstown State University, Baldwin Wallace University, Kent State University, the University of Akron and Slippery Rock University. Among the featured percussion ensembles performing in the afternoon program are Lakeview High School, directed by Tyler Husosky; Canfield High School, directed ...

Stambaugh business officer selected for CreativeOhio program

Dani Dier, chief business officer of the Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association, has been selected as a member of the 2026 Cohort of the CreativeOhio Advocacy Leadership Institute. The program is aimed at empowering Ohio’s arts and culture leaders with the skills and strategies needed to advocate for a stronger creative sector. Dier is one of 25 leaders chosen through a competitive application process, representing 13 cities across Ohio. The six-month immersive program includes workshops, site visits to cultural hubs and in-depth policy discussions with lawmakers and advocacy ...