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Tearful Bowen Yang departs ‘SNL’ after Christmas episode

NEW YORK (AP) — Bowen Yang bid an emotional farewell to “Saturday Night Live” with music, laughter and help from his “Wicked” buddy Ariana Grande. Yang starred in the night’s final sketch, playing a retiring airport lounge worker working his final shift on Christmas Eve, serving eggnog to travelers. He sang “Please Come Home for Christmas” and was joined by Grande, the night’s host, and Cher, its musical guest. The women joined Yang in song and hugged him. The sketch gave Yang a chance to say goodbye to some castmates — he delightfully sprayed Kenan Thompson with ...

Easy Street preps the next generation of ‘Miracle’ makers

Sports teams regularly promote players from the minor leagues or bring in new draft picks to play alongside the veterans. The same goes for long-running events like Easy Street Productions’ “Miracle on Easy Street,” which celebrates its 36th year with three public performances this weekend at Powers Auditorium. “We’re kind of calling this a year of rebuilding,” Easy Street co-founder Maureen Collins said. “We’re just starting to bring up a lot of young people from the (Little) Rascals’ side and the dancers’ side.” James McClellan, one of the regular featured ...

Ochsner comes to his new ‘Home’ for the holidays

Expect some audience participation when the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra plays its “Home for the Holidays” concert on Monday at Stambaugh Auditorium. “We don’t have a chorus yet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra,” said Music Director and Conductor Erik Ochsner. “We’re figuring out ways how we could involve that. But I said, ‘Well, let’s just have the whole audience sing. So we’re inviting everybody to stand up and sing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus (from George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah’). We’re even going to be passing out music notes for people who ...

McCartney song not so wonderful

Editor’s note: I wrote this column a dozen years ago. My opinion hasn’t changed — AT ALL — about the topic, but I did make a few updates. My answer to the personality-defining question, “Beatles or Rolling Stones?” always will be The Beatles. While I’m partial to John Lennon (and more recently have decided that George Harrison’s contributions are underrated), I love Paul McCartney’s music too, even a lot of the Wings and solo material. I think he generally gets a bad rap artistically compared to his bandmate because society tends to elevate the dead and tear down ...

Mahoning Valley arts and entertainment

Art ARTS & EDUCATION AT THE HOYT, 124 E. Leasure Ave., New Castle, Pa.: “Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e,” through Jan. 29, 2026. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. hoytartcenter.org and 724-652-2882. BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown: “Robert Rauschenberg: A Centenary Tribute,” through Jan. 4, 2026. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. www.butlerart.com and 330-743-1107. MEDICI MUSEUM OF ART, 9350 E. Market St., Howland: “ZODIAC: ...

Ticket stubs

Christ Episcopal presents fest of lessons, carols The annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols is scheduled at 6 p.m. Sunday at Christ Epsicopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NW, Warren. The event weaves together scripture readings, choral music and congregational carols to celebrate the Christmas season. The Parish Choir will be joined by the Handbell Choir and a professional chamber orchestra, with Richard Konzen at the church’s Casavant pipe organ. The concert will be conducted by James W. Shiell, the church’s director of music. Admission is free. For more information, ...