OaklandCenter

I Am My Own Wife March 4-12

2011-02-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

The Oakland is so excited about our next upcoming production. I Am My Own Wife is Doug Wright's 2004 drama based on the true life experiences of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a transvestite who survived under the strict regimes of first Nazi Germany and then Soviet Berlin. The play is based on Wright's interviews with von Mahlsdorf and is written as a one-man show - which means that one person portrays over 35 characters in 2 hours.

Who else could bring this show to the Oakland stage but the incomparable James McClellan? Under the direction of Michael Dempsey (known for his productions of Curtains and Hamlet at the Playhouse; Into the Woods at Salem), McClellan has been working on the script since last summer, learning German on his own ti

me.

This is definitely a show you'll be talking about for years to come - so do NOT miss it! Make your reservations early by calling 330-746-0404. As always, tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and $12 for seniors 55 and up.

Star Gallery artist will be Becka Zastany (that's one of her pieces, above), who recently moved to the area from Chicago. If you frequent the Lemon Grove, you'll recognize her as a friendly face behind the bar. She's also been involved with the Lemon Grove's art projects, and we are super excited for the work she's creating specifically in response to this play for our space!

Please note: we are still looking for antique furniture and set pieces. They need to be high quality/in good condition. If you have any pieces you think would work, let us know. We'l arrange pick up and return, offer complimentary tickets to the performance of your choice and list you in the program!

The Zou's FREE Thank You Show plus ART!!

2011-02-16T08:52:00.001-08:00

For all the help, love, and support all of our friends have show us lately, in partnership with the Oakland Center for the Arts, we'd like to offer this free amazing concert. This is one of the most solid lineups we've ever been a part of. "Triggers" from Anomally Records and "Poison Control Center" from Afternoon/Warner Bros. Records will join us in this CELEBRATION OF YOU!!! Full concessions and beer will be available.

10pm Triggers
www.triggersmusic.com/

11pm The Zou
www.thezouhasawebsite.com

12am Poison Control Center
http://thepoisoncontrolcenter.bandcamp.com/

PLUS!!! The amazing art work of the Lonesome No More crew will still be on display throughout the building, in case you missed the opening night party last Friday!

The show features some of Cleveland’s top emerging artists including CHOD, Ron Copeland, Adam Dumont, Shaun Edwards, Steven Ehret, Jonah Jacobs, MCXIII, Michelle Marie Murphy, Bob Peck, Scott Phillps, Scott Pickering, Joshua Rex, Greg Ruffing, Andrew Shondrick, and The Sign Guy. Joining the exhibition are Youngstown artists Chris Yambar, James Pernotto and Terrence Michael Fetchet.

Click HERE to see the photos from the party. Thanks to Jack Hughes for working his magic!

AUDITIONS CANCELLED

2011-02-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

Auditions for "Fat Pig" by Neil LaBute have been cancelled for the originally scheduled dates (2/1-2/2 at 6 pm).

Those interested in auditioning: auditions have been rescheduled for Monday 2/7 and Tuesday 2/8 from 6-8 pm both nights.

If you're interested, here's some info about the show:

The Oakland is seeking 4 actors to complete the cast of Neil LaBute's "Fat Pig," which will be directed by Christopher Fidram. Auditions will be held in the Star Gallery from 6:00-8:00 pm on February 7 and 8, 2011. Come prepared to read from the script. 2 men and 2 women in their 20s-30s.

Roles are:
Tom- The plot's protagonist. Late 20s to early 30s, he is a stereotypical man for his age group, until he meets and subsequently falls in love with...

Helen- A quite heavy, though self-confident librarian. She becomes Tom's love interest

Carter- Tom's closest male friend at the office. Carter represents the narcissistic and shallow qualities that Tom is trying to overcome.

Jeannie- Another co-worker at Tom's unnamed office firm. She and Tom used to date, but Tom was never fully committed to the relationship.

A bit about the show:
it's a dark comedy/drama about what happens when an "average" guy falls for a large lady - how his friends react, how he reacts, how she reacts - and what happens when an ultimatum is presented.

Fun facts:
when the show debuted off-Broadway in 2004, it featured Andrew mcCarthy, Jeremy Piven, and Kerri Russle. As it makes its way to Broadway this Spring, it will feature Dane Cook and Julia Stiles. Hmmm....

Death Defying Acts OPENING NIGHT!!

2011-01-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight's the night! We kick off 5 performances of Death Defying Acts (1/28, 1/29, 2/3, 2/4, and 2/5 at 8 pm) with a big ol' bang tonight!!

Join Star Gallery artist Eric Alleman from 6-8 pm for his reception, catered by the Lemon Grove Cafe (where you've likely seen his work before! That Bob Hagan t-shirt? His design!).

The show starts at 8 pm. Tickets are $10, $12, or $15 . We have a special "guess the play" contest going on - anyone who can correctly identify the title of the play of a featured photo will get $3 off their ticket. Bonus: Anyone who guesses the full cast correctly will be entered into a drawing for complimentary tickets to our next show (I Am My Own Wife March 4-16).

For the price of one ticket, you'll be treated to 3 very funny, short shows - great for those of us with the attention span of a pea!

Denise Glinatsis Bayer of Canfield will make her directorial debut at the Oakland with Mamet’s “An Interview,” which is an oblique, mystifying interrogation in which a sleazy lawyer is forced to answer difficult questions and to admit the truth about his life and career. The why and where provide a surprise ending to this brilliant twenty minute comedy. Glinatsis Bayer and Shaun Lipe of Cleveland are featured.

Tom Smith of Austintown directs “Hotline” and “Central Park West.” In “Hotline,” a neurotic woman with enough urban angst to fill a neighborhood calls a suicide crisis hotline late one night. The counselor who gets the call is overwhelmed - it is his first night on the job. This dark and desperate, wildly funny forty-minute piece ends Act 1 and features David Romeo, Meysha Harville, Molly Makselan, Joyce A. Jones, and Katie Seminara.

Allen’s “Central Park West” closes the evening’s performances. Featuring Margie Johnson, Jennifer Milligan, Jacob Harver, Jaye Mills, and Alaina Gilchrist, the play focuses on what happens when a well-to-do psychiatrist discovers that her best friend is having an affair with her husband. Gerri Jenkins-Sullivan will stage manage.

Eric Alleman, whose work is available for viewing or purchase at the Lemon Grove Café, will be the featured Star Gallery Artist. An opening night reception catered by the Lemon Grove will be held from 6-8 pm on Friday, January 28. A reception honoring the cast and crew will follow that evening’s performance.

On Thursday, February 3, all tickets will be only $5. For all other performances, tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students.

Reservations can be made by calling 330.746.0404. Walk-ins are also welcome. The Oakland accepts cash or checks only.

Celebrate our 25th Season Announcement with Us!!

2011-01-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: The Lemon Grove will have UNBELIEVABLE drink specials from 5:30-6:30 pm: 25 cent (yes, cent!) PBR and $2.50 special drink The Oakland!!! So stop by after work for the cheapest drinks in town and a great season line up!!

Please join the Oakland Center for the Arts Board of Trustees as we announce our 25th Season on Tuesday, January 25, from 5:30-6:30 pm.

It's hard to believe it's been 25 years for the OCA - the "little theater that could." Over the years, we have survived many ups and downs only through the help of our community - our friends, patrons, donors, volunteers, board members, actors, directors, techies, and the countless others who have been part of our family all these years. We hope many of you will come join us for our celebration tomorrow night - and all year long!

We will have guest appearances from our directors, the official season announcement, Star Gallery line up information and application info for interested artists, previews of selected shows, and a custom-designed cake from Louis Gastellum.

We will also be kicking off our "25 for 25" campaign. In conjunction with our 25th season, the Oakland will be asking patrons for tax-deductible donations of only $25. The first 5 donors will receive a special thank you package including an Oakland bottle opener designed by Daniel Horne, a limited-edition t-shirt, and a flexpass for the 2011-12 Season.

The Oakland will also be giving away tickets to the upcoming performance of "Death Defying Acts" which runs January 28 through February 5.

No cover charge - no dress code - just come down and find out what Downtown Youngstown's ONLY community arts center has to offer in 2011-2012. This will also be the first Season announcement from any community theater in the Valley!

Hope to see you all there. If you have questions, please contact Oakland President Brooke Slanina at 330.718.5515.

2011 Events

2011-01-10T07:54:00.001-08:00

2011 is going to rock! Here's an abbreviated calendar of our upcoming events:

January 25: our 25th Season Announcement

January 28, 29/February 3, 4, 5(8:00 pm): Death Defying Acts - 3 one-act comedies by David Mamet ("An Interview"), Elaine May ("Hotline"), and Woody Allen ("Central Park West"), directed by Denise Glinatsis Bayer and Tom Smith with Star Gallery artist Eric Alleman.

February 11 (6:00-10:00 pm): Lonesome No More Travelling Gallery from Cleveland featuring 16 CLV artists, 3 YO artists, musiccal guests, adult beverages, and more!

February 12 (12:00-4:00 pm): Lonesome No More Travelling Gallery extended hours

March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 (8:00 pm; 2:00 3/6): I Am My Own Wife, the 2004 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Doug Wright. Starring James McClellan and directed by Michael Dempsey. This is a one-man show based on the true life story of German antiquarian Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, born Lothar Berfelde, who killed her father when she was a young boy and survived the Nazi and Communist regimes in East Berlin as a transvestite. McClellan will portray 35 distinct characters in 2 hours. Do NOT miss this show!

March 17: St. Paddy's Day Celebration at Kravitz Deli - we'll be slinging Rust Belt brew all day! Come visit us and get your fill of corned beef!

March 19: The Bridge Film Project with Dekorda Jackson and Stuck in Ohio Films. Featuring live music, world premiere of a film documenting skateboarding in Youngstown, photo booth, art, and more!

March 20 (11am-4pm): Jack Hughes Photo Shoot

March 26: Building Art Fundraiser for the Oakland Center for the Arts and Ballet Western Reserve - featuring live music, dance performances, previews of "Fat Pig," art, food, drinks, and more!

April 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 (8:00 pm): Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by Christopher Fidram. Our production will debut in Youngstown at the same time Dane Cook and Julia Stiles step into their starring roles in the new Broadway production. LaBute's twisted love story about what happens when a regular guy falls for a plus sized lady..

April 30: Jenny Literary Magazine Spring Issue Debut Party - Join professor/advisor Christopher Barzak and the YSU Student Literary Arts Association crew as they launch their Spring 2011 issue. Readings, food, drinks, and karaoke will be available for all - help support youngstown's newest creative organization!

May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 (8:00 pm): Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Robert Dennick Joki with book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Frank Ebb and music by John Kander. This Tony and Oscar award-winning musical weaves the tale of 2 political prisoners in Brazil who escape their dire circumstances with a fantasy world full of song, dance, passion, and - of course - the Spider Woman, who kills with one kiss.

Summer Projects: Spring Fundraiser, Second Season, 25th Anniversary Open House....

So mark your calendars now, because you won't want to miss any of the spectacular stuff we have coming up! We've been working hard to create a diverse series of events - what are we missing? What would you like to see more of? We love hearing from you, so please let us know!

Oakland, Yambar Team up to Screen Rare Film!

2010-12-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

To preface this: unlike HOW THE DRAG QUEEN STOLE CHRISTMAS, this event is NOT sold out. Also, it contains 98.3% less glitter. But, there will be residual glitter plus some fresh glitter, probably, because that's how we roll. Also, thanks to everyone who came to see the Drag Show and is probably still blowing glitter out of their noses. True Story.

Oh, and also, I can't believe how lucky we are to screen this film. It's amazingly rare, has a mysterious/creepy back story, AND we're the only Valey institution to obtain screening rights for it! PLUS have you met Chris Yambar? You should. It is transformational. All this for only 5 bucks? You'd be a foold to miss it. It's an hour of your life. Come see this, then go drinking or carolling or streaking. See you Friday!

OAKLAND CENTER TO SHOW 100-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN HORROR FILM
EDISON’S FRANKENSTEIN

Event: Centennial showing of “Edison’s Frankenstein 1910” film and lecture.
Location: The Oakland Center for the Arts; 220 W. Boardman Street; Youngstown, OH 44503.
Date: Friday, December 17, 2010.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $5.00 at the door. Limited seating.
Highlights: America’s first horror film. 100th anniversary celebration. Lecture and book signing with author Chris Yambar. Gallery showing of graphic novel art.

On Friday, December 17, 2010, The Oakland Center for the Arts will host a screening of one of the oldest and rarest films in American history, “EDISON’S FRANKENSTEIN.” The evening will also include a lecture and commentary by award-winning author and Youngstown native CHRIS YAMBAR, who will sign copies of his graphic novel adaptation of the film and allow the public to see the original art from the book on display for one night only in The Oakland’s reception gallery.

“EDISON’S FRANKENSTEIN” was produced in 1910 by inventor Thomas Edison’s film company and was the first horror film ever produced featuring Mary Shelley’s famous monster. Due to the Victorian public’s outcry against the film’s content, all copies of the cinematic first were gathered and destroyed, making it one of the most sought-after “lost treasures” of Silver Screen history. When a lone copy surfaced in the silent film collection of Alois Dettlaff during the 1960s, it became a guarded reel, one shown in its entirety to only a select few over the next 40 years. The eccentric Dettlaff never allowed the film to leave his estate and refused to have it restored.

In 2003 Yambar joined forces with illustrator Robb Bihun and examined the film frame-by-frame, noting everything that occurred. They fought the popular temptation to “gore it up” and decided to keep their adaptation as bloodless and straightforward as the original content. There were areas, however, that needed some bridging in order to have a cognitive narrative flow. This was done with thoughtfulness and respect. The result was a 40-page graphic telling of the legendary 15-minute film. To this were added 22 pages of historical overview by Frankenstein historian Frederick Wiebel, Jr.

“The graphic novel sold out within 18 months,” Yambar explains. “Since that time, Mr. Dettlaff has passed on and the whereabouts of the single print has again vanished; either it’s in hiding (he told no one where he kept it) or it went up in smoke like all silver nitrate does when it decides to leave this world. The physical film is once again lost to the ages. This summer, a single case of the ‘EDISON’S FRANKENSTEIN 1910’ first-print graphic novels surfaced in a warehouse in Cleveland. So in celebration of the film’s 100th anniversary, I have decided to bring this one-time screening and book signing to my hometown. I’m thrilled to show it in an intimate environment here at The Oakland Center for the Arts.”

Copies of the graphic novel will be on sale while supplies last. Original page art will also be available for collectors. Mr. Yambar, who may or may not be sans pants and/or engulfed in flames, will be on hand to sign whatever you want him to sign (preferably a freshly purchased copy of "Edison's Frankenstein," but he may also be willing to put his John Hancock on a crockpot, t-shirt, bare flesh, or Simpsons comic).

P.S. The Oakland will have HOT coffee, cocoa, and popcorn plus the usual concessions (Diet Coke (c), candy bars, blah blah blah).

P.P.S. Why do you guys like Diet Coke (c) so much? I can't keep it in stock!!

5th Annual HOW THE DRAG QUEEN STOLE CHRISTMAS!!

2010-12-03T02:15:00.000-08:00

It’s baaaack! The Oakland Center for the Arts will once again present its Annual Holiday Fundraiser, How The Drag Queen Stole Christmas, December 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 8:00 pm with a special “unrated” midnight performance on December 11. “The show this year is bigger and better than ever with new cast members, characters and songs,” says writer and director Robert Dennick Joki. “I like to change it every year so it’s fresh for our patrons who return year after year, but still funny for people who have never seen it before.”

The hilarious and unusual holiday show has quickly become a “must see” Holiday tradition for many people in the Valley. A mash-up of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Carol, and something out of the back of Madonna’s closet, this musical comedy tells the story of Starlet O’Hara, a cold-hearted drag queen who must change her evil ways to understand the true meaning of Christmas. After being visited by a few ghosts (including Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gaga, and Cher as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and Starina, Starlet’s deceased former conjoined twin), she awakens invigorated and vows to spread Holiday cheer wherever she goes!

This year’s cast features Robert Dennick Joki, Murad G. Shorrab, Alyssa Connelly, Molly Makselan, Jennifer Caventer, Nicole Zayas, Suzanne Shorrab, Dan Poppke, Juleah Buttermore, and Rick Morrow. Hosts for the evening are Sarah Palin (Brooke Slanina) and President George W. Bush (Ryan Clausen). Costumes, music, and sound design are by Joki with Kim Nevel as stage manager.

All tickets are $15 and include a pre-show wine and cheese reception at 7:00 nightly. Wine and beer will be served. The Oakland will once again host its infamous Faaaabulous Chinese Auction, featuring an original blouse from Youngstown native Nanette Lepore as well as many other items from local businesses. Local photographer Mark Stahl’s work will be on display in the Star Gallery.

Be sure to visit the Oakland Boutique for great holiday deals on two new t-shirt designs from Jeremy Lockard and Robert Dennick Joki, DVDs from the 2009 performance of How The Drag Queen Stole Christmas, and Oakland Season Flexpasses.

To make reservations, call 330-746-0404. Due to high ticket demand, reservations are encouraged. The Oakland is located at 220 W. Boardman St. in downtown Youngstown. Free parking surrounds the building. For details and exclusive photos and sneak peeks, visit oaklandcenter.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter!

We R Just Men Sponsors!

2010-11-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

Tonight! WE R JUST MEN, Harold Davis' ZANY original musical comedy, returns to the Oakland as a joint fundraiser for us and THE RUST BELT THEATER COMPANY! Tickets still available but selling fast for shows at 7:30 tonight (11/26) AND tomorrow (11/27) - only $15 or $12 for seniors over 65 and students with valid ID. We'll have CHEAP BEER SALES (PBR, LaBatt Blue Light, and Pinto Grigio or Merlot for the classy drinkers) and an awesome display of Bob Dylan memorbilia (see Harold Davis to inquire about purchasing).

Tonight we'll also be selling these amazing t-shirts designed by Jeremy Lockard and printed by Kerri Rickard of Pat-T-Shirts. At only $10 a pop, you won't wanna miss out on the limited run of these ts! If pin up usherettes aren't your style - fear not! Ms. Kerri will be printing t-shirts with Robert Dennick Joki's awesome new design for HOW THE DRAG QUEEN STOLE CHRISTMAS. Shirts will be available in black and hot pink in both women's and men's sizes. Pre-order yours tonight or tomorrow!

Thanks to all our wonderful sponsors for We R Just Men's "Give Us A Break" campaign:

FULL BODY CAST ($250)
Phantom Fireworks / Phantom Hockey
H.D. DAVIS Associates, Inc. / J Newman Levy, CPA’s

BREAK AN ARM & LEG ($100)
Attorney Curt Bogen
Dr. Jeffrey Hirschl, O.D.
Edward’s Florist
Eerdmans Publishing Co. – Grand Rapids, MI
James and Sons Insurance Company
Kravitz Deli
Mirkin & Associates dba Comfort Keepers
MVI HomeCare and Hospice
National Survey Research Center
Niles Iron & Metal Co., LLC
Redstone Investments
Sam D. Roth
SDS National, LLC
S.E.T., Inc.
The Church Agency
W3 Wealth Management

BREAK A LEG ($50)
Dart Metals
Dr. David Waldman
HV Contractors
Joe Koch Construction
Michael Anderson
Paul Newman
Redlich Transmissions
Sherman Creative Promotions
Yurchyik and Davis

We R Just Men - Joint Fundraiser for the Oakland and Rust Belt Theaters!

2010-11-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Several years back, one of our (now former) board members was turning the big 5-0. An accountant by day, he had a hankering to do something more creative with his time. He decided to write a play with music. "It should be funny," he thought, "since I am so hilarious!" Seriously, his hero is Rodney Dangerfield :)

Working with friends, he cobbled together a series of original songs (and a few obscuure covers) and came up with ideas for videos to accompany them. Some of the most amazing musicians, dancers, and videographers helped out. Bobby Bachos. Jeff Bremmer. Susan Miracle. Shaye Cahill. Josh Terlecki. Alecia Drivere. It was an amazing time. Cheap beer was had by all and everyone had a great time!

Now it's time to do it again! Please join The Oakland Center for the Arts and Youngstown's newest little theater that could, Rust Belt Theater Company, in our first-ever joint fundraiser. We are working together to bring the amazing Harold Davis' original musical comedy back to life again - bigger and better than before!

Only 2 performances over Thanksgiving weekend: Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26 at 7:30 pm both nights. We'll have cheap beer on hand again as well as a really cool display of Harold's collection or rare Bob Dylan memoribilia. Bar snacks for all!

Tickets are only $15 for adults or $12 if you're a student or senior.

Wanna donate more? Two great ways:
1. Give us a BREAK! $50 gets you a "Break a Leg" listing in the program and on Facebook. $100 is "Break an Arm and a Leg" and for $250, you get exclusive "Full Body Cast" naming rights! To make a donation, contact Harold at 330-759-8522. Please make checks to "The Oakland Center for the Arts. Send checks to:
H. D. Davis Associates
125 Churchill Hubbard Road
Youngstown, OH 44505
Credit Cards or billings? Call Cheri at my office 330.759.8522 or email cheri@hddavisassociates.com

2. Buy a Super Awesome Special Ticket Package! For only $100 you get premium seating, special attention from cast members, free drinks and snacks, a complimentary DVD and t-shirts, and a shout out in the program and on facebook! Call 330-746-0404 to make a reservation.

Remember, this is a 2-way split so the more you donate, the more you help Youngstown's 2 most innovative and original community theater groups thrive!

Broke? We need volunteers to act as beer gals and boys - costumes and boisterous voices required! We also could use a hand getting things set up and cleaned up before and after shows, and we'll need a hand in the booth running lights, sound, and projector. If you're interested in helping, send an email to oaklandcenter @ gmail.com.

Here' the rundown on the cast:
Harold Davis - Bill Saunders
Jaye Mills - Pete the Bartender
Kristina Terlecki - Hannah
Brenadette Lim - Christina (drunky)
Alysha Drivere - Guitar - Norman Arbogast
Jeff Bremer - Musical Director / Bass
Bob Bacha - Drums, Vocals
Sonny Hopchick - Lead Gutair
Robert Dennick Joki - Director

The best part about all this is the underlying message of this show: if you wanna do something -write a play, learn to knit, run a marathon, book a flight to Amsterdam, drive acorss the country... - just DO IT! Taking that first step ignites an amazing, life-altering chain of events that impact everyone around you.

Speed-the-Plow Oct. 22-Nov. 6

2010-10-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Be sure to catch controversial theater and film critic Milan Paurich in his local directorial debut at the Oakland this month! David Mamet's 1988 Tony-nominated drama weaves his satirical take on the Hollywood film industry.

This is a phenomenal cast: John Cox, Candy DiLullo, and David El'Hatton. Even watching them read from the script is magical. I can't wait to see what they bring to the stage. All of them are acclaimed actors with multiple Marquee and Arthur awards under their belt. I believe all three also have directorial experience under their belts, so for a first time director, they must be quite a handful!

Even though Speed-the-Plow is not a Halloween show, we have a suuuper creepy gallery planned in the Star Gallery. Nea Bristol will be displaying some of her work, which is a treat since she's on hiatus from shooting for the time being.

And check out the awesome poster Katie Maillis designed for the show:

Don't miss this show! It's a short one - about 90 minutes - an roughly the same as the price of a night at the movies!

We Heart Discounts

2010-09-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

So I was driving to see Our Town at the Victorian Players Saturday night....and I passed the Youngstown Playhouse, which had cars literally parked up to the street for its sold-out performance of Chicago. "Wow," I thought. "I've never ever seen so many cars in that parking lot in my life!" Then I got to the Vic and had to park in the verrrry back of Flynn's Tires, right next to the dumpster. "Wow," I thought. "Ive never seen this many cars at the Vic before! Also, I'm so going to get dragged behind this dumpster by a hobo kidnapper after the show!" When I got inside I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get a ticket, or that I'd have to sit on someone's lap or stand in the back. I didn't - and thank goodness, because the show was AMAZING. Both shows were! Purely riveting - some of the best performances and costumes I've seen in a long time (cheers to Cherie Stebner who costumed both - and talk about polar opposites: one show was all black lace and fishnet; the other gingham and linen!).

What I witnessed both times is a resurgence of theater in the Valley. I can remember performing on the Playhouse stage to an audience of about 30 people - in a theater that seats 400. Not fun! There were holes in the walls and water everywhere and black gunk filled my nostrils just from breathing. Did I mention how Not Fun it was? I have sat in the Victorian Players with maybe 10 other people to watch actors pour their hearts and souls into a production - in other words, I've been on both sides of the coin so I know how crappy it feels to perform to a small audience and to be in an audience smaller than the cast.

At the Oakland, we've experienced this as well. We have to turn people away from How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas, but we've had the smallest houses in years during recent productions of Wit, Back of the Throat, and Betty's Summer Vacation. Yes, these are shows with some dark subject matter - but I was starting to worry that the "economy" that people have been complaining about was really starting to hit the Valley and keep people away from community events. I was starting to worry about how we were going to make it on to the next show....and if audiences would return...

I am hoping that the past 2 weekends indicate warmer waters for theater in the Valley - and to thank audiences for their support, we're offering a special discount to you:

Bring your ticket stub from Chicago or Our Town and get $3 off your ticket to CLOSER! That's good for all performances except the Sunday and Thursday shows, which offer even better savings - read on to find out what.

WATCH as award-winning director Robert Dennick Joki bring Patrick Marber's 1999 Tony Nominated play to life with a cast full of YSU students/alumni SHAWN LOCKATON, BRANDON SMITH, BERNADETTE LIM, and (new to our stage) JESSIC SCHMIDT!

You'll be on the EDGE OF YOUR SEATS wondering if this cast can put on a show about love and fidelity in the modern age of CYBERSPACE! Why would you wonder if a cast can do that? BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD 3 WEEKS PREP TIME! That's right - 3 meager, measly weeks! CAN WE PULL IT OFF?!?! I don't know, but I do know that Chris Bosi is here pounding away at the set right now...

Come find out! What have you got to lose? We've got all kinds of deals for ya:

BUY ONE full price ticket, GET ONE for only $5 on Sunday, 9/26 at 8:00 pm
ALL TICKETS $5 for the Thursday 9/30 8:00 pm show!!

PLUS! ALL FLEXPASSES MUST GO!! We're giving these puppies away at only 50 bucks a pop! That's 6 tickets - use 'em in any order, at any time (no expiration) to any Oakland show (not including fundraisers like How The Drag Queen Stole Xmas) - for the price of about $8.50 per ticket - an average savings of $40!!! These make GREAT gifts for upcoming holidays, birthdays, anniversaries....so get 'em while they're hott!!

We may just be a little community theater/arts center in a small town struggling to rebuild itself for the past 30 years....we may rely heavily on volunteers and patrons to get us through times when they're good or bad....but we LOVE what we do and we'll keep doing it! Come out and support your local community theaters - we want you to see what we're creating here, so we're happy to offer unique discounts you won't fund anywhere else in town! Save money and save a theater at the same time!!

PERFORMANCES (ALL AT 8 PM):

Friday 9/24 - OPENING NIGHT- Post-show Bday Bash for Shawn and Brandon

Saturday 9/25

Sunday 9/26 - 8 pm! - ALL TICKETS BUY ONE GET ONE FOR $5 - Bring a date!

Thursday 9/30 -ALL TICKETS $5

Friday 10/2

Saturday 10/2

See you at the O!

Coming soon...

2010-09-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Betty's Glowing Review

2010-08-18T08:48:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Lorrainne Spence and the Vindicator for this stellar review!

Here it is - with my personal commentary! Enjoy!! Or just click the link to read the unfettered article...

"'Betty's' Keeps Oakland Edgy"
No Doy!

As this summer comes to an end, the Oakland Center for the Arts presents an atypical summer show, “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” by Christopher Durang. The Oakland is known for producing edgy material, and this play nearly goes over the edge.
Woohoooo!!! We're like Thelma and Louise, speeding our convertible over a cliff! Yeeehaw!!!

Anyone familiar with Christopher Durang knows he writes odd, dark comedies, and “Betty’s Summer Vacation” is about as dark as it can get. With humor stemming from incest, rape and murder, and some very vulgar language, this play is not for the faint of heart. Much of the plot is disturbing and at times oddly insightful. It’s also actually really funny.
I think that insight most often comes from disturbing revelations - we don't really remember lessons unless they shake us to the core. And hey, how else can we address these issues without humor? The part about it being actually really funny? Right on!!

“Betty’s Summer Vacation” takes place in a beach house where five people have bought time shares to spend a week together. Betty is the first to arrive, eager to get some peace and quiet away from the city. She is immediately disappointed when her friend Trudy breaks her promise to “not talk so much.”
It's funny to think that we buy time to spend with one another. i often wondered if Betty and Trudy were friends prior to arriving at the house - I imagine they work in some crappy publishing house together - Betty as a copy editor; Trudy as a secretary.

Joining them are Keith, an odd young man with a shovel and a hatbox; Buck, a lecherous surfer dude; and Mrs. Siezmagraff, an overbearing woman who invites a flasher to dinner. As the day progresses, characters conflict, and Betty’s hope for a peaceful vacation deteriorates.

As if all of this weren’t enough, Durang includes another odd set of characters in his play. Three “voices” are present throughout the show, sitting in front of the stage. At first, these voices simply watch the show and laugh at Betty and her roommates, who are confused and disturbed to hear them. The voices begin to comment on the show and eventually make demands of the characters, screaming “Entertain us!”

Clearly, Durang’s play was meant as a commentary on America’s obsession with voyeurism and reality-as-entertainment. The voices demand to see fighting, misery, rape and murder and are never satisfied. References to Lorena Bobbit and the Menendez brothers reflect America’s interest in and acceptance of the horrors people create. By alternately shocking and amusing the audience, Durang seems to encourage us to reconsider what we find entertaining.
It's funny to listen to the references - they date the play more than anything else, but some of them are still funny. Andrew Cunanan? I'm sorry to say I still don;t know who he is! And the Michael Jackson trial reference - too soon!

The success of the Oakland’s “Betty’s Summer Vacation” is clearly due to director Craig Snay and his amazing cast. Each actor in this ensemble holds his (or her) own with obvious experience.
Again, I say - no doy! Actually I say this is kinda funny because this is Quentin's first time on stage beyond high school, and Jonathan's first time on stage ever (he's a camera actor), but everyone else is pretty well-seasoned. We're a very salty gang, indeed.

Brooke Slanina’s Betty was the anchor of the play. Her attempts to remain sane and level-headed made her both realistic and sympathetic.
Ahem. Might I suggest my character is not far removed from my role in real life? I might. The hardest part of playing this role is that I could not be sarcastic. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to NOT be sarcastic? My god, I don't know how I did it! Come see it and tell me if I succeeded.

Ali Cleland played Trudy with depth, beginning as a simple, vapid girl but becoming haunted and depressed.
Ali likes to say her strength is er voice - she has a degree in musical theater - but she's really, really good and funny in this show. i still have such a hard time not laughing when she makes the car alarm noises. Also, she is cayooote as a button!

As Mrs. Siezmagraff, Gerri Sullivan was appropriately over-the-top, and Tom Smith’s Mr. Vanislaw exuded a mix of harmless oddity and underlying menace that was both funny and frightening.
Gerri, without a doubt in min mind, landed the most difficult role in the show. She has to be blissfully unaware that she is batshit crazy - something only people who are truly that crazy can do. She has to talk fast, make little-to-no-sense, put on a puppet show trial, show off her prison sex moves AND red welts on her thighs, save her daughter, and lead to her own demise. It's exhausting just to watch her. And Tom? Well. Let's just say I never. EVER want to see him in a rain coat again!

As Buck, Quentin Duda held nothing back — literally. Delivering his lines with both deadpan sincerity and idiocy, his total self-confidence and comfort made his character both ridiculous and realistic.
Not only is this Quentin's first time on stage at the Oakland, but it's also his first time oing community theater! AND he has to wear a speedo the whole time he's on stage, almost. His character is really funny and he puts a great spin on it. It's funny to try to have a debate with him while he's walking in front of me in his speedo! It just cracks me up. Also when he smashes a beer can against his head, I can never not laugth at that. Anyway Quentin also built the set with Craig. I was hoping to lock him in the closet and feed him scraps in exchange for volunteering but it turns out he's moving after this show. Dammit, Youngstown! Stop driving the youth away!

As the voices, Joyce Jones, Ryan Newell and Jonathan Eldell were a disconcerting presence. Their laughter and comments seemed to make the audience as uncomfortable as the characters onstage.
I just love these people. Joyce is the strongest voice, I think its safe to say, but I like when she is not there and just Ryan and Jonathan do it. They have a good dynamic. Jonathan has been interesting to watch evovle because he's not a tra9ined stage actor. The Sopranos we are not. A movie set with Jake Gyllenghall we are not. Microphones are not deployed. He has to learn to project and annunciate and improvise. It's great to see him on stage. And Ryan? He's also great. he's like 20 and just started his own theater group in East Palestine!

The most memorable performance of the evening was that of Cleric Costes, playing Keith. Costes’ Keith was an odd character, uncomfortable around other people but also finding enjoyment in their misery. Costes entirely embodied his character, from his voice to his hair, to his feet, to create a hilarious performance.
Cleric, Cleric, Cleric. Who can resist Cleric's charms? That thick head of hair...those dancing eyes...uhnm....other stuff. There's something about Cleric that makes me happy. He is so fun and fun to be around and knows all the swears and dirty sex words in sign language. He is also a writer, did you know? And a highly trained professional actor who does theater for a living! He is soooo good as Keith. there is a part in the play where he slides down the couch into a fetal position on the floor, and it is SO. HARD. for me to not nudge him with my foot. i tried once and got a note from Craig, so I will never do it again.

Craig Snay should also be commended on his amazing set design. Never has a set at the Oakland looked bigger and more polished. Snay’s attention to detail made his set both realistic and a bit ironic (notice Munch’s “The Scream” on the wall). Even the lighting fixtures that always hang above the stage fit perfectly, reminiscent of a set in a television studio.
God, Craig Snay. I love this man. he is amazing. He just built everything himself. I never want to tear this set down. I always want every show to happen on this set. The floor! OMG the floor! It looks so great! And the details are great! And he did it basically himself, with Quentin's help, and Ali painted floor with him, and Michael helpd some too. And he helped hang the lights and he designed sound and he did all the props (actually, according to the program, his identical twin cousin Crag Snay did it). he's so great. And as a director he's also great. It was interesting to work with him because he didn't reference the script, so we had to keep repeating stuff until he figured out the part we messed up. And he was always building physical comedy into scenes. He was just great. I'll lock him in the closet too, but he's going to be in Hamlet so I guess I'll wait til that's done.

“Betty’s Summer Vacation” may not be the typical summer-theater fare, but that’s what makes it such an intriguing production.
No doy! No doy!!

“Betty’s Summer Vacation” continues Friday, Saturday Aug. 20 and 21 and Aug. 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday Aug. 21.
Don't miss it!!!

Betty's Second Weekend

2010-08-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

No one likes the middle child. Don't make our middle weekend of performances feel bad about itself. Grab a buncha friends and come see the shocking show that has everyone feeling dirty!

Please join us for the second weekend of Betty's Summer Vacation, the Oakland's 2010-2011 (our 24th Season) Season opening show. We've got shows Friday at 8 and Saturday at 8 or midnight! Read on for special events (artist reception and swimsuit competition), discounts (enter on Facebook or wear ur best swimsuit) and a synopsis of the show (sensational!)

Written by Christopher Durang and directed by Craig Snay, you know the show is going to be a lot of thought-provoking (ouch!) raunchy (ooh!), mildly offensive (gasp!) FUN! It's funny, but not necessarily LOL funny - more like that dark humor that you initially are shocked by then want to laugh at but feel kinda bad if you do. That's Durang for ya! You might not think beheadings, rape, incest, nymphomania, creatures in the wall, Lorena Bobbitt, or serial killers are fair fare for funny, but Mr. Durang has a field day with it!

This play made its debut in 1999, and there are parts that feel like it - but there are other parts that feel really relevant, like how we as society consider reality TV to pass for real entertainment. You know it's bad when I have been comparing Betty's to the "The Jersey Shore" only much bloodier and baudier!

Basically, a group of people who've never met (think "The Real World") rent shares of a summer home. Betty (the normal one) is bunked up with Trudy (incested chatterbox with major mommy issues); Keith (serial killer with a hatbox, shovel, and serious problems with people); Buck (sex crazed frat boy); Mrs. Seizmagraf (owner of the home/Trudy's mother/codependent deulsional wreck); and a visitor, Mr. Vanislaw (derelict/flasher/doomed). They are observed by a trio of voices who start out laughing at their antics and wind up on stage with them, demanding to be entertained...no matter what it takes!

So come check out the show - starring Brooke Slanina, Ali Cleland, Quentin Duda, Tom Smith, Gerri Sullivan, Joyce A. Jones, Jonathan Eldell, Ryan Newell, and Cleric Costes (he's the stand out!) - notice all those new names! Lots of new faces on the Oakland stage!! The set looks AMAZING thanks to Craig Snay; lights are great thanks to Scott Sutton(design) and Robin Goist, who is running the board for the first time ever!; show sounds surfer cool thanks to Michael Dempsey who is running the board; and the blood (stickily homemade by Ms. Kerri Rickard) gets mopped up nightly by Christina Kopcsos, who stage manages with grace and ease.

Star Gallery Artist Mary K. Farragher is having an artist reception this Saturday 8/21 from 6-8 pm. Stick around for the show after filling up on delicious treats - then stay for the SWIMSUIT COMPETITION following the show! Host Betty will lead contestants through a beauty parade, talent portion, and Q&A session and our guest judges will determine the winner! Prizes include gift certificates, flexpasses to the Oakland, and ???! We'll give prizes for BEST BEACH BODY, MOST CONFIDENT, BEST CURVES, and MOST CREATIVE. So even if you don't have washboard abs, we wanna see what you got! Think creatively - wear an old-timey bathing suit, get inspired by your fave drag queen, or douse yourself in blood (just throw a dropcloth down if you sit anywhere) - IMPRESS US!!

Need a break on ticket prices (ours are $15 or $10 for students/$12 for anyone over 55)? Here's how:
1. Bring your MARQUEE AWARD for $5 off
2. Bring your MARQUEE NOMINATION for $3 off (hey, it pays to win!)
3. ENTER our "Worst Summer Vacation" contest: go to the Oakland Arts facebook page and either send us a message or leave a comment describing your WORST Summer vacay ever! Points for creativity and pain! Winner gets a flexpass - 2 runners up will get 2 comps each to Betty's!
4. WEAR YOUR BATHING SUIT for $5 off! Saturday night is really the best time to do it (you could also win awards then) but anyone who wears a bathing suit any night of the show will get $5 off!!

So come join us this weekend - or next (shows Fri/Sat Aug. 27/28 at 8 pm). Walk ins welcome! If you call for reservations (330-746-0404), leave a message despite the old message - we are mid-phone service provider switch and appreciate your patience! We can hear messages but can't change the message! :_)

Betty's Summer Vacation

2010-07-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the fabulous poster, as interpreted by Katie Maillis....

Here are pertinent deets:

Director: Craig Snay, who is well known for his on- and off-stage work in Columbiana County

Stage Manager: the incomparable Christina Kopcscos

Light Design: Scott Sutton, who is based in Canton and does amazing work!

Set Design/Construction (and holy s is it ever great!): Craig Snay

Sound Design/Operation: Michael Dempsey

Light Board Operator: Robin Goist. Super yay for new volunteers!!

Cast:

Betty - Brooke Slanina

Trudy - Ali Cleland

Mrs. Sizmegraf - Gerri Sullivan

Keith - Cleric Costes

Buck - Quentin Duda

Mr. Vanislaw - Tom Smith

The Voices - Joyce Jones, Jonathan Eldell, Ryan Newell

Show dates:

August 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 @ 8:00 pm

August 21 (technically Aug. 22) MIDNIGHT SHOW!!

Special Events:

Swimsuit Competition! It's August 21, not 18.....this is not the final poster, but you get the idea of how effing awesome it is (thanks to Michael Dempsey)...

...stay tuned for more details!!!

2010-11 Season Postcard

2010-07-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the postcard we passed out at the Summer Festval of the Arts, just in case you didn't manage to grab one there. The front:

....and the back:

Design courtesy of Ms. Katie Maillis

AUDITIONS! Speed-the-Plow! August 2!!

2010-07-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St., Youngstown, will hold auditions for "Speed-the-Plow", written by David Mamet and directed by Milan Paurich.

Auditions will be held in the Star Gallery on Monday, August 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Three roles are available including 2 men aged 35 and up and 1 woman in her 20s.

Those interested in auditioning should have some familiarity with the works of Mamet and should bring along a favorite passage from one of Mamet's works or also be prepared to read from the script.

For more information, email oaklandcenter@gmail.com.

For those unfamiliar with the play, here's a good cheat sheet. The original Broadway cast featured Madonna, Joe Montegna, and Ron Silver. Madonna! Hellz yeah!

And for those unfamiliar with Milan Paurich, he is best known in the Valley for his role as theater critic at the Vindy as well as film critic on Channel 27 News. It's no secret that Milan's opinions are strong and informed and don't always endear him to the people and theaters he reviews. In fact, he was banned from reviewing shows at the Oakland for a stretch of time some years back! But we worked through it and eventually he came back to review shows. When he expressed interest in tackling the challenge of directing a community theater production, our play selection committee jumped at the chance to offer him his directorial debut!

Speed-the-Plow is an interesting choice for someone's first time out directing, even if it's "just community theater." I would argue that community theater is hardest of all: shoestring budget, volunteer set builders and technicians, non-professionally trained actors, low turn outs for auditions, a limited rehearsal period....there are major challenges that unexpectedly pop up around every corner. And while S-T-P requires little in terms of set, lighting, costumes....it requires a helluva lot in terms of guiding actors in the ways of Mamet. And with his passion, education, and energy, we think Milan is the right man for the job!

So, if you're interested in auditioning, come out this Monday and show us what you got. If you wanna help design or build the set, costume the show, run the light board, or do anything else behind-the-scenesy or techy, email oaklandcenter@gmail.com. And if you're happy to just sit in the audience and soak in the show, performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 October 22 through November 6 with the possibility of a midnight show or Sunday evening show on Halloween!

Back of the Throat Opens Friday June 11!

2010-06-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the season-stopping show!!

Here's what local media have to say about it:

Vindy Preview

Valley24.com preview

Warren Tribune Chronicle Preview

Call 330-746-0404 for reservations!

TICKET DEALS:

Sunday, June 13 2 pm Matinee ALL TICKETS $10!!!!!

Thursday, June 17 8 pm - MUST SEE THEATER NIGHT - PAY WHAT YOU CAN! (suggested minimum of $5)

Auditions! Art Auction! First Festival of Summer! And MORE!

2010-06-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

First, we have auditions this Sunday, June 6, from 12 noon to 5 pm, for a horror film being shot locally by Schotten FilmWorks. The film is called "Planting Season" and will be directed by Arthur Leo Collins, who describes the film "a stylish multi-genre throwback horror film infuenced by early Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper." So, if you love special fx makeup, gory, gross death scenes, and campy horror films, get your butt to auditions!

Next up, we have auditions for our 2010-11 Season Opener, Betty's Summer Vacation, written by the infamous (well, actually, famous) Christopher Durang and directed by Craig Snay (it will be his "first time" at the Oakland, so we must remember to be kind and gentle). Auditions are two days - June 13 and 14 at 7 pm both nights, in the Star Gallery of the Oakland. NEEDED: 3 women, 3 men, and 3 flexible roles. Individuals wishing to audition should be prepared to read from the script. For those of you who saw the sold-out smash hit of last summer, The Great American Trailer Park Musical....welll....let's just say Betty's is like the hilariously inappropriate step cousin who holds a Guinness World Record in appearances on Jerry Springer. Wildly inappropriate! A great way to draw your Summer to a close for sure!!

Also, if you have some extra money lying around and are looking for a great, large piece of art, look no further than the Lemon Grove! Karen Wennberg, a local artist who recently transplanted herself to greener pastures, left us a great surprise parting gift: she donated a landscape painting to be auctioned off with all proceeds benefiting the Oakland. The painting is called "Cosmic Instability," and it's a really gorgeous ethereal landscape/moonscape? with lots of blues and greens. There's a pic here since my words and this tiny picture fail me. So, kill 3 birds with one stone: support a great local eatery, a great local artist, and a great local non profit arts center, all while picking up a snack, coffee, or stiff drink! The silent auction is going on now through June 6, so hurry up and get your bid on!!

We'll be downtown all day Saturday for the Youngstown Pride Fest, and we're giving away a flex pass, so be sure to stop by our booth catch a sneak peek at the upcoming season, and see our lovely faces between 12:30 and 9 pm!!

And don't forget, Back of the Throat opens next Friday, June 11! Wanna learn more? Join Director Nate Beagler and his cast on Monday, June 7, at 7 pm for a preview performance and discussion at the Lemon Grove!!

Don't forget to follow us on facebook for all these updates, event invites, pics, and more!

The Oakland ROCKS in June!

2010-05-25T18:07:00.001-07:00

Check out our upcoming June events:

June 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 8pm and June 13 at 2 pm, BACK OF THE THROAT, our season closing show, directed by Nathan Beagle. It's his senior project at YSU - heady stuff, stepping up to bat at a non-staffed/all volunteer-run non profit community theater/arts center! Come support him and his cast and crew!

Not a theater junkie? Check it: our friends at Future Vampire Club have booked a NATIONALLY TOURING BAND, Lemuria, along with friends of the Stage Sexy Pig Divas and Sound Vs. Summer. Only 5 bucks! All ages - and the music is amazing! I'm in love with the vocals! It's a Monday night, June 14, at 7 pm so head to the Draught House for happy hour, then see a great, amazing, intimate indie rock show where you can't be intimidated by the hipsters looking aloof at the bar because everyone has to sit quietly in their seats in a darkened theater! ;)

PLUS! Bring the kids out on June 26 for a super fun, kid-friendly day with Magic Carpet Theater, who will be doing rare in-house performances of their current shows! We'll also have meet and greet photo opportunities with the actors and Mr. Peanut and a fun, cheap gift shop where kids can spend their allowances :) Special guest TBA!

When I Knew....Fundraiser to Benefit Pride Ytown 5/22

2010-05-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend, local performers and writers will once again unite to support the LGBT community.

The Oakland Center for the Arts will host a fundraiser for Pride Youngstown on Saturday, May 22nd, at 8pm. The show, entitled "When I Knew...and How It Saved Me" will feature live music, locally written poetry, and testimonials from the LGBT community members and its supporters.

Organized by Robert Dennick Joki, the event, which is now in its second year, was designed to raise money and promote awareness. Proceeds from the evening will benefit downtown Youngstown's Gay Pride parade and festival, which will take place June 5th. Last year, the Oakland raised over $2000 for the pride event. Performers include Nikita Jones, Molly Galano, Nicole Zayas, Rick Morrow, Marisa Zamary, Sam Luptak, Molly Makselan, Carlos Rivera, Candy DiLullo, Tess Tessier, Meysha Harville, Crissy Thompkins, and Gerri Sullivan. The performance will feature the work of local writers Kelly Bancroft, Joyce Jones, Kerri Rickard, Kage Jonas, and Robert Dennick Joki, as well as anonymous writers from the greater Youngstown area.

A reception will follow the show. The Oakland Center for the Arts is located at 220 West Boardman Street in downtown Youngstown. For reservations, call 330 746 0404. For more information about the event, please contact Robert Joki at robertjoki@aol.com

EXCERPTS from When I Knew...and How it Saved Me

"Like a lot of parents, I learned of my daughters’ sexuality from reading her MySpace page. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just happened that way. And of course, like any parent, I asked her about it. I was neither angry nor surprised by her admitting she was Bi. Why would I be angry? I was brought up to love and respect people no matter their religion, color, or sexual preference. Although homosexuality was frowned upon more so back then (the 60’s and 70’s), my parents still wanted me to never judge a person just because they didn’t look like me, act like me or believe in the same things I believed in. " Joyce Jones

"So many of my friends are gay, that my family has questioned my own sexuality at times. I sometimes think life would have been easier if I WERE a lesbian because I know so many wonderful and passionate lesbians, and unfortunately Youngstown doesn’t breed successful, handsome, chubby chasing men. I much prefer to say that I am a gay man trapped in a voluptuous female body. " Nicole Zayas

"I started life as a normal, every day, garden variety little boy. I played baseball, made mud pies, chased the girls on the playground. I had lots of girlfriends. I loved to play video games and play fight…to pretend I was Robin Hood. Yeah, you could say I was like every other little boy…except, I was born a girl.' Kage Jonas Coven

"For the first time in my life, I knew that my sexual preference wasn't about abuse. It wasn't about sin. It was just me. And it always had been. I realized I was attracted to the man of steel long before the other man stole my childhood. Once I did that, I was ready to break some chains of my own." Robert Dennick Joki

W;t Opens Friday, April 23 through May 8

2010-04-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize winning drama Wit will make its local debut at The Oakland Center for the Arts on Friday, April 23, at 8:00 pm under the direction of local award-winning director Robert Dennick Joki.

The cast is led by Molly Galano as Dr. Vivian Bearing, a renowned professor of English who has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. As Vivian struggles with the weight of her diagnosis, she must also face the reality of her life, which has largely been devoted to the study of poet John Donne, whose metaphysical sonnets take on a new meaning.

The play also features Tom Smith as Dr. Kelekian; Gerri Sullivan as E.M. Ashford; Shaun Lipe as Jason Posner; Joyce Jones as Susan Monahan; Sam Luptak as Dr. Bearing; and Nicole Zayas, Marisa Zamary, Meysha Harville, and Jennifer Milligan. Kim Gasser-Nevel stage manages. Adam Jackson serves as Technical Coordinator with Jim Canacci as lighting designer.

An opening night reception will follow the April 23 performance. The Star Gallery will feature two local artists whose work deals with illness and healing: Janie Morris and Christine McCollough. Their work will be on display through the run of the show.

Performance dates are April 23, 24, 30; May 1, 7, and 8 at 8:00 pm and May 2 at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices are $15, $12 for seniors (55 and up) and $10 for students with valid ID. Group rates are available for parties of 8 or more. The Oakland is located at 220 W. Boardman St. in Downtown Youngstown with free parking surrounding the building.

For more information, visit oaklandcenter.com, or follow OaklandCenter on Twitter or Facebook!

AUDITIONS - BACK OF THE THROAT

2010-04-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

We're closing the 2009-2010 Season in June this year with a ground-breaking play called "Back of the Throat," written by Yussef El Guindi. This show was hand-chosen and proposed by graduating YSU Theater major Nathan Beagle (it doubles as his senior project - quite an undertaking!).

AUDITIONS will be held Monday, April 5 and Tuesday, April 6 at 6:00 pm both nights. There are 5 roles available (4 men and 1 woman) PLUS we need techies! Sound design/operator, backstage crew, property designer; set designer; set construction...So come on down to 220 W. Boardman St. and take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd floor, where we'll be auditioning in the Star Gallery!

The show is set in modern-day New York City, presumably in a post-9/11-world (thought that specific event is never mentioned by name; however, "the attacks" are frequently cited). It follows one out-of-work writer, Khaled, as he is targeted by 2 FBI agents for an investigation. As his story unfolds, the audience is left questioning if he is guilty of anything other than being Arabic American in a paranoid society. Through flashbaks featuring an associate, an ex-girlfriend, and a stripper, a little light is shed on more details of Khaled's life, but a final conclusion is never reached.

The play will run 2 weekends June 11-19. Rehearsals will be evenings during the week, April through June. The following roles need filled:

Khaled: Mid twenties to early thirties, Middle Eastern, a writer.

Bartlett: Mid twenties to sixties. a government official.

Carl: Mid twenties to sixties, a government official.

Asfoor: Mid twenties to forties, Middle Eastern.

Shelly/Beth/Jean:Mid twenties to early thirties.These three roles are played by one actor. (Shelly-A Librarian; Beth- Khaleds ex girlfriend; Jean- a stripper)

How much do you love that the same woman has to play a librarian and a stripper? Typical male thinking...

For more about the show, check out this review from a production at NYC's The Flea Theater (where Oakland alums Greg Mocker and Jonathan Emerson have done shows) or this review from a theater in ol' San Anton (I love the end paragraph about audience reaction).

See you all at the O tonight or tomorrow! If you can't make auditions but still want to be a part of the show, contact oaklandcenter@gmail.com and we'll get you a private audition or figure out how you can help (tech crew, volunteer, sponsor) :)

P.S. We're working with our very own Arabic American Community Center to flesh out details for the show - a multi-cultural community collaboration we couldn't be more excited about!!

Dinner with Friends

2010-03-10T10:16:00.001-08:00

The Oakland Center for the Arts presents the 2000 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Dinner with Friends, by Donald Margulies, directed by Christopher Fidram. This contemporary comedic drama offers a realistic look at the dilemma of two couples who attempt to sustain their friendships and their marriages in the face of major change. John Cox, Cheryl Games, James McClellan, and Laura Phillips star.

The run of the show will be accompanied by the artwork of Lisa Zitello, Marcie Roepke-Applegate, and Daniel Horne, aka the founders of the Artists of the Rustbelt. A delightful display of painting, sculpture, and jewelry will be on display in the Star Gallery with a reception honoring the artists set for March 26.

Join us for an opening night recetption following the performance on Friday, March 12. Performance dates are March 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 21 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 55 and up, and $10 for students. Free on-site parking surrounds the building, located at 220 W. Boardman St. in Downtown Youngstown.

For more information, visit oaklandcenter.com, follow "OaklandCenter" on twitter, or friend "OaklandArts" on facebook!

Photo Credit: Melanie Rae

Poster Design: Candace DiLullo

Dayamn That's a Mighty Good Lookin' Cast Credit: all their parents for the good genes; God or whatever Higher Power you may belive has a hand in these things; Fate for bringing them all to the Valley; Karma for bringing them back to the Oakland; Chris Fidram for casting them. :)

The STAGE Weds. 2/24 (tomorrow!)

2010-02-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Join us for the latest installation of the Stage tomorrow (Weds. 2/24) evening from 8-11 pm.

As always, $5 gets you in the door for an evening of balls-out entertainment in Ytown. From Don Connors' song selections to the comedic stylings or bold and bawdy stand ups, the Stage is many, many things but never boring!

Co-hosts Matt Liller and Brooke Slanina will be moving things along.

This dinosaur will be in the alley next to the building. If he does attempt to eat you, expect a slow death as only some of his teeth are sharp, so you would likely not die quickly.

Matt says that dancers from MTV's "The Grind" will also be there. I don't know about that. We have a pretty strict no spandex rule at the Oakland. Think about it: we've had a lot of nude or scantily clad people on our stage, but never once anyone in spandex. Right? I really think that's true. Except I think one of the guys in Love! Valour! Compassion! was actually wearing biker shorts, but I can hardly count that 'cuz he had the kind of body that would have been a shame to cover in anything that didn't cling to his thigh.

See you all there! But please, leave the spandex at home. I can't imagine anyone wants to see a single one of you in biker shorts.

P.S Wanna perform? It's not too late! Either text/call 330.718.5515 or leave a message on the Oakland Arts' facebook, or just show up between 7-8 pm. Remember all you starving artists, performers are FREE!

AUDITIONS! Wit (April 23-May 8)

2010-02-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

graphic design by Robert Dennick Joki

The Oakland Center for the Arts will hold auditions for the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Wit, by Margaret Edson. The story follows Dr. Vivian Bearing, a professor of literature, as she struggles to come to terms with her terminal diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Vivian was renowned for being one of the most dedicated and demanding professors on campus, due mostly to her focus on her career at the cost of any personal life. As she goes through chemotherapy treatment, she realizes that the doctors are more interested in her as a research subject rather than a human being, reminding her of the way she approached her students. As Vivian is stripped of her dignity and life expectancy, she learns about the true meaning of life -- and death.

Ever wonder why the title sometimes appears with a semi colon in place of an "i"? Vivian's research expertise fell on the work of John Donne, with emphasis on his Holy Sonnett X. In her early days as a college student, she is memorably thrashed by her mentor for falling prey to an incorrectly punctuated publication, which utilizes a semi colon (and - unholy!- exclamation points!). After that, Vivian is more driven than ever, and also devoted to every detail of Donne's writing. So you see, the semi colon takes on a much deeper meaning than just being a "comma with a hat."

The following roles are open: 1 male, age 50s-60s; 1 female, age 50s-60s; 1 male, 20s-30s; 1 female, 20s-30s; 3 or 4 additional actors/actresses (college age). Please note, the role of Vivian Bearing has already been cast.

Auditions will be held Sunday, February 28 and Monday, March 1, from 7:00-9:00 pm, or by appointment, in the Star Gallery on the third floor of the Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St. Free parking available on the street or in any lots surrounding the building.

For more information or to schedule an audition outside of available times, please contact director Robert Dennick Joki at robertjoki@aol.com.

Note: if you've seen previous Season info, Dr. John Cox was originally attached as director of thi show. Unfortunately, he was unable to fulfill his obligation, and after a regional search for a replacement, our search committee chose the most qualified applicant. We will miss John's Oakland directorial debut but highly anticipate it soon! And big huge thanks to all who helped seek out a new director - as well as to Rob for accepting the challenge!

Nebula Award Nominee

2010-02-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Oakland Board Member Chris Barzak, whose most recent novel, The Love We Share Without Knowing, was nominated for a Nebula Award! How cool is that? Many of you likely attended either the book release party for this one or his previous novel, One for Sorrow, both uber cool events riddled with art, music, food, and of course, stacks of books just waiting to be purchased, signed, and read!

Read all about it over at Chris' blog, Meditations in An Emergency, which is a generally fabulous place to visit.

So the next time you see Chris, be sure to give him a hearty handshake or even hug, if you're so inclined and relatively germ-free. And obviously, if you haven't done so yet, march right out and buy either or both of his novels and read them right now!!!

Last Weekend for An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein!

2010-02-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

Please don't miss Shawn Lockaton's incredible ensemble cast (see them up there, smiling eagerly in anticipation of your presence? Don'tcha love that photo by the incredible Melanie Rae?) in the final weekend of An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein, the show that "had audiences laughing all night" according to Milan Paurich of the Vindicator.

We've got 4 shows left so be sure to call 330-746-0404 for your tickets today! Shows as follows:

Thursday, Feb. 11 - 8 pm - ALL TICKETS $10
Friday, Feb. 12 - 8 pm - $3 off if you bring in a NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK (we'll donate it to First Book Mahoning Valley)
Saturday Feb. 12 - 8 pm and MIDNIGHT! - FREE GOURMET DESSERT between shows - get a sweet for your sweetie and a jump start on Valentine's Day! -$3 off if you bring in a NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK (we'll donate it to First Book Mahoning Valley)

Since Silverstein is such a beloved children's author, we decided to collect any NEW children's books for our friends over at First Book Mahoning Valley. If you have any extra new books lying around, grab one and get $3 off your ticket to the show! But remember, this show is NOT kid-friendly! 16 and over would be best :)

We'll also have a fun game for anyone interested in winning COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to future shows - it will involve identifying the seemingly random objects in the front window. Ask Miriam at the Box Office for a form and more details!

You won't want to miss this show - it's funny, silly, and will make you blush. Plus you have to see Jessica Naples' incredible gallery work - 3 amazing series of work including the infamous "Collection" pieces - all priced to sell! Bring your checkbooks and pick up some sweet new photographs to spruce up the ol' homestead! Not only will you support a talented local artist, but also the Oakland.

Opening night was an amazing experience. A great, large group of people braved the snow to laugh their butts off (the Vindy review proves it!) and party down with Indie Wax and food from Rulli Bros. and Jimmy's Italian Specialties. Feel bad for missing out? Not to worry! We'll have more delicious cake from local pastry chef Louis Gastellum this Saturday night only!

Can't wait to see you all this weekend. We'll keep the shovels out for ya!

FEBRUARY 6 PERFORMANCE CANCELLED

2010-02-06T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hi All:

Sorry to do it, but we have decided to cancel tonight's performance (Saturday, Feb. 6 - 8 pm) of An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein.

We were lucky to have such an amazing crowd for our opening night, despite the blustery snow and increasingly weary road conditions. We had to kick people out - no one wanted to go home after having such a great time laughing during the incredible performance and munching on great food, listening to amazing music provided by Indie Wax Records, and sharing great converstions - perhaps inspired by Jessica Naples' joyous artwork!

Unfortch tonight will not match that level of celebration as snowy side roads and parking lots/sidewalks downtown jammed with feet of snow!

If you had a reservation for tonight, please call 330-746-0404 to rechedule. We'll be happy to help you find a solution to any problems this may cause you! We've still got shows on the following dates:
Sun 2/7 tomorrow!) at 2 pm
Thurs. 2/11 at 8 pm
Fri. 2/12 at 8 pm
Sat. 2/13 at 8 pm and MIDNIGHT!

That's right! We feel so crappy about cancelling tonight that we've added a special show for next Saturday at midnight. Kick of Valentine's Day holding your sweetie's hand in a dark theater...and spending the next 2 hours racked with endless giggles and guffaws. If you don't blush at least onece, you ain't human!

So again, sorry for the inconvenience. It was a difficult decision to make as we really love doing this show...but we promise to make it up to you if you come another day!

An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein

2010-02-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Everything is coming together so smoothly for our first show of 2010. An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein highlights a surprising, somewhat darker side of the man known most belovedly as a children's author. His poems are sweet and silly and encourage a playful, imaginative love of poetry in many young readers. However, his life tells a much different story.

Any of you could read his wiki page, but I'll give aways the juiciest tidbits: He's a veteran, and he developed his drawing and writing skills in the service, eventually landing a gig as a cartoonist at Playboy in the 50s. His first wife died suddenly, followed shortly after by their only daughter, who passed when she was only 11. He had one other son with another woman. Neither identity is revealed. He was notoriously private, shunning interviews but continuously publishing. He is also an accomplished songwriter, having had his songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Dr. Hook among others. he was nominated for an Oscar. He died over the weekend and his body was discovered by a maid on Monday morning. He lived in Florida.

An Adult Evening is not what you'd expect. I think we need to emphasize the "ADULT" portion of the title. As in, Adult Content. As in nudity, lewdness, titilating language, vulgarity, frank sexuality and sexualness. There are a series of 10 vignettes that make up the roughly 2-hour show, each encompassing a brief encounter in the life of 2 or 3 people, never more. Therefore, we're allowed to see close, unique examinations of human interaction.

I think this is a show that will make you laugh, cringe, blush, and think. While the actors are in front of you, you will be inclined to guffaw and chortle, maybe even be moved to snorting, but upon leaving the theater, you'll find you have a lot to consider. It's a really good show.

First-time-at-the-Oakland director Shawn Lockaton (AKA Riff Raff, Duke, Edgar/Bat Boy to you) has cobbled together an amazing cast. Their energy and chemistry is awesome. Watching them, it feels like they've been together for years. Being backstage with them stirs in me a deep envy for the rare camaraderie of a cast that takes sheer joy in being around one another. It's a rare delight.

We've got Oakland veterans (Molly Makselan, Eric McCrea, Suzanne Shorrab, Shaun Lipe), first timers (Courtney Auman, Dan Poppke, Jon Sauline, Bernadette Lim, Chuck Fettering), an Oakland techie-turned-thespie (Adam Jackson), and a community theater vet making his return to the stage and Oakland debut (Dave El'Hatton, whose understuf Kenny Lazarus may wind up filling in for him....). Most of them are young, either in college or recent graduates, and all of them are super fun and mega talented. They're led by an amazing technical team including Christina Kopcsos (Stage Manager), Jim Canacci (Lighting Design), Chris Bosi (Set Design/Construction), Pam Sacui (Costumes), Jessica Paull (Light Board Operator), and Howard Markert (Sound Board Operator).

This is the week where set, costumes, props, lights, sound, and projector images come together. I cannot wait for Friday night, when we'll be all set to go. Please come join us for the following festivities:

6:15 pm - Jessica Naples Gallery Opening - "Distance" (ohmygod it's the best looking show I've seen in the Gallery in a while@! Crisp, clean, interesting, delicate, amazing!)

8:00 pm - Opening Night Performance

10:15-ish - Opening night Mega Reception! Featuring Louis Cakes, Rulli Bros meat and cheese, Jimmy' Italian Specialties cookies, wine, punch, and assorted goodies PLUS in-house dj services by INDIE WAX and of course, Jessica's art, which you should all buy!

What a night! The gallery also received a fresh coat of paint (Rice Paper) and a new blue accent wall. Please call 330-746-0404 for your reservations today!

Stage Line Up for Tonight

2010-01-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

This is tentative, but it looks like this will a possible line up. I'm trying to plan this to a T so....it will probably not go as planned at all :)

8:00 - Jason Howell (Comedian)
8:07 - Sick As Me (Band)
8:17 - Dan Nelson (Comedian)
8:24 - Steve Boyle (Singer/Guitarist)
8:34 - Jason Delfosse (Comedian)
8:41 - Tammy Kaufman (Singer)
8:46 - Rick of the Dead (Comedian)
8:53 - Rebecca Maher (Writer)
9:00 - Johnny Locomotive (Singer)
9:07 -Murad G. Shorrab (Comedian)
9:14 - Don Connors (Singer)
9:19 - Dave Biscella (Comedian)
9:26 - Courtney Waskin (Singer/Guitarist)
9:33 - Jim Cibella (Comedian)
9:40 - Brian Johnson (Singer/Guitarust)
9:43 - Shane Herman (Comedian)
9:50 - DigiMob (Band)

So, that's a really rough shot of where we are. Add in time between for intros, etc and we should round out right at 10 pm.

Be sure to stop by The Lemon Grove on E. Federal in Downtown Ytown tonight from 8-10 for THE STAGE. Only $5 to watch, with all proceeds benefitting the Purple Cat, a local non-profit that provides housing and habilitation to mentally disabled adults. We'll spefically be donating proceeds to the victims of a Christmas Eve robbery, so every penny counts!

Speaking of pennies...don't forget to save some to bid on out AUCTION of an original, working, pristine NINTENDO GAME SYSTEM, CONTROLLERS, AND GAMES! Tickets are a steal at $1/each or 6 for $5 OR an arms' length for $10!!!

Still need incentive? FREE BEER!!!! That's right...your $5 admission gets you a FREE PBR courtesy of Tri County Wholesale Distributors!!!

See you tonight!!!

New Stage, New Location!

2010-01-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys:

Apologies for our extended absence from the blog. It's been a busy time between the end of 2009 (sold out, record breaking productions of both The Rocky Horror Show AND our very own original Holiday Musical with a cult-like following, How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas) and the beginning of 2010 (we rang in the New Year with The Pickled Brothers, Jason Alan Magic, Magic Carpet Theater, and over 400 of our closest friends as part of the 10th year celebration of First Night Ytown, plus we're mid-rehearsal for An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein, which opens Feb. 5, and are thisclose to casting Dinner with Friends, which opens March 12). Thanks for standing by for news! If you follow us on Twitter or are our friend or fan on facebook, chances are you have a decent idea of what we've been up to these past months!

The most pressing news is that we have a very special Stage planned for next Wednesday, January 27: we're hitting up our neighbors, The Lemon Grove (122 W. Federal) for a limited ediciont (2-hours only!) Stage! It's still $5 at the door, but we're donating all the proceeds to our friends at the Purple Cat/ISLE, who were robbed on Christmas Eve.

Please note that, thanks to Tri County Wholesale Distributors, this month's Stage admission will include a FREE PBR withyour admission (only for those souls over 21 years). Wooo hoooo!

So, Lemonaokers, please screw up your courage and stop by the 'Grove a few hours early to catch the Stage and support a great cause! We'll be sticking around to continue selling tickets for our special auction of an original, working NINTENDO game system, controllers, and 20 games! Woooo hooooo! Tickets are 6 for $5 or arm's length for $10 - and again, all proceeds will benefit the Purple Catters.

Check the sweet flyer above, done by the wonderful and ever-amazing Melissa Mary Smith. <3

Wanna perform? Contact Brooke by calling 330.718.5515, emailing oaklandopenmic@gmail.com, leaving a comment here, or messaging us on Facebook (OaklandArts). Since we only have 2 hours, it's not likely we'll have many, if any, slots left night-of, so please contact us aheard of time if you'd like to perform. Performers are free (but then that means no PBR for you!). So far, we've got a buttload of comedians, including Murad Shorrab; a new local band, SickAsMe; some actors, a few readers, singers, and maybe an artiste or two...dancers, bands, jugglers, where are you? Come out, come out wherever you are! Let's show 'em what the Stage has in store!

Can't wait to see you all out next week. Please come out and help us support a great non profit in the valley. Bring friends, family, mortal enemeies, mistresses and misters! Fun for all! Except probably little kids and misanthropes...

Thanksgiving Eve Stage

2009-11-30T18:52:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update about the most recent Stage last Wednesday, November 25 (Thanksgiving Eve). It's been about a year since we had a really great Stage, one where I could look out at the audience and think "Wow. We're back!" Since I got a bit overwhelmed juggling running the Oakland, the Stage has suffered. Getting Mr. Liller to co-host has certainly helped inject new life, but we've still had a few months of struggle to build back up to where we were.

This was that Stage where I could look out at the audience and think "We're Back." We had an amazing lineup of performers, plus a great audience. We made foam turkeys with googly eyes and feathers and snacked on cookies and popcorn before the show. There was running around and chaos and excitement in the air. We had 2o performers, many of whom were new and amazingly talented! And we raised a total of $425.00 for a local family who just suffered a great loss.

Here's a quick rundown of the scene. All the pics here are taken by a new photography whiz Crystal Beiersdorfer, also know as Crystal Couture. Crystal has been volunteering and acting at the Oakland for years, but she's really coming into her own with photograhy. She has a keen eye and does amazing stuff with photo developing and editing. It's so nice to watch her develop her craft and allow us to be a creative outlet/fodder for her. You can see Crystal's full set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crystalcouture/sets/72157622757924549/

First up, the boys kicked off the show with a sketch. Matt, Dave, Ric, and Jim have been coming up with some funny stuff. Next up, Rebecca Maher, a veteran of the Stage came back to share a new story with us. Brandon Martin wowed the audience with his high-energy tap routine. I always remember Brandon's mom saying how hard it is to capture photos of him dancing as he moves so fast, but Crystal did a great job here:

Jason Howell did some stand up after an introduction from Dave Bisella. Then a newbie, Brian Johnson, took the stage for a couple of songs (one orignal, one mash-up). Brian has been playing guitar for years but never played in front of an audience before, and while his nerves were apparent, he did a great job and had the audience in his pocket during his performance. I'm so happy Brian got up there, and that the Stage provided him a safe space for his inital forray into performing!

As per usual, Jim got shirtless for the next sketch...this after Dave had donned short shorts for the first sketch. If you dislike male nudity, these guys are not for you. Thank goodness they didn't scare away Courtney "Fancy Cat" Waskin, who played some sweet tunes on her guitar. Katie Mikita and her friend came and did some hott bellydancing for us, and Jason Alan rounded out the first act with his magic show...complete with a mildly successful straight jacket trick (sorry to say his countdown skit didn't work out, but he still got out of it).

Dr. Ray's Amazing Sideshow of Science taught us all How to Cook a Turkey, and this Thanksgiving I was thankful for Dr. Ray cleaning up his cinderblock. We welcomed a new act to the stage, TaRee Glenn-Avery, who sang and played guitar (a popular trend of the evening, though I have to say I liked TaRee's second song most of all). Matt Latanzi did some...weird...stand up/satirical commentary, all while wearing a blonde mullet and a speedo with a shirt and tie. Again, male nudity. Thankfully, Styles, a new-to-the-Stage comedian, helped the audience recover by distracting us with laughter.

Bernadette Lim showed off her skills on the piano with an original composition and great cover of "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. Terri Liller promoted her upcoming fundraiser, "Laughrica" to help some YSU students go to Africa to help children. Then half the members of TCOAT (so, OAT? TCO?) or The Champions of All Time, played a few songs with help from Brian. Rick of the Dead did some more stand up, and Steve Boyle played 2 original songs followed by his ingenius cover of Beyonce's "All The Single Ladies" which you know got me out on the dance floor. We wrapped up the night with one more sketch, and everyone went home happy and ready to share the tale of their Thanksgiving Eve with family and friends the next day.

Again, I cannot thank everyone who came out and donated to our cause enough. Thanks to Chris and the Ytown Reading Series folks who added 50 bucks to the pot, and to everyone who left a donation in addition to their admission, and to all the performers who got their families and friends to attend. Thanks to Melissa Smith for cutting out letters and vaccuming and facebooking and photographing, and to amazing Board Members Terri and Kris for doing the front window. Thanks to Rochelle for running sound, and Terri for working box office, and Crystal for photographing, and Matt for cohosting, and the sketch boys for all their hard work. It was a great time and I am grateful for all your help!

See you at How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas this and next weekend, and the Downtown Holiday Parade this Saturday at 3 pm!

The Rocky Horror Show

2009-11-09T15:50:00.000-08:00

It's not easy having a good time...but our audiences have certainly taken the task to heart the past 2 weekends. Rocky Horror opened to a sold out audience on Friday, October 30, (and 2 more Nov. 6 and 7!) and we haven't looked back since! We got one amazingly glowing review, one shoddy review that accused us of taking one too many steps to the right of the film version (perhaps they missed our original production of it, which was touted as being very on the money with the movie? But what's the fun in repeating onesself?), and a bunch of really giddy theater goers who left with a smile on their face and a vision to remember in their heads.

You can read local previews from The Vindicator and Warren Tribune Chronicle, or you can get the rundown straight from the source:

Under the direction of Rober Dennick Joki, his band of merry misfits found a way to turn Richard O'Brien's cult classic midnight movie fare into something totally unique to the Oakland Stage. A typically serene Brad and Janet (Eric McCrea and Alyssa Connelly, both of whom have grown leaps and bounds in their work here over the years), are joined by the regular cast of characters, all of whom have a very new look:

a bizarre looking and robotic sounding Riff Raff and Magenta (Shawn Lockaton and Melissa Cook, riveting as ever)
a tricked out Columbia (Molly Makselan, who stomps the yard in favor of the usual boring tap routine)
a wild Eddie (Andrew Labedz, doing everything you'd expect him to do)

a rock n' roll Rocky (Rick Morrow, gloriously punky in his glittering thongs)
a gender bending Dr. EVELYN Scott (played to the nines by Geri DeWitt)
a vamp-a-licious Dr. Frank N' Furter (Robert Dennick Joki, who brings down the house with his unbelievable voice)
and of course, the Transylvanians, who are decked out in Kerri Rickard-designed sci-fi makeup fit for an Alexander McQueen runway (Shaun Lipe, Alisha Kopcsos, Kristin Sailor, Misty Sharrone, Richard Louis Boccia, and Marisa Zamary, who doubles as the Usherette).

All of these wonderful slaves, virgins, and dominatrixes work under the spell of the spunky Mistress, Ms. Nicole "Buff" Zayas, who joins in on a romp or two but otherwise lounges in her torture chamber, shouting out instructions now and again. And everyone bumps and grinds it to the masterful choreography of the amazing Debbie Pesce, whose reimagining of the Time Warp is rather ingenius. The set they're all working on, festooned with Freudian adornments, is designed and constructed by Christopher Bosi and a loyal crew.

Voyeurs may indulge in the absolute pleasure of viewing the Oakland's tak on O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show three more times this weekend: Friday, November 13 at 8 pm (don't miss Start Gallery Artist Amy Rogby's fabulous dance/art party pre-show from 6-7:45, where you can nab some one-of-akind local art at a real steal!); Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 pm or later that night at MIDNIGHT!

Participation kits will only be permitted at the midnite show, and then, only the ones the Oakland sells (for 2 bucks a bag, it's likely less than you'd spend gathering newspaper, toast, cards, noise makers, and confetti). We DON'T permit the throwing of rice AT ALL - not after we had some nasty spills on it opening weekend!

As always, tickets are $15, $12 for those over 55, and $10 for students with valid ID. Anyone in costume gets a $3 discount.

I Almost Turned Stan Boney Into a Zombie!

2009-10-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Don'tchya just love these flyers? On the left we have Stage Fright as envisioned by Melissa Smith (based on the 80s horror flick); on the right, we have co-host Matt Liller's rendition. I love them both. Please feel free to re-post to your facebook, twitter, myspace, or email to friends...print and hang...whatever...just spread the word!

But I decided not to...because someone has to deliver the weather in Ytown!

This has been an amazing month at the Oakland. We had a great time hosting Sandy Vansuch and her one-woman show last month, then the Liz Rubino Studios production of Rent: The School Edition (directed by Robert Dennick Joki with some of the most talented kids I've ever seen or heard in my entire life)...and now we are getting into the Halloween spirit with a month of zombies and transvestites!

Today I had the privelege of going on WYTV, Channel 33 News. The gang at WYTV and WKBN are always super supportive of the Oakland, coming over to film morning segments or get footage during events and always acting as gracious hosts at the studio. I love going on the 5:30 news and chatting with Stan (really funny), Nikki (so sweet!) and Jerry Ricciuti (nicest guy), plus my old pal Gina and Amy, the new Gina. I also love going on around Halloween because everyone is expecting me to show up in somethin ridiculous...and I didn't let them down today!

Around 1:30 I posted a call for help on facebook. My usual Zombie makeup gals weren't available, and I thought it would be cool to go on-air in zombie makeup as I would be promoting zombie-related events. Wthin minutes, I heard from Rick "Of The Dead" and Ron, both guys from DSK productions. I also had Ron in my class at YSU years ago, and he was quite the class clown. All the students loved Ron, but he drove me nuts, always cracking jokes (which I couldn't help laughing at) and once, showing up to class with broken knuckles or hands or elbows...something happened at a hardcore straightedge show and it was like the stuff of legend because my entire class somehow knew before we got to class...

So anywho, these dudes showed up at the Oakland around 4:30 and got to work. At first I was apprehensive because Ron was trying to poke ou my eyes, but thankfully his lovely girlfriend Randi was there to keep him in line. Between Rick and Ron, I was zombie-fied within 20 or 30 minutes and took off for the TV station. Luckily, Crystal B was there taking amazing photographs of Maxine and Terri, so she snapped a few pics before I left. Rick grabbed on one his cell too:

The whole point of this is that Rick, Ron, Melissa, Janelle, and Kerri, along with a few other people, will be offering their favorite tips for doing you own zombie makup before the next Stage, from 6-7:45 pm at the Oakland next Wednesday (10/21). It's free but you must bring your own supplies. We'll have baby wipes, sponge applicators, and 2-ply toilet paper on hand, but you'll want to bring along eyeshadow (a cheapy pallete of blues, blacks, greys, purples, reds, pinks and greens would be good...nothing glittery), baby powder, and any other kinds of makeup you have lying around.

Then, join in the fun of STAGE FRIGHT, which is from 8:00-10-ish pm. Zombies will be rewarded with the privelege of enterting our Zombie Pagaent, which will be judged by audience applause. Matt and I will host again, and so far we have the following acts:

Rocky Horror Fashion Show (highlighting the Oakland's upcoming production)
Sketch Comedy
Stand Up Comedians Bob and Bill's MST3K-style short film
Some Band (they may or may not have changed their names)
MAYBE the Sweet Delights Purple Rain Extravaganza (I asked and am hoping for a yes)
MAYBE a preview of Black Cat by the Victorian Players (again, asked and hoping)
Dr. Ray's Sideshow of Science (confirmed)
Don Connors Song Selections

So be sure to sign up to perform...gets you in the door for FREE and is also a great way to show off yuor talents...would love more bands, musicians, maybe a scary story or poem or two....jugglers, belly dancers, artists, whatever! GET UP THERE!!!

$5 at the door; performers register between 7-7:45 and get in for free...email oaklandopenmic@gmail.com or call me (330.718.5515) or facebook me (either personal or Oakland account).

Also, wanna contribute to the Stage but performing not your strong suit? Bring a Halloween-themed food item: wiggly bran jello, candy of all kinds, caramel apples, whatever clever theme recipes being featured on Food Network now...something to share with everyone.

And finally, here's something everyone can participate in: a Costume Contest! I know I won't have a costume ready in time for next Weds., so we'll be handing out prizes for the underachievers. We'll have prizes for Crappiest Costume, Unsexiest, Least Convincing Dead Celebrity, and Least Effort. All winners will be rewarded with comps to the upcoming production of Rocky Horror!

Return of the STAGE!

2009-09-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Join Brooke and brand spankin' new co-host MATT LILLER as we kick off a new year of THE STAGE....featuring lots of laughs and a new approach: we'll be doing little skits as part of the regular stage. Matt and I 9and perhaps another guest) will be conducting something of a Healthcare reform Townhall style meeting in between acts...think The Daily Show meets The Oakland but with some pasty white honkies instead of Jon Stewart...Youngstown style.

So, wanna get up there? This is your chance! We're looking for a few good acts, as per usual....and we've got a few fab tricks up our sleeves. rumor has it Bob Mackey and Bill Rodgers will debut a new Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K to nerds everywhere)-style take on some public domain film footage....good times abound!

Call (330.718.5515) or email (oaklandcenter@gmail.com) if interested in performing or know someone who might be...and spread the word!

Grey to Green!

2009-09-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, Youngstown will go green in a big, meaningful way...at the Grey to Green Fest in Wick Park on the city's north side. Wick Park hasn't always been known as the most friendly or safe place, though it's pretty wonderful during the day. Once, in high school, I stubbornly trekked down Fifth, through Wick Park, on my way from the Oakland (then located on 5th) to McDonald's, where our ride was waiting, after seeing my high school drama teacher in a production of Assassin's. I remember holding Matt Gilboy's hand on the walk and feeling all tingly and young and invinsible. But I digress...

So on Saturday, Sept. 12, a group of very hard-working lads and lasses will amass many tents, chairs, and tables and the stock them full of earth-friendly vendors and environmental educational activities for kids of all ages. The NASA bus comes back, and the Children's Museum of Science and Technology has this really cool sand table thingy that demonstrates, like, erosion or something, and there will be cool children's activities and Dora and Diego and so much to do you might poop your pants! But you don't have to because there will be port-a-potties as well as actual bathrooms in the pavilion, which is conveniently where the entertainment is located. Oh, and food! MMMmmmmm delicious, home-grown, organic food and a beer tent outside the Unitarian Church! And films and panel discussions and walking tours, oh my!

Here's how the entertainment rolls:

at 10 am, catch amazing national recording artist CALEDONIA MISSION! Angelo is the singer and Ytown native, so we're lucky to catch them this year. I hear their drummer was just on Letterman, jammin' with his other band.

10:30 - Catch Phil Kidd intro our guest intoductory speakers: someone from Sherrod Brown's office, someone from YSU, Mayor Jay Williams, and Congressman Tim Ryan. Then Elsa Higby of Grow Ytown will introduce the man of the hour (or 2):

WILL ALLEN! He won a Macarthur "Genius" Award in 08 for his efforts in urban farming, something the Yo could certainly benefit from. Plus, he can fit A LOT of worms in his hands!

1:00 - bring the kids and blanket and snuggle up for the Magic Carpet Theater's sneak peek at its new environmentally-aware show, The Day Miranda Met the Mermaid by Robert Dennick Joki

1:45 - Etruscan Press and YSU Poetry Center poets will be reading some earth-lovin' pieces of prose while McKelvy Raygun sets up for the acoustic set at 2:00. The YSU Gospel Choir brings da noise at 2:30, followed by Dr. Ray's Amazing Sideshow of Science at 3.

Then Brandon Martin will wow the crowd with UN Act's unique blend of song, dance, and hip-hop with a classical twist. At 4, we close the show and rock tha house with local band Sam Goodwill.

After a day full of learning about earth-friendly alternatives, head over to YSU for tail gating and the first home game of the year (all tix 5 bux!), then stop by the Royal Oaks for their second annual Pabstolutely Fest, where the Steel Town Derby Girls will be gettin' dunked to raise money for I.S.L.E/Golden String/Purple Cat, a wonderful organization that provides habilitation to adults with disabilities.

See you Saturday!

Love, Ludmilla

2009-09-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

Hyello Friends!

Greetings from Russia, with love, are coming to you from our darling theatrical pal Ludmilla, who is getting ready for her premiere performance at the Oakland this weekend (and next)!

Ludmilla is a small town girl who always dreamt of making it big in the US. It's been her dream to be a contestant on American Idol, but she never quite got past Seacrest, that old guard dog! Who could resist this punim?

Lucky for us, Ludmilla will be bringing her own very special style of song, dance, and story-telling alive on stage at the Oakland, the very theater her vonderful cousin Sandy Vansuch worked to found and subsequently run for many year...23 years ago! Sandy left the Oakland about 6 or 7 years ago for black-and-gold-er pastured of Pittsburgh, but she's been back at the O for the past few months, readying the stage for Ludmilla's premiere ;)

With great help from designer Leslie Brown, production coordinator Ellen Licitra, and underwriter Brenda Williams, the stage is being transformed into Ludmilla's playground. As the O celebrates its tenth year downtown, we are thrilled to welcome Sandy...er...Ludmilla...back to the theater she helped build from the ground up, and we hope you will join us in making her homecoming a welcoming and warm experience!

Also joining Sandy is Iudita Harlan, a Cleveland-based artist who has shown her work at the Oakland's Star Gallery before. This time, the topic is slightly lighter as she delves into the life-aletering experience of caring for an aging parent struggling with Alzheimer's. Ms. Harlan's work is expressed through the art form of cartoons for this show.

Be sure to call 330-746-0404 for reservations today. Walk-ins are welcome, as always, but we do encourage reservations. Shows are 8:00 pm on September 11, 12, 18, and 19 and 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 20. Tickets are, as always, $15 for adults, $12 for anyone over 55, and $10 for students with valid ID. Be sure to check our twitter and facebook for updates, photos, and special ticket prices!

Open House, Donate Now!

2009-09-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hi All:

Thanks to everyone who came to our Third Annual Open House. It was a lovely time, with lots of new and old faces surrounding us in celebration of our upcoming 09-10 Season!

We could never have done it without all the faithful board members who so valiantly stepped up to the plate, especially Kris Harrington, who was the first in to start setting up and who hung the posters with the help of Sandy Vansuch and Brendan Byers. I stayed all day to clean and decorate, with help from my mama, aka Martha Sterwart, Jr., and her lovely garden selections. Terri Labedz, Ed Goist, Sandra Grisham, Jan Pentz, Susie Beiersdorfer, Joyce Jones, and Chris Barzak were also on hand with trays of food and carafes of wine to keep the masses happy. Super mega thanks to Robert Dennick Joki, Melissa Smith, and Molly Chepke-Barns, our volunteer food bringers!

Our lovely host for the evening, Brandy Johanntges, did a fabulous job of keeping the evening rolling along. She is spontaneous, smart, and super funny, plus her facial expressions apparently kept the crowd as entertained as the performances! Speaking of performances, here's how the lineup went:

Geri DeWitt, Melissa Cook, and Juleah Buttermore helped Shawn Lockaton sing "Roadkill" with accompaniment from Anthony "Biff" Ruggiero as they recaptured the magic of sold-out The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Sandy Vansuch, one of the founding members of the Oakland, brought her cousin "Ludmilla" to the stage to preview her upcoming original "Vun-voman" show, Love, Ludmilla, which opens next Friday

Some greatly talented teens reprised selections from Rent, Jr., which runs October 8-10 under the direction of Rob Joki and Liz Rubino

Rob Joki sang "Sweet Transvestite" from The Rocky Horror Show, which we're reviving October 30-November 14

A rag-tag chorus wowed the crowd with raunchy Xmas songs and the brand-new Dead Celebrity Song (set to Jingle Bells - thanks, eminent domain!) to spread some holiday cheer in time for Rob's classic How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas

Shawn Locakton (director) and Melissa Cook brought beloved Shel Silverstein to life with a preview of An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein - adult versions of his beloved children's tales

In the most riveting performance of the night, John Cox and Sara Klimenko brought a scene from a pained marriage to life on stage from Dinner With Friends, which opens in March at the hand of Chris Fidram

Joanne Scarvell did a monologue from Wit, directed by John Cox, which opens in late April and runs through May

Nathan Beagle, Randall Brammer, and a new actor whose name I didn't catch (sorry!) recreated a scene from the very new play Back of the Throat, debuting in June under the direction of Nathan Beagle

Throughout the performances, our board members talked about the history of the O, the Oakland Book Club, The Stage (which returns Sept. 23!), The Star Gallery, Flexpass Sales, Ad Sales, volunteer opportunities, and - of course - donor opportunities. Local artist Damiel Horne has created hand-crafted steel bottle openers in the shape of "O"s which donors at the $250 and above level will receive as a complimentary gift.

Speaking of donations...check out our NEW PAYPAL BUTTON at the top of the page! Now you can donate at any time of day or night to the O! Any amount will do - from 50 cents to 50,000 bucks! Every little bit helps us continue to provide our community with quality art and theater - and a safe space to create it!

P.S. Love the pics? So do we! Thanks to Katie Libecco and Valley24.com for the great coverage!

Oakland Open House - Third Time's a Charm!

2009-08-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again...the last week of August, when kids are gearing up for back to school or binge-drinking away their first week at YSU...everyone's talkin' about the Canfield Fair and Labor Day plans...and the Oakland dons her favorite cocktail gown in preparation for her favorite event of the year: The Annual Open House / Season Preview Party!

On Saturday, August 29 (so, like 2 days from now), from 6-9 pm, we will swing wide our doors for a huge, free party. Decorations, old posters, photos, archival newspaper articles...we got it all! Stop by from 6:00-7:30 for a free bite and glass of wine, then join our wonderful special guest host Brandy Johanntges for our official Season Preview!

If you ever listened to Hot 101, you'd know Brandy. She was my favorite deejay there. Sorry AC! Brandy has also been seen on stage in tons of Playhouse shows, most recently (I believe) Titanic, where her dynamic voice almost kept the ship from sinking...almost. Brandy is fresh off hosting duties at the Marquee Awards, where she successfully led about 200 actors to loudly boo Jim Loboy for a solid 65 seconds. Well, that was mostly his fault...but the boos were a testament to how much she is beloved in this community. Plus, sorry but Jim Loboy is kind of a dingbat. And he did not step up when I challenged him to a fight. To be fair, I did not bring my slapping gloves to properly initiate said fight...so I can let it slide...this time.

So...back to the Open House. Here's what you can look forward to from the Season Preview:
Performances from:

The Great American Trailer Park Musical (and no, we will not be reviving the show any time soon, sorry to disappoint all who left teary voicemails!)
Love, Ludmilla - Sandy Vansuch's one-woman show. This marks Sandy's return to the Oakland after a multi-year absence. Sandy was one of the founders of the Oakland, and she ran the theater for many many years.
Rent, Jr. - directed by Robert Dennick Joki for Liz Rubino Studios, this musical is just like regular Rent save for it features an all-teen cast. I've heard them sing, and they're pretty amazing.
The Rocky Horror Show - Join director Robert Dennick Joki for a sneak peak at his vision of Richard O'Brien's cult classic
How The Drag Queen Stole Christmas - Robert Dennick Joki's show-stoppin, sold-out Holiday Extravaganze fundraiser
An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein - Shawn Lockaton brings Shel's beloved, achingly funny stories to life on stage this February. Catch a glimpse now!
Dinner with Friends - Chris Fidram offers up a sliver of this David Margulies classic
Wit - Dr. John Cox makes his directorial debut at the Oakland with Margaret Edson's unforgettable play about cancer
Back of the Throat - YSU student Nathan Beagle makes his community theater directorial debut with this very new look at post-9/11 realities from an Arab-American's perspective. Yussef El Guindi's drama closes out the 09-10 Season

Additionally, Oakland board members and volunteers will give you the scoop on such matters as:

Donor Campaign - Kris Harrington and Ed Goist will be joined by local artist Daniel Horne, who will premiere his hand-crafted Oakland reward for donors at higher levels
The Stage - Brooke Slanina and new co-host Matt Liller will fill you in on the future of the Oakland's beloved open mic night
The Oakland Book Club - Chris Barzak and Miriam Kline turn the page on the Book Club's next chapter (ba dum cha!)
Magic Carpet Theater - Rob, Jen, and Grace will fill audiences in on what the MCT crew have in store for local schools and kids of all ages this year!
Grant Update / Mission - Terri Labedz will inform audiences of our recent grants and mission of the theater
How to Get Involved - Volunteer Guru Susie Beiersdorfer will give you the inside scoop on volunteer rewards
Flexpass - Joyce Jones will help you figure out how to get a flexpass all your own!

So, stop by this Saturday from 6-9. We'll be giving away free tickets on the hour with a gran drawing for a flexpass at 9 pm. Please help support the Oakland, the ONLY community theater and arts center in Downtown Youngstown! Celebrating our 10th year on W. Boardman!

Pickled Brothers at the O this Saturday

2009-08-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

The last time the Pickled Brothers were at the Oakland, they were wonderful guests. They cleaned up after themselves, laughed at our jokes, and put the lid down. However, one time before that they "accidentally" left behind a little critter who scared the crap out of a cast. Thankfully, she was rescued by the Beiersdorfers and promptly hatched a little family of her own, which allowed us to have Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches at many events since and even make an appearance on Channel 21 News, much to the horror of the new host (I can't for the life of me find her name on WFMJ's website!! horrors!!!).

This Saturday, the Pickled Brothers return to our stage in support of one of their (and our) favorite Ytown events, First Night Youngstown. As we prepare to ring in the new year and celebrate our tenth anniversary, Travis, Erik, and Susan were gracious enough to volunteer to appear in a fundraiser to help FNY pay for this year's event. Local comedian/magician Eric Thompson will also appear.

Tickets to the event are a slim $15 - n0t bad considering you get a Taste of First Night, featuring delicious nosh from many of the featured restaurants open for the event (including Cafe Cimmento, Tomasino's, End of the Tunnel, Santa Fe, Pizza Joe's, Capitol Grille, Charlie Staples!!, and many more!) plus a walk through photos and logos from First Nights of years past in the Star Gallery.

Haven't caught the Pickled Brothers in the act yet? You don't know what you're missing! Both brothers are world-record setters and current title holders - Erik for upside down juggling -- while supsended in mid-air, no less AND for being the youngest sword swallower on record; Travis for fitting the most live hissing cockroaches in his mouth at once. He even went on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno to show off his talent to the world!

Things kick off at 6:30 with the show starting at 7:30. You can purchase tickets from your favorite FNY Board member (ahem, me!!) or at the door that night.

FREE TICKETS to the first five people who follow firstnightytown on twitter and send a tweet encoruaging friends to follow us as well!

P.S. Did you know that First Night Ytown is NOT run by the City or City Hall? While they typically contribute financially and offer support services, FNY is a 501(c)3 run by a board made up of community leaders. We are part of the national organization, but we're responsible for raising about $40-50,000 each year to produce our event, which offers people of ALL ages a variety of activities (all of which are alcohol-free, though bars and restaurants are open all through downtown) to help ring in an unforgettable new year. Local performers from magicians to dancers to bands are stationed at amazing historic venues (ranging from theaters to churches to museums) throughout the downtown area and YSU campus. Wanna get involved? Email firstnightyo@gmail.com for details on how to donate (even $10 makes a difference!) or sign up to volunteer (Friends of First Night get complimentary admission to events as well as free food and a chance to meet new friends!).

Fayleene's on the Loose

2009-08-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Howdy Y'all!

Fayleene here with some news about that there Oakland I always dun hear people chattin' about when I'm in line for my Capri Menthol Ultralights at the Petra.

The crew over there dun got too tired to keep workin' through August, so they all checked out. Seems most a' the Board dun went on vacation, so I'm takin' over with my crew! We'll be runnin' things 'round here startin' this weekend, which coincidentally is the weekend The Great American Trailer Park Musical opens!

Featurin' some of the finest ladies from Armadillo Acres, GATPM (you can't really expect me to keep typing all those long words, especially not with my Lee Press-Ons freshly applied!) follows the Trailer Trash Trifecta of Betty (Geri DeWitt), Pickles (Melissa Cook), and Lin (Juleah Buttermore) as they narrate the events they see happenin' around 'em. Poor Lin is waitin' on her main man to be freed from the bonds of the electrical chair; Pickles is always confused, poor dear, thinkin' she's havin' a baby when all she's doin' is gettin fat from her hysterical pregnancy syndrome; and Betty...well, Betty dun lived her whole dang life here, so she knows just about everything about everyone in these here parts!

Our Trifecta is jus' sittin' out on their lawnchairs, mindin' their own whilest their Frito Pies bake away, when along comes Pippi (Molly Makselan), one a' them exotic dancers with a laundry list a' problems, not the least of which is a pain in the ass man named Duke (Shawn Lockaton). Poor Norbert (David Munnell) never stood a chance against her mile-high stripper shoes. Now Jeannie (Jennifer Kuzcek) is in a tizzy over how to save her marriage without settin' foot outta her trailer -- that's a fear that arose from a bad perm years ago, but like I always say, you never really recover from a bad perm...

Myself? Well, I'll be settin' up in that "box office" they call it, though I can't figger out why...it ain't no kinda box far as I can tell. Anyhoodle, I'll have my nail file handy because I got better thangs to do than chat with you city folk all night long. I guess I'm 'sposed to take money from y'all in exchhange for some ticket or somethin...ain't make a lick a' sense to me why someone wants to pay $15 for a piece a' paper. I'm savin' my pennies for when the Icecapades come back to town. And when I say savin' my pennies, I mean takin' yours in the swear jar I got special jus' for this show. Every time I swear (damn! - y'all owe me a quarter!), you drop a coin in the jar. I'm hopin' y'all skipped laundry day this week, 'cuz I'm sick and tired a' raidin' the Scrub-A-Dub Laundromat for spare change!

Now, what I am excited about is that Rummage Sale goin' on the Star Gallery. I guess y'all usually have artists type stuff in there...again, why would you wanna lookit art when you could buy tchotchkies for over yer kitchen sink? I had my eye on the giant wooden fork to match my lonely spoon, but someone already scooped that up. They also got some real fancy bride and groom dolls from Tony n' Tina's Wedding, which would make the most darlin' gift for my daughter, TiffanyAmber, whose gettin' hitched to her second husband the day after her 17th birthday...they grow up so fast, don't they? Takes a few tries to learn who the baby daddy really is, but I keep tellin' her she'll get it right eventually!

There's also gonna be a fancy party on August 7, after the show, and the director person (Robert Dennick Joki) and musical director (Anthony Ruggiero) gonna be there, so you can ask them directly why they chargin' you so much for somethin' that ain't even staged on a ice ring! You can talk to all the gals as well, and get some child rearin' advice or ways to glue the heel back on your shoe after walkin' home from the Kitty Litter Palace...

So make sure y'all put on yer finset Jordache cutoffs, trucker hats, and cowboy boots and head on over to 220 W. Boardman St. in Downtown Youngstown. I only ever git downtown for arriagnments and shotgun weddins, so this is a real change a' pace! There's lotsa parkin' for yer trailer and monster truck, and I decided to give out some discount prices since I know the price a' my Capris and Bush Beer just keeps gettin' higher and higher, so I can only imagine what you city folks are payin' for your fancy Marlboros and imported beers. First of all, I'll give $5 off to anyone through the run o' the show who shows me their tramp stamp! I'll also give $5 off to anyone who gives me a Capri Menthol Ultra Cigarette!

Show Dates and Special Nightly Discounts:

Friday, August 7, 8:00 pm - Opening Night party, y'all! $5 off for first person who has a Tazmanian Devil and/or Tweety Bird tattoo!

Saturday, August 8, 8:00 pm - $5 off to the first person who sings me a Britney Spears song

Sunday, August 9, 2:00 pm - $5 off ALL TICKETS (the Lord's day n' all)

Friday, August 14, 8:00 pm - $5 off all trucker hats

Saturday, August 15, 8:00 pm - I ain't gonna be there, so whoever writes me the nicest love letter and leaves it in my mailbox will get 2 comps for Love, Ludmilla in September, but make sure you put yer return address on my letter!

Saturday, August 15, 12:00 MIDNITE!: $5 off to anyone who went to the Marquee Awards, was nominated for an Award, or won an award! Heck, I'll give ya $5 off if ya bring in yer old Marquee Award!

Plus! I'll give $5 off to the first 5 people who go start followin' oaklandarts on twitter today (August 5). Just tweet oaklandcenter so they can keep track a' y'all. I ain't know none a' that fancey internet trickery!

Oh, and if you wanna see what that there cast looks like, visit Melanie Rae's flickr page. Hot Ham Sammiches, is she somethin' else with her camera! I wish I knew how to take such good pitchers with my polaroid! I told my cousins Brandine and Cletus to take their clan o' kids on over to Photography by Melanie Rae Studios at 217 W. Federal St. for a photo shoot, but it's hard roundin' up all the youngins (Gummy Sue, Tiffany, Andie, Gordon, Lizzie, Jackson, Heather, Cody, Dylan, Dermot, Jacob, Jordan, Taylor, Brittany, Wesley, Rumer, Scout, Cassidy, Zoe, Chloe, Max, Hunter, Rubella Scabies, Kendall, Caitlin, Noah, Sasha, Morgan, Kyra, Ian, Lauren, Q*bert, Condoleezza Marie, Phil, Birthday, Crystal Meth, Dubya, Incest, International Harvester, Jitney, Witney, Mary, Stabbed in Jail)* an' get 'em to sit still for longer'n 5 minutes...

*$5 off to the first person to correctly identify the original source for these names in this blog's comment section!

Well, my time on this here libary computer done run out, and Earl's awaitin' in the pickup truck, so we gotta git to possum huntin' while the gittin's still good! See y'all real soon! Don't let me find out you missed this show..ain't no excuse for it!

Love and Other Indoor Sports,

Fayleene

2009-2010 Season

2009-08-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Great American Trailer Park Musical
By: Betsy Kelso and David Nehls
Directed by: Robert Dennick Joki
Musical Diretor: Anthony Ruggiero
August 7, 8, 14, 15 - 8 pm
August 9 - 2 pm
August 15 - 12 midnite

Third Annual Free Open House/Season Announcement Party
August 29
6-9 pm

Love, Ludmilla
A "Vun Voman" Show
Written, Directed by, and Starring Alexandra "Sandy" Vansuch
September 11, 12, 18, 19 - 8 pm
September 20 - 2 pm

The Rocky Horror Show
By: Richard O'Brien
Directed by: Robert Dennick Joki
October 30, 31 - November 6, 7 - 8 pm
*2 Midnite shows, October 31 and November 7!

Annual Holiday Fundraiser:
How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas
Written and Directed by: Robert Dennick Joki
December 4, 5, 11, 12 - 8 pm

An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein
By: Shel Silverstein
Directed by: Shawn Lockaton
February 5, 6, 12, 13 - 8 pm
February 14 - 2 pm

Dinner with Friends
By: David Margulies
Directed by: Christopher Fidram
March 12, 13, 19, 20 - 8 pm
March 14 - 2 pm

Wit
By: Margaret Edson
Directed by: Dr. John Cox
April 23, 24; May 1, 7, 8 - 8 pm
May 2 - 2 pm

Back of the Throat
By: Yussef El Guindi
Directed by: Nathan Beagle
June 11, 12, 18, 19 - 8 pm
June 13 - 2 pm

Please note that Liz Rubino Studios will be presenting the first local area production of Rent, Jr. this October 8-10.

All dates are susceptible to change. For further information, follow "oaklandcenter" on twitter for constant updates!

All matinees begin at 2:00 pm; evening shows start at 8:00 pm

Ticket prices remain the same at $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (55 and up), and $10 for students.

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Clean Up!!

2009-07-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

We've kicked off the Great Oakland Clean Up of 2009. Did you know we've been in our current location for 10 years this season? We started doing shows at the old Elks Club in 1999...before the YBI, Cafe Cimmento, Rosetta Stone, or Turning Tech surrounded us. We were one of the first businesses to invest in downtown, and moving in was a huge undertaking! But with the determination, passion, and undeterred efforts of the Oakland and Ballet Western Reserve board, volunteers, and patrons, we did it!

You can imagine the amount of stuff that piles up over the course of 10 years....non-profit theaters are hesitant to discard anything, because who knows when you'll need an oversized medical syringe, scary mask, army costume, or ugly painting again? Needless to say, we've clung to dozens of too-small, gaudy 80s prom and bridesmaid dresses, curled and discolored heels from the 1950s, pillbox hats, Cosby sweaters, dozens of glasses and mugs, and other strange items that are simply unusable at this point.

Also, running a community theater is hard! It's distracting and chaotic and overwhelming. There are always a thousand and one things to do...and cleaning out storage is very low on the list. We usually throw things into a room and move onto the next project, rather than clean and properly store an item.

As a result, we've managed to gather 10 years of stuff. Our second floor is swimming in dust and litter as well as props and costumes. Set pieces are scattered between backstage, the scene shop, and the second floor. And the basement! It is the stuff of legend! There are boxes and boxes and racks of clothing, and, rumor has it, there once was an ancient cake from Tony and Tina's Wedding...you can only imagine what it looked like when it was found...

This past Sunday, we started making strides to reoganize our belongings. A crew of about 15 started making way into our massive mess...and we're not even a quarter of the way done! But it has to be done... and we need your help to finish!

Rob Joki has graciously stepped up to lead the way through the rest of our efforts. We'll be sorting, trashing, donating, and marking items for the Rummage Sale July 31-Aug 1. Stuff that is broken, moldy, or torn goes in the trash...everything salvagble will be kept or donated. The stuff that stays has to be cleaned and organized...which means the space needs to be dusted, swept, mopped, scraped, and disinfected. If you've never seen thet 2nd floor, you have no clue what that means...

Who can help: ANYONE! Like to clean? Do it for a living? Have access to professional grade cleaning products you'd like to donate? Stop by!

When: Starting this Wednesday, July 22, at 3:30 pm. We'll be at the theater EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK from 5-?? pm

Where: the Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St.

What: Cleaning, organizing, and PAINTING! The 2nd floor, scene shop, and bathrooms (respectively)

Why: We are BROKE! so we rely on volunteers to help us out! Donate your time to a great non-profit in the Mahoning Valley. We have NO STAFF at the theater, so we truly need your help and appreciate every second you can spend with us!

What's in it for me? Food, drinks, camaraderie, comps to future shows, the glow of love and joy that comes from the bonds of ever-lasting friendship...

Summer Festival, Elephant Man at Victorian Auditions!

2009-07-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit us at Summer Festival of the Arts this year. We had an absolute blast and met a lot of new friends! We passed out tons of flyers promoting our upcoming season, which had everyone in a tizzy of excitement! The artists were great this year, and the food was delicious!

Some things were different this year. For starters, we didn't have any other community theaters in the tent with us. It was actually kind of lonely, but we still had a blast! We never could have managed it without the amazing Lori Factor, Head Problem Solver of the Festival, who was instrumental in securing a solos space for us this year. Since we were alone, we were able to drag down a TV and DVD player (thanks Team Beiersdorfer!) and watch the Reefer Madness and Bat Boy DVDS as well as a 1996 VHS copy of Tony n' Tina's Wedding!

Secondly, Magic Carpet Theater returned to the Festival with a performance of Dr. Dolittle. It's our first time back in several years, and thanks to the rain and Kris Harrington's guerilla tactics, MCT drew a crowd of about 30 to watch the show. Lots of kids stopped by to interact with the props and costumes from the show as well. I think we met Dr. Dolittle's biggest fan, a little lass named Lucy who spent most of Sunday in Dr. D's lab coat or under one of the lion masks.

As usual, we were right next to our friends at SMARTS who drummed the days away and hocked plenty of bottlecap necklaces. Mr. Peanut was out but didn't spend much time walking around, though he did dance a bit with the Dancing Brownie...

Extra special thanks to our wonderful board members and volunteers for all their help: Kris Harrington and Laura and Robin Goist for setting up; Jan Pentz for weather the storm (literally); Susie Beiersdorfer for tearing down the tent; Joyce Jones for being the sweetest promotional person ever (people just love Joyce!), Chris Barzak, Sandra Grisham, Terri Labedz, and Kris Harrington for taking turns; and our volunteers Crystal Beiersdorfer, Nikita Jones, and Brittney Murphy. Of course we thank Rob Joki, Jen Kuzeck, and Grace Vouvalis for performing the MCT show as well!

If anyone has pictures of the Oakland tent, please send them to oaklandcenter@gmail.com. Thanks to all who stopped by, took a flyer, or spread the word, and to everyone who bid on out Flexpass at the Opera Western Reserve Silent Auction!

And, as promised, audition infor about the Victorian Players upcoming production of The Elephant Man, directed by Chris Fidram and John Cox, who are both directing shows at the Oakland this season!!

Victorian Players Auditions Notice
The Elephant Man
By: Pomerance
Performance dates: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
2:00 p.m. Sept. 13, 20, 27

Auditions:
Sunday July 26, 2009 @ 7 p.m.
Place: The Victorian Players Theatre
702 Mahoning Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44502
Casting requirements: various roles / flexible casting
--Those auditioning will be reading from the script--
Director: Christopher Fidram, and John Cox
Contact Number for Information:
330-717-0699

Marquee Award Nominations - 43 for the O!

2009-07-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

I cannot begin to tell you what a blissful, blessed, bedazzled, bitchin', bloody season 2008-2009 was...and we were rewarded greatly for out efforts in audience attendance, volunteer participation, and, now, marquee award nominations! We beat our personal past best of 38 nominations, but this is the second time every show of the season has garnered nominations.

Behold: The Oakland's noms for 2008-2009:

Best Musical:
Reefer Madness

Best Play:
Doubt
Driving Miss Daisy
Rabbit Hole

Best Direction of a Musical:
Robert Dennick Joki - Reefer Madness

Best Musical Director:
Anthony Ruggiero - Reefer Madness

Best Direction of a Play:
Mike Hinge - Doubt
Terri Wilkes - Driving Miss Daisy
Chris Fidram - Rabbit Hole

Best Special Event:
"I'm Not That Girl" (Robert Dennick Joki)
"How The Drag Queen Stole Christmas" (Robert Dennick Joki)

Lead Actress - Play:
Molly Galano (Miss Daisy) - Driving Miss Daisy
Sara Klimenko (Becca) - Rabbit Hole

Lead Actor - Play:
James McClellan (Fr. Flynn) -Doubt
Johnny Herbert (Hoke) -Driving Miss Daisy
Joel Stigliano (Howie) - Rabbit Hole

Supporting Actress - Play:
April Sauline (Sister James) - Doubt
Candace DiLullo (Izzy) - Rabbit Hole

Supporting Actor - Play:
Eric Kibler (Boolie) - Driving Miss Daisy (he seals the golden clean sweep for noms - all actors, director, and play are in best of categories!)

Supporting Actor - Musical:
David Munnell (Lecturer) - Reefer Madness

Featured Actress - Musical:
Suzanne Shorrab (Placard Girl) - Reefer Madness

Featured Actress - Play:
Carla Gibson (Mrs. Muller) - Doubt

Featured Actor - Musical:
Ric Panning (Satan [aka the role he was born to play ;)]) - Reefer Madness
Derrick High (Jesus) - Reefer Madness
Yes, you read that right...only the Oakland would pit Satan against Jesus for a community theater award!

Female Cameo - Musical:
Deanna Scott (Jimmy's Mom) - Reefer Madness

Male Cameo - Musical:
Eric McCrea (Sally's Baby) - Reefer Madness

Character Performance - Musical:
Aaron Kubicina (Police Officer) - Reefer Madness
Molly Makselan (Joan of Arc) - Reefer Madness

Best Female Ensemble Member:
Natalia Hagan - Reefer Madness

Best Choreography:
Alecia Sarkis, Natalia Hagan, Lauren Thompson - Reefer Madness

Best Lighting Design:
Ellen Licitra - Driving Miss Daisy

Best Lightboard Operator:
Leslie Brown - Doubt
Stephanie Sarrach - Driving Miss Daisy

Best Follow Spot:
Kim Nevel - Reefer Madness

Best Scenic Design:
Terri Wilkes, Robert Gibler, Leanne Comstock - Driving Miss Daisy

Best Sound Design:
Leslie Brown - Doubt
Robert Dennick Joki - Bug

Best Sound Operation:
Christina Kopscos - Bug
Kim King-Voeks - Driving Miss Daisy
Geri DeWitt - Rabbit Hole

Best Properties Design:
Danna Bozick, LJ Tessier, and Geri DeWitt - Night of the Living Dead
Kris Harrington, Danielle Jackson, Terri Labedz, Karen Sarrach, and LJ Tessier - Driving Miss Daisy

Best Stage Manager:
Denise Sculli - Night of the Living Dead

TOTAL: 43
Doubt - 7
Night of the Living Dead - 2
How the Drag Queen Stold Christmas - 1
Bug - 2
Driving Miss Daisy - 10
Reefer Madness - 14
Rabbit Hole - 6
I'm Not That Girl - 1

EVERY. SINGLE. SHOW. we did last season received at least one nomination. Not too shabby for a small community theater in what other define as a "dying city," and on a shoestring budget no less! GOOOO OAKLAND!!

Wanna get involved? We love making new friends who don't mind rolling up their sleeves...leave a comment here, follow us on twitter (oaklandcenter), myspace (oaklandcenter), facebook (oaklandarts), or email oaklandopenmic@gmail.com for more info. Or, just call or text me, Brooke Slanina, President of the Board of Trustees, at 330.718.5515!

And most of all, THANK YOU to every single person who walked through our doors this past season. To the actors, technicians, crew, volunteers, underwriters, media members, bloggers, cleaning crews, board members, and patrons -- we would never be here without your support, dignity, and selflessness!

The Great American Trailer Park Musical

2009-07-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek of our upcoming season:

The Oakland will kick off their 2009-2010 Season with a rootin, tootin, high-falootin' musical! According to dramatists.com, "There's a new tenant at Armadillo Acres—and she's wreaking havoc all over Florida's most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil–loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband—the storms begin to brew."

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL with music and lyrics by David Nehls, book by Betsy Kelso will be directed for the Oakland by Robert Dennick Joki with musical direction from Anthony Ruggiero (yes, the team that brought you Bat Boy and Reefer Madness)!

Cast includes Melissa Cook, Gerri DeWitt, Jennifer Kuzeck, Juleah Buttermore, Molly Makselan, David Munnell, and Shawn Lockaton. Stage manager is Kim Nevel with assistance from Brittney Murphy. Costume design by Pam Sacui. Set design and sconstruction by Jim Canacci.

In order to pull this off, we'll need to do a fundraiser...and what better than a CAR WARSH / GARAGE SALE? That's right...the O will be hocking old costumes, props, and whatever's not tied down. We'll warsh yer car for 5 bucks or your truck/SUV for 10. Better yet, we'll do it in character, unlike those lazy high school kids who rely on their taught little bodies to draw in creepy old men!

HOW YOU CAN HELP: We'd love extra junk to sell, so clean out your closets, drawers, car, couch, garage, neighbor's safe, etc...and bring your donations to the Oakland by July 22 (one week from today!). We'll mark 'em and sell em...remember, if you're way into tax deductions, you can log what you donated to us and declare it on your taxes because we are a 501(c)3!

Acceptable items include clean, gently work clothing (nothing with holes or stains, please!), books, magazines, video games, DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, small appliances, shows (again, clean and unstinky), jewelry, household items, tchotchkis, nick-nacks, bath products (unopen/unused), baked goods (we'll be sellin' refreshments as well!). Oh, and also: we'd love car warshin stuff: soap, buckets, rags, shamwows, etc...

Unacceptable items: dirty, holey clothes or shoes, ratty towels, live animals, perishable food, great Aunt Ruth who keeps trying to steal your teeth because she's sure they're hers, your ex-boyfriend, his current wife, or any of their 12 childs, makeup, half-empty toothpaste that you're too lazy to squeeze, or anything you feel the need to "dress up" with googly eyes, especially if it's covering the moldy spots.

Don't have extra stuff to sell? Email oaklandopenmic@gmail.com to sign up for the car warsh. We're still hemmin' and hawin' over the exact date, so email and we'll let ya know!

Reviews from the show:

"Adultery, strippers, murderous ex-boyfriends, Costco and the Ice Capades. Undeniable fun." —NY Post. "A bright new show!" —NY Times

"A show that actually lives up to the hype of its title." —Village Voice

"A delicious new musical. The joint is jammed and jumping with raucous laughter. It's like The Honeymooners meets The Best Little Whorehouse in Urinetown." —NY Post

"South Park meets Desperate Housewives in this big-hearted new musical comedy with a cheeky script by Betsy Kelso, an infectious score by David Nehls and a richly talented cast. TRAILER PARK sparkles with treasure." —NY Sun

"Joyful and unashamedly vulgar, Betsy Kelso's comic fable about women in a Florida trailer park and their no-account men is more fun than a chair-throwing episode of Jerry Springer set to music." —The New Yorker

"Entertaining and tuneful, TRAILER PARK shines like aluminum siding. The performers can sing, act and joke around with the best of them, and cocky as you please, they sell David Nehls' music as if hawking rhinestones on the Home Shopping Network." —TheaterMania.com

"This wheel-spinning, mud-splattering good time of a show is the theatrical equivalent of a bag of Doritos. You can't get enough. Who could expect a thrillingly trashy Greek chorus of trailer park matrons whose hysterical musical stylings all but redefine the girl-group-as-cultural-commentator craze? Or a number with enough show-stopping electricity to trump every musical that opened on Broadway last season?" —Talkin' Broadway

"A sparkling, sharp irreverence lights up this musical and makes it one of the most laugh-out-loud shows in town." —Broadway.com

Marquee Award Nominations Postponed to Thursday, July 9!

2009-07-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hi All:

Well, I never finished updating the Season Wrap Up...perhaps it will find a space in my massive to-do list, but I kinda doubt it. No Summer break for us!

In the meantime, we'll be heading over to Cafe Cimmento Thursday, July 9, at 5 to hear the Youngstown Area Community Theater Alliance (YACTA) Marquee Award Nominations. This is the sixth year for the awards (started to fill the absence left by the Playhouse's Arthur Awards) and second for nominations party. It's a nice time, lots of theater faces, and you get to hear what the theater community has deemed the cream of the crop for shows this season.

As a member of the Evaluations Committee, I can say that the process of choosing shows is very difficult. Lots of time spent from getting all the show info, assigning people to see shows, going to shows, evaluating shows fairly, submitting evaluations, and then compiling evaluations into nominations...phew! Not to mention planning the event itself...

Read on for more info. This year's awards are at the Saxon Club August 15. All are welcome! Ticket ordering info is below...

Café Cimmento at 120 E. Boardman Street in downtown Youngstown will play host to the 2008/2009 Marquee Award Nominations Announcement. For the second year-in-a row,
the Youngstown Area Community Theatre Alliance will hold a live Announcement Event. The public is welcome to attend this Announcement at 5 pm on Tuesday, July 7 at the downtown eatery.

The event will consist of area personalities announcing the nominations for the 2008/2009 Marquee Awards in twenty-nine categories. Each category will consist of between three and five nominees. The final voting on the winners will take place later in July, with the Marquee Awards being handed out in a formal ceremony at the Saxon Club on Meridian Road on Saturday, August 15, with local media personalities Jim Loboy and Brandy Johanntges serving as co-hosts. This year is the Sixth anniversary of the awards, which have become the premier community theatre awards in the area.

Although attended mainly by actors and technical personnel, YACTA does have a limited number of tickets available to the public. Reservations may be obtained by calling YACTA’s reservation line at 330-774-4212.

All theatre personnel as well as the public are invited to attend the Announcement Event at Café Cimmento on the 7th. The nominations are scheduled to begin promptly at 5 pm.

For more information on the Announcement Event and on the Awards Ceremony, call YACTA at 330-799-6176.

The End.

2009-06-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

So, the 2008-2009 Season is officially over. What a fantastic run it was. We had such a good time, making lots of new friends, renewing friendships and partnerships, reaching out to our community, and basking in the glow of generosity from our supporters, many of whom attended every show this season. That is something, considering everything we've had going on this past season. Let's recap, shall we?

July-August 08: We stayed out in the sun over the summer, appearing at the Summer festival of the Arts at YSU and the Pig Iron Press Fest downtown. Then we kicked things off with a new tradition, our Open House, which highlights the upcoming season and is a great chance for board members to catch up with patrons and volunteers. It's a free event with all food and wine provided by the Board, and always well-attended.

September 08: we officially opened the season with Pulitzer prize winner turned Oscar-nominated film Doubt, directed by Mike Hinge with fabulous set design by Leslie Borwn. We had a lot of complaints last season that our sets left much to be desired, so it was a goal for us to have improved sets this year, and the Doubt crew set the bar high! Two cast members for this show drew unique parallels between their roles and real life: Joanne Carney Smith played the principal of a Catholic School; in reality, she is the Asst. Principal at Cardinal Mooney...and newcomer April Sauline played a young teacher at the same school -- in real life, you guessed it, she just landed her first teaching gig at St. Nick's! The cast was rounded out by a powerful Jimmy McClellan and a gem of a performance from the ever-captivating Carla Gipson. Our gallery artist was Chicago-native Hannah Woodroofe, whose work has since been displayed at several other Valley locations.

October 08: with little downtime between shows, much of the set for Night of the Living Dead was recycled and slightly varied. I like watching the evolution of sets at the Oakland because there is, inevitably, at least one flat or door that makes its way into every show (this time it was the principal's office door, which no one bothered scraping the letters off of until tech week). NOTLD was our forray into the world of film-to-stage adaptation as an error in copywrighting left George Romero's cult-classic open to the public forum. That meant we could adapt the script and stage a play based on the film without anyone suing us! Also, we didn't have to pay for rights. That was a good thing because we spent that money on fake blood, latex, and toilet paper to create convincing flesh wounds. The large cast of zombies walked around extra pale and pimply for weeks thanks to the heavy white makeup, but it was a labor of love. This was an extraordinarily dedicated cast, rolling out of bed at 4 am to be on the morning news at 5:30 am (bonus: I got to hit Mike Case with a foam bat; the zombies got to attack me live on air and pull me down to the filthy street). WFMJ loaned us Glenn Stevens and Marty Hudak to tape a newscaster segment with authentic old studio relics; Dan Black of WKBN starred in the show and also did voiceover work for the radio broadcasts (thanks to Pete Drivere of Ampreon Studios, who recorded and "aged" the broacast). It was a great collaboration of community, and we have Director Chris Fidram to thank for his vision. Our Star Gallery was spectacularly spooky, featuring the ethereal works of Jason Van Hoose, Bill Youngman, and Nea Bristol. Haunting! We also got out in the community with guest zombies at the Children's Museum Spooktacular and celebrated out 3rd Stage Fright event.

November 08: We celebrated the national release of Board member Christopher Barzak's second novel under Bantam Books. The Love We Share Without Knowing garnered rave reviews, and the party was one for the books with tons of friends, family, and local writers turning up in droves for autographed copies, a live reading, and lots of delicious nosh and drinks prepared by Chris' wonderful family! A great time was had by all in spite of the wine stains from a certain Dr, Roger Craik. The Star Gallery was decorated with works inspired by the novel, including original pieces by local artists Marcie Applegate and Tony Romandetti.

December 08: How The Drag Queen Stole Christmas celebrated its 3rd year of a successful run by adding and still selling out a second weekend of shows. The usual cast was all there along with a roster of new characters and the debut of Sara Palin. Our Faaaabulous Chinese Auction raised a ton of money and included our most fab donations to date, including a $200 gift certificate to Smith and Co Jewelers, belly dancing lessons at EOS, and lots more! Patrick Hyland was our gallery artist this year, and he also donated a ton of his amazing photographs for the auction. At the end of December, we rang in the New Year with First Night Youngstown, hosting the Pickled Brothers Sideshow and Jason Alan Magic. Our venue was the only one to have packed houses at the 11 pm show -- causing a few people (including many First Night Board Members!) to nearly miss the fireworks and ball drop at midnight!

There's more to come! Stay tuned for a recap of the second half of the season, including Bug, Driving Miss Daisy, Reefer Madness, Rabbit Hole, "When I Knew..and How It Saved Me," our appearance a the first ever Youngstown Pride event downtown, "Freak Show," the Stage, Book Club, gallery artists, and much more!

I'm Not That Girl...

2009-06-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

Poster as promised! Mark your calendars, ladies and gents...this is one show you won't wanna miss!

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Hole!

2009-06-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

See more pics like this on our facebook (search "oakland center" - masterful photog/actor Joel Stigliano captured and tagged these images).

Start following us on twitter and get $5 off admission to Rabbit Hole this Friday or Saturday!

Tune into Channel 33 today around 5:30 to see Brooke Slanina talk about the show!

DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW! it is amazing, truly, to watch these actors with this script. Please call 330-746-0404 for reservations for this Thursday (June 18 - all tix 5 bucks off!), Friday, or Saturday!!!!

Rabbit Hole Poster

2009-05-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

As we wind down from Reefer Madness, we are already hard at work on our final show of the season, Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay-Abaire. Directed by Chris Fidram, the Oakland cast will feature a lot of new faces to our stage (but very familiar -- and beloved/admired -- by theater audiences): Sara Klimenko, Joel Stigliano, L.J. "Tess" Tessier, Candice DiLullo, and Cheney Morgan.

About our cast: Sara is fresh off her acclaimed performance in The Victorian Players' The Miracle Worker production; Joel is graduating from the theater department at YSU and heading off to graduate school at Ohio University in the Fall after a 10-year stint in NYC; Tess hasn't been onstage in years; Candy returns to the stage after garnering great reviews in productions of The Glass Menagerie and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?; and Cheney follows in mom Molly Galano's footsteps as he treads the Oakland floorboards for the first time. Director Chris is a true veteran of local theater, having acted, directed, teched, and board membered at most local venues. He is assisted by Geri DeWitt, also a veteran of theater and a much beloved face both on stage and behind the scenes. It's an honor to work with such a gifted, dedicated group of talented individuals!

We shot the poster graphics for the show this past Monday. Melanie Rae, a local photographer who recently boomeranged back from Alberqueque, "volunteered" (i.e., I wrangled her into it at the last minute) to shoot the poster, and we grabbed the nearest kid (the amazing and gleeful Andrejz Labedz, son of board member Terri and Digimob member Andrew) and headed to the Arms Museum to get our shots.

It was a perfect day: the sun was shining but there was a lovely, warm breeze. The grass looked exceptionally green, the sky clear blue; even the bunnies could not resist a romp through the grounds near us! We crashed the end of the Zou's music video shoot and stole Melanie away from Chris Rutushin, Khaled Tabbara, and Danielle Mordocco, who slaved away inside the Arms Museum under the watchful eye of Jess Trickett and the Chair Wrangler Lady.

Chris' concept for the poster was a young child's feet in the grass/crossing onto pavement -- the idea being that the image of feet evoke a suggestion of rabbit ears. It also references an event that sets the whole play into motion. If you want to see the shots, go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oaklandcenter/sets/72157618534416666/

Also, check out Melanie's work on myspace or just pop into the studio next to the Draught House, where she and a collective of other photogs work.

Viva la community collaboration!!!

Protest the Protest!

2009-05-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

The other day, I received an interesting piece of correspondence from a someone who has heard about Reefer Madness but clearly knows nothing about what it is:

To Whom It May Concern:

I was outraged to hear that the Oakland Center for the Arts in downtown Youngstown of all places has staged a production entitled “Reefer Madness”. As if our society didn’t have enough problems as it is. Now there is a community theater out there promoting drug use and who knows what other sins? What we need now is moral stories and role models for our kids. I can only imagine the reprehensible scenes presented in this so-called “play”.

I’ve never been to the Oakland. In fact, it’s been years since I even set foot in downtown as I don’t go around asking for trouble. But the outrage I feel about this play is enough to get me out there. I have spoken to other like minded citizens who share my feelings, and we will be at the Oakland on Friday, May 8, at 11:30 am to protest this atrocity. We will proceed from the Oakland to the Center of town and back again. Others who share in our disgust are welcome to attend. We will have extra signs ready to go when you arrive.

I know many upstanding businessmen and secretaries and the like still work downtown, and I urge you all to get out of your offices and join us in protesting this blatant promotion of marihuana in our city!

Sincerely,

Ramona Martin,
Founder,
Upstanding Citizens Against Marihuana

In response to Ramona and her Upstanding Citizens, we at the oakland will be protesting their protest. We will gather this Thursday, May 7, (that's tomorrow, kiddos) at the theater at 6 pm to make signs. It's brush-up for the cast, so we'll be sign making until 10 pm or so. Just show up, ready to write, and we'll provide markers and signs.

Then, on Friday, May 8, we will gather again at the Oakland between 11-11:30 to get our signs and meet up before marching to the center of town, signs in hands, at 11:30. Be ready to create quite a hullabaloo as really, all we want is to generate attention for the show. bring your cameras and bullhorns!

See you all this Thursday eve or Friday around lunch!

P.S. Ramona, Reefer Madness is NOT about the promotion of drugs! But thanks for the brilliant idea for a protest!!

Reefer Reviews

2009-05-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

They are fantastic! We wound up with a wonderful opening night audience, nearly full and very enthusiastic. Many of them stayed to chat with the cast and indulge in our munchie-rific post-performance reception, brimming with goodies like three kinds of salsa and chips from the Boardman Chipotle (PLUS cards good for a free order of chips and guacamole!), home-made brownies (featuring our Brownie Bake Off Winners Marla, Crystal and Rochelle, and Louis, as well as runners up), Susie's orangesicle punch, fresh sangria, and fat juicy strawberries!

One note of caution: I am an eejit, and I screwed up a listing in the program. BRANDON SMITH plays JACK, and he has gotten rave reviews...unfortunately for him, Jack was billed as B.J. Wilkes. And while B.J. is lovely and talented, he's just good ol' FDR in the show. So, corrections will run but please be aware that whenever you read about jack in the Oakland's Reefer Madness, you should think about Brandon Smith, who rocks.

Here's what the Trib had to say:

Preview http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/521382.html

Review http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/521531.html

Vindy:

Preview http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/apr/30/from-out-of-the-haze-comes-8216reefer/

Review http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/may/04/youngstown-8212-based-on-the-deadly-earnest/

Valley24

http://valley24.com/news/2009/may/02/reefer-madness-upholds-expectations/

So, if the word on the street (so far, I have heard: "better than Broadway!" "best show of the season!" "my favorite production in years!" "you should do this every year!" "I can't wait to come back!" "Can I make reservations for closing weekend now?" "genius casting - where did you find such talent?" "I couldn't stop laughing!" and my personal fave "it didn't look like an Oakland show because of all the new people on stage. I wanted to meet them all!") hasn't yet convinced you to come, these reviews should seel the deal.

While we always make room for more at the O, I'd strongly advise you get tickets reserved ASAP. Call 330.746.0404 today. Joan of Arc will take care of you...she's taking over for Mr. Peanut while he gets some rest for his upcoming Summer Tour of the Valley.

Get Your Reefer!!!!

2009-04-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Madness, that is...

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Oakland Center for the Arts announces its Spring musical extravaganza, Reefer Madness, directed by Robert Dennick Joki with musical direction by Anthony Ruggiero. With book and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and music by Dan Studney, this musical is based on the 1936 cult classic propaganda film. A spoof on the overacted portrayal of the dangers of “marihuana,” the musical version follows a pair of innocent high school sweethearts on their drug-crazed journey into madness! Featuring guest appearances by Jesus, Satan, and a dancing brownie, the show is great tongue-in-cheek humor.

Performance dates are Fridays and Saturdays May 1-16 with all show times at 8:00 pm. A special midnight show will be held to celebrate closing night (May 16). An opening night reception will be held on Friday, May 1, and will feature nachos and salsa from the Boardman Chipotle as well as winning brownies from the Oakland Brownie Bake Off.

With a cast of 28, the show features local actors as well as many YSU and Kent State students and alumni, including Bobby Brooks, Brittany Eckstrom, Heidi Davis, B.J. Wilkes, David Munnell, Brandon Smith, Shawn Lockaton, Melissa Cook, Ric Panning, Natalia Hagan, Suzanne Shorrab, Alecia Sarkis, Montaja Simmons, Alyssa Connelly, Beth Farrow, Monica Collier, Molly Makselan, Crystal Beiersdorfer, Rebecca Raab, Joseph Croft, Juleah Buttermore, Angie Healey, Derrick High, Aaron Kubicina, Eric McCrea, Rachel Rossi, Deanna Scott, and Laura Thompson. Choreography is by Alecia Sarkis, Natalia Hagan, and Lauren Thomspon. Danielle Jackson stage manages with assistance from Terri Labedz. Lighting design is by Ellen Licitra with set design by Jimmy Lybarger.

Star Gallery Artist is Tony Nicholas, whose work ranges from “what is true” to a tribute to Kelly Pavlik to the incorporation of hot rods. A local artist who has been featured at many local venues and professional shows, his work will be on display for free viewing for all patrons.

The Oakland is located at 220 W. Boardman Street in Downtown Youngstown. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students. Group rates are available for parties of 8 or more. Reservations may be placed by calling the Ticket Hotline at 330-746-0404 and leaving a message. Visit oaklancenter.com for more.

Got tweets? Follow us on twitter -- oaklandcenter!

Brownie Bake Off!

2009-04-20T20:07:00.001-07:00

We will be holding a brownie bake off in honor of the grand opening of our Spring musical, Reefer Madness, which runs Friday, May 1-Saturday, May 16. Directed by Robert Dennick Joki with musical direction from Anthony Ruggiero (the team who brought you Bat Boy: The Musical), the production features a cast of 28 plus set design by Jimmy Lybarger and lighting design by Ellen Licitra, two of the greatest designers in regional community theater!

We decided to do a brownie bake off for 2 reasons: 1. stoners loooove brownies and 2. we need money! But Brooke, you might be saying, the Oakland must be rolling in dough! This is such an artistic minded town, surely you sell out every show and get tons of donations and grant money and that federal stimulus package is doubtlessly rolling your way! Well, friends...not quite. You see, putting on shows costs money, and while we usually make enough money over the course of a production to pay back what we spend, it doesn't always work out quite that way. And as a nonprofit, we barely earn enough to pay our bills, let alone add extra programming.

The Oakland is run almost entirely by volunteers, which is a huge savings. We have a wonderfully generous patronage, which we are eternally grateful for. But still, shows cost money to stage. What goes into staging a musical, you ask? Read on:

Rights: because Reefer Madness is a relatively new show, the rights are not cheap. Every theater must pay rights on every show they do; otherwise, how would the playwright get paid? Syke, the royalties go to the company that owns the script. It's like a pyramid scheme, only for thespians!
Scores and script rental: yep, we have to pay for that too, all 35 of 'em (the musicans and technical crew need copies as well!)
Costumes: 28 cast members. Multiple dance numbers, including an orgy, a singing baby, and a glitzy gospel-themed Jesus number. Google Reefer Madness musical images and see what comes up...this show is costume intense!
Set: between building materials, tools, paint, and manpower, we run into some costs. even with a heavy volunteer force, it still costs to make a set look good (and trust, this set is gonna be magical!)
Lights: may some deity bless Ellen, who is also VP of the Oakland Board in addition to being a lighting guru. Lighting = money not just for the actual lights but the evergy they use (hint: a lot!)
Music: musicians don't work for free, baby!
Press: while we rely heavily on free press and trade ads, we do some media at cost.
Utilities: oh that electric bill kills us! and those leaky toilets...jiggle the handle, people! ;)
Printing: programs aren't free, though the wonderful and amazing Rick Wolford at Poland Graphics is like a miracle worker when it comes to churning out or always gorgeous programs.
Concessions and food: Sure, we sell 'em back to you, but we still have to feed and water the cast, and we always have a killer opening night reception, eh?
Art Gallery repairs: there's always spackling, painting, and other artsy crap to do between gallery shows. We also print and hand tags for pieces.

The bulk of cost for this show comes from rights and scripts, but we're gonna spend a lot of money on costumes, set, and lights too. It's worth it, but it's stressful to spend money when there's so little of it! That's where you come in.

We try not to ask you for money without giving you something in return. Sometimes it's something simple, like an open mic night or the camraderie of book club. Other times it's a soul-baring, life changing show (like this past weekend's When I Knew...And How It Saved Me). This time, it's delicious warm, gooey, chocolatey brownies.

Join us this Sunday, April 26, from 7-10 pm for a brownie bake off. 5 bucks gets you in the door to taste delicious brownies and watch the original propoganda film version of Reefer Madness. BYOP (that's pillow, for those of you with gutter brain) or B (blanket) 'cause we'll have limited couch and chair seating. We'll be watching the movie in the gallery; the brownies will be displayed in the rear of the gallery and in the lobby.

Your 5 bucks also gives you judging priveleges. At the end of the night, after everyone tastes all the brownies, you'll drop your ticket into the bucket that corresponds with the brownie you liked best. The top 3 with the most votes will be featured at our opening night reception. Winners will receive:

1st Prize: One Season Flexpass ($75 value)

2nd Prize: 4 Complimentary Tickets ($60 value)

3rd Prize: 2 Complimentary Tickets ($30 value)

Wanna contribute? Submit your name, name of brownie, and list of main ingredients (esp. any allergens) to oaklandopenmic@gmail.com. Last minute submissions will be accepted (in case you get bit by the baking bug Sunday afternoon) as long as you and your brownies are there by 6:30 pm to set up.

We'll also be selling munchies, milk (cow and soy), soda, and water. Every single cent we raise goes back into the show! Your dollars can cover a bra in felt marijuana leaves! And that means something, people!!!

When I Knew...and Movie Auditions!

2009-04-16T11:29:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to a vindy article about "When I Knew..." featuring some performers' excerpts:
http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/apr/16/gay-pride-show-to-raise-funds-for-june-street-fair/?newswatch

And also, this weekend will be a busy one for us. Ellen will be in the theater focusing lights (wanna help? We need volunteers desperately for the following times:
Friday 4/17 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday 4/18 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday 4/19 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
all you need is energy and ability to climb up and down ladders - no experience necessary! Call me - 330.718.5515)

and in the Star Gallery, we will have auditions for a local independent film:
"The Human War"

Local Casting - Character Descriptions

Filming Location: Youngstown, Ohio and Pennsylvania

Casting Date: April 18, 2009

Time: 9-3pm

Casting Location: The Oakland Center for the Arts (3rd Floor, Art Gallery)
220 West Boardman St., Youngstown, 44503. Phone: 330-746-0404.

Call for professional and non-professional actors for day player speaking roles.

Audition Format:
Cold reading: Script "sides" will be provided to actors on arrival at the audition site. Actors will have a short time to read their lines and prepare. Actors will read their role from the prepared script with a casting associate.

How to submit:
If interested in auditioning, please come to the Oakland Center for the Arts between 9am-3pm on Saturday, April 18th. We will be located on the 3rd Floor.

When I Knew...and How It Saved Me

2009-04-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

I love love love the title of this show. It feels so good to say it and to type it...ooooh, those elipses are so...suggestive!

Anyhoo, for those unfamiliar with the concept of the show, here it is in a nutshell, from Rob:

A few months ago I wrote a blog. It was called When I Knew...and How It Saved Me. It was a big deal to me at the time because it was a very personal piece for me to post in a public forum. I was worried about what my friends and family would think. I hoped that if I shared my story, my testimony about how I came to terms with who I am, it would help others to do the same. It turned out to be a major turning point in my life. I have never regretted publishing it.

I am very proud to let you know that the little piece of writing that started out as a blog on a local website is now being produced on stage at The Oakland Center for the Arts. My story will be featured along side the stories of nine other brave individuals. The evening will also feature original and popular music, singing, spoken word, and dance.

The performance will take place on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th, both nights at 8pm, and will serve as a fund raising event to benefit Youngstown's first gay pride festival.

In a recent interview about the event, a reporter asked me "Do you really think that coming out of the closet saved your life?" This show is not just about coming out of the closet. And although all of the stories are LGBT related, only about half of the performers are gay. It's hard to explain...but this production isn't about being homosexual. It's about a moment. A realization. It's about knowledge. And finding peace. The moment I am talking about saves from people from living in fear. From being the kind of person they don't want to be. From living hateful lives. From being misled. And yes, in some cases, from death.

The piece I am going to read is about the first instance I found myself attracted to another man...and how the timing of that event profoundly affected me. In my personal case, it did save my life. That being said...this is probably the most important show I've ever done.

By sharing our testimonies, we are trying to raise awareness, and put a face on the gay community and its allies in the Youngstown area. At the same time, we are raising money for a good cause. I am not gonna lie. I am scared out of my mind. My hands are shaking as I draft this letter and my eyes are welling up. In a few days, I am going to get up in front of a room full of people and speak words I have never been able to say out loud. I'm terrified. But I believe in this cause.

And I believe in these people. These individuals are everyday people, reading their own words...telling the stories that changed their lives. Some are hilarious. Some are sad. Some will make you wanna punch a wall. But they are all very true and very real. When they knew...and how it saved them.

Once again, all proceeds from this performance will benefit Youngstown's first gay pride celebration, which is scheduled for this summer. It is a festival that will take place in the downtown area, and it has been a long time coming. If you would like to see this show and support the Youngstown area LGBT community, you can make reservations by calling The Oakland Center for the Arts at 330 746 0404. The theater is located at 220 West Boardman Street in downtown Youngstown, Ohio. Tickets are $15. There will be a reception at 7pm each night before the show. Seating is limited, so make your call as soon as possible.

Performers include Nicole Zayas, Joyce Jones, Beth Farrow, Maxine Factor, Niki Jones, Ric Panning, Rick Morrow, Kelly Bancroft, Carlos Rivera, Brandon Smith, Molly Makselan, Natalia Hagan, Kerri Rickard, Kage Jonas, and more.

If you cannot make the show, but would like to make a donation to Pride Youngstown, the nonprofit group organizing the pride festival...drop me a message and I will let you know how to do so. Also, if there is anything you can do to help us get the word out about this show, we would greatly appreciate it. I hope to see you this weekend.

Thank you for helping us change the world.

With love,

Robert Dennick Joki

Rob is like, the core of the Oakland. He directs, writes, acts, sings, costumes, set designs, sound designs, casts, suggest plays, and fundraises. You know him from our now infamous and incredibly popular drag shows. Here's a guy who is blessed with an amazing voice and more talent than you can shake a stick at, and he chooses to cultivate a life here. We are so blessed to share in his talents. Oh, and he's so funny. He makes everyone laugh and laugh.

Although this show is Rob's fundraiser for Pride Youngstown, I think it's important to note that The Oakland has always been a safe haven, an open environment where anyone is welcome to be who they truly, madly and deeply are. Gay, straight, black, white, grey, sick, healthy, unbalanced, conservative...whatever. We love ya no matter what container you arrive in.

And that being said, you don't have to be gay to be part of this show. Performers will be reading their stories and singing and dancing and listening, but some of them are straight and some are gay and some have gender identity issues and some are not what you think. They're all here to share their story of a time when they realized something about themselves, and it changed their world.

We all lie to ourselves. But when you stop lying and start facing the truth, something happens. These performances are about what happens -- what happens when you walk away, when you face a fear, when you look in the mirror...when you tell yourself the truth and actually believe it.

I liken it to a live staged version of post secret, only instead of postcards, these are letters.

Wanna share but have wicked stage fright? Bring your story to the Oakland to post in the Star Gallery. You don't even have to write your name -- just share your words in hopes of healing someone else. We're working on having a camera and laptop available as well, so people can live-blog or record a video for our youtube eventually.

Accidental Catalysts

2009-04-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend, two Oakland Board members did super amazing things:

Joyce Jones, with the help of her family and friends, raised $1,000 to send her talented filmmaker son, Derrick, off to Cannes for a film internship. All told, through community efforts locally and regionally, they raised $2,000 so Derrick has enough money to get to France and not starve to death while there. In one of her emails promoting fundraising events, Joyce said "it takes a village to raise a child...and you are that village!"

Many community theater people know Joyce, and not a single one of them has anything but kind and loving words to say. That is a very rare feat indeed -- theater people are kind of, uhm, dramatic and quick to anger, so it's not exactly difficult to make enemies. But Joyce is a true theater person. She's been in the business for over 2 decades, on and off stage. She went into labor during tech week for a show she was stage managing and was back for opening weekend, or so the legend goes.

Derrick is a truly great guy. Motivated, determined, successful. He's talented but humble. Spoken word artist, film maker, big brother, devoted son, supportive friend. I couldn't think of a better person to fundraise for. I don't know Derrick very well but know people who grew up with him and adore him. You can read all about his endeavors (and see him with famous people!) here. To everyone who bought a fish dinner, attended the benefit, or sent money along, thank you and may good things find you. Look how cute Joyce and Derrick are (old D, young J):

On the same night Joyce hit her fundraising goal, Terri Labedz surprised herself and everyone else with a chunk o' change for the American Cancer Society. Terri's husband, Andrew, has a band called the Realtime Digimob. They have been working on a CD and corresponding CD release party at the Oaks for some time. It just happened that this show fell on the same day Andrew's mom was born and, years later, died. They say that people who die on their birthdays are angels, right? Well, I can't vouch for mama Labedz, but Terri sure is something else.

Terri decided she would shave her head at the show for mostly personal reasons: a tribute, a memorial, an experience. Then someone said they should donate proceeds from CD sales to ACS, so they did. Then someone suggested Terri sell off locks of her hair and let people do the cutting before she shaved it all off, so she did that too. Everyone at the Oaks had pieces of Terri's hair that night. Some had long locks; other had tiny wisps. I tied mine in a ponytail wth my hair. Some people taped theirs onto their hair or faces or tucked it under their hats. Our lovely friend Rob saved his and is going to make it into earrings for our upcoming Chinese Auction.

At the end of the night she and the Digimob had raised over $500.

I sat on the ground in front of Terri as her best friend Jess shaved her head. I watched her face change as she looked at the signs she had created and held up throughout the process. I thought of all that Terri has been through, how she has grieved and processed and helped and loved and never, ever once complained or snapped or grovelled. I cried tears of joy for my friend, who is beautiful and wild and creative and brimming with love at all times. Terri says it didn't feel like anything while it was happening, but I know I was not the only person in the audience who was moved to tears by her compassionate act.

Sometimes, without even realizing it, we are catalysts for change. We are sources of light and inspiration. It's not usually what we set out to do, but every so often, we find our desires connect to and fulfill a larger need.

I am honored to be blessed with such amazing friends in my life, and The Oakland is a thousand times blessed by their presence and energy. These women are tirless. They fight the good fight -- for their families, their communities, their causes. They are dedicated to constant improvement. They balance career, family, education, and community with grace and ease. It s so easy to get disgusted, down-trodden and defeated in these trying times. Sometimes I just want to lay down and give up. Then I look at my wonderful, gloriously strong friends and kick myself for being such a wimp. Respond positively and you will do more than survive...

Derrick is off on his European adventure the first week of May. You can catch the Digimob at the Nouveau Rock Fest at Cedars on April 25. Keep supporting the arts and see how your community continues to grow and change everyone for the better!

The Oakland at the English Festival

2009-04-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have heard and a few may have even attended, but the Oakland was given the honor and privelege of putting on a performance of one of the 2009 book selections, Keesha's House, by Helen Frost, at this year's English Festival. Initially we were given a script adaptation that Ms. Frost wrote based on the book, but it was too lengthy and character-heavy for the short amount of time we had to prepare/the limited performance time slots.

When Dr. Salvner, chair of the English Department at YSU, approached me about tackling the project, I just said yes. I always say yes when it means a chance for the Oakland to get out in the community. I had read Keesha's House already in preparation for the Festival, which I usually volunteer for in some capacity. The book centers on one main character, Keesha, who ran away from home and now stays at a kind of safe house. All the local kids now know of this place and refer to it simply as Keesha's house. The cast of characters becomes known to the audience as they turn to the home, and Keesha, for comfort, safety, and guidance through assorted trials ranging from teen pregnancy to homosexuality to drugs. The cool thing about the book is that it's written entirely in poetry form, so each character unfolds through their own scattered series of poems.

I'm no director and had really no time to undertake the production, so I asked our lovely intern Molly Makselan to take on direction. We initially attempted to get some of the families from Beatitude House to participate in the performance, but that didn't work out. Molly put together a fantastic cast of YSU theater students and alum: herself, Ben Reiter, Alyssa Connelly, and Randall Brammer. They each acted as a character from the book and read a series of poems from the book. There were two sessions and each was attended by about 100 students and teachers. I only got to stay for part of the first show (darn work!), but the students were really receptive and seemed to enjoy it. I heard lots good things from lots of good people! Molly really did a fantastic job considering the limited amount of time and resources she was given, and the cast also delivered a stellar performance.

On Thursday of Festival Week, I was honored to be chosen as an interview subject for the journalism track kids. My session was split into two groups of junior journalists, one being for me and the other for a Festival author. Pretty flattering company! The students in my group were in 7th-9th grades and smart as whips. They all had questions prepared and many of them seem to have googled me beforehand (scary stuff!).

Some of the questions that stumped me most were simple: "What's your favorite book?" "Who's your fvorite author? " "Who inspires you?" "Who influences you as an actress?" Sheesh! I really had to think about these questions before I answered them. I'm also not used to being thought of as an actress anymore. They also asked a lot of questions about my childhood, which was unexpected and thusly difficult to answer. I'd be curious to see what these articles turned out like, but alas, it will remain a mystery!

One of my favorite questions was about what advice I would give to students involved in theatrical productions. I suggested they always remember to be professional and respectful because the person ypu stab in back may come back to haunt you one day. Someone asked what my motto for life is. My response: act first, apologize later. If you wait around for permission, things are never gonna get done, and if someone is mad about procedure, they still can't argue with positive results. Unless things don't go as planned, in which case...run like hell!

You can read Rick Williams' very sweet take on the interview here: http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/520326.html. I can't say enough how terribly flattering it was to be selected for this activity. It is such an honor to spread the word about the Oakland and all the cool things happening in Youngstown right now. One of the kids I met during the interview mentioned that his school has a juggling club -- I hope to finally fulfill my lifelong dream of having jugglers at the Stage!

P.S. How weird is this pic -- a bunch of Ursulintes (Meg Lawrence and Andrea Small are the ones whose names I for sure remember) and their hard-won award many moons ago...love it!

Rabbit Hole Auditions!

2009-04-07T16:11:00.001-07:00

Auditions will be held Monday, April 13th, at 7 pm for Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire at the Oakland Center for the Arts. Casting: 2 females, ages 25-40, 1 female age 55+, 1 male age 30-40, and 1 teenage boy, age 15-19. The play runs June 12-20 and is directed by Christopher Fidram. All roles open. For more information, call 330-717-0699.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play is about a successful suburban couple who must pick up the pieces after tragedy devastates their lives and tests their marriage. Soon to be made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. The Oakland is located in downtown Youngstown at 220 W. Boardman St.

Our Lady of Redheads, Cynthia Nixon, played the younger mother in the original Broadway production. I guess the guy who played the commissioner with a weird fetish who dated Carrie on Sex and the City played her husband. Yeah, yeah, he's on Mad Men now, but I will always remember him from that show...

Wordle Madness!

2009-04-06T05:56:00.000-07:00

Hey, bandwagon! I just jumped on you! Also: that last wordle's font was "SexSmith," and if you ask me, the word cloud is a bit...phallic? Or else it looks like a microphone...whatever. I like the way proper names mix together in these, like "Anthony Panning." If you know either Ric Panning or Anthony Ruggiero, you understand why this is funny.

Miss Daisy's thoughts on Brit Brit

2009-03-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

For those of you sharp-eyed readers living in the Mahoning Valley, you may already know how Miss Daisy feels about the nation's favorite poptart princess/recovering hott mess. The answer is not good. Miss D. does not approve of young ladies cavorting about in the panties and bras, weave aflutter in the wind of a giant, unseen fan. Miss D. finds this tyoe of behavior drisgraceful, shameful, and immoral, especially given her status as a mother. Miss D. would never have put her dear son Boolie in such a spot of embarrassment! But none of Miss D.'s friends care to listen...except her best pal, Hoke.

Know how I know all this? Check out the semi-ridiculous cover of Thursday's Entertainment section of the Vindicator. Ms. Spears thighs may be plastered across the cover, but our lovely Miss Daisy is situated quite nicely in the corner, ever judging with her wise eyes...

The preview is not online yet, so rush out to the newsstands and pick up a copy of today's paper!

The Trib's blurb here:
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/519800.html

Honestly, who runs the Jambar nowadays? I can't get coverage from them to save my soul (like I have one!). So I shall publicly shame them here, a'la Miss D: JAMBAR STUDENTS, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND COVER EVENTS AT THE ONLY COMMUNITY THEATER DOWNTOWN, AKA WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF YOUR OFFICES!!!!

and valley24...we'll just wait and see...don't make me address you in ALL CAPS, Ms. L.

Bloggers: have you written about Driving Miss Daisy's upcoming performances? Leave a link in the comments so we can promote you, promoting us! We love that kinda stuff!

And, if you don't know yet:
Driving Miss Daisy stars Molly Galano, John Herbert, and Eric Kibler and is directed by Terri Wilkes with lighting design by Ellen Licitra and set design by Jimmy Lybarger and Fran Comstock. Between these people are probably 500 shows and 100+ years of experience. Crazy, right? But true!

The show opens tomorrow night, March 27, at 8 pm with an opening night reception to celebrate the great cast and crew and Star Gallery artist Kamni Vallabh. Additional performances are March 28 at 8 pm, March 29 at 2 pm, and Thursday April 2, April 3, and April 4 at 8 pm.

Tickets are a steal at $15 gen ad, $12 seniors, and $10 students. Bring grandma, great Aunt Bertha, your parents, and kids! This is agreat multi-generational show and fun for the whole family!

This show is a bit out of place in a season that contains Bug and Reefer Madness, but don't forget that DMD pushed many a boundary in its day, and brought racial discussions to the forefront of pop culture. It's a quality production that many Valley residents will find heart-warming and enjoyable, so don't miss it!

Thanks to all the wonderful cast, crew, and volunteers who worked so hard to get this show on its feet in a short amount of time! Call 330-746-0404 for reservations!

47 is the Magic Number

2009-03-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

47. *

Forty Seven.

Do you know what that number means?

Mulitple choice pop quiz!

a. the amount of dollars in our checking account
b. the number of chairs we have stored under the seating banks
c. how much money we spent on concession candy
d. the number of people who auditioned for Reefer Madness

If you guessed c, you would be close...but WRONG! It's d!!! The number of people who auditioned for Reefer Madness!

WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

I think that is the same amount of people who auditioned for the last 2 seasons of shows combined. But for one show. One! 47 for 1 show! Can you believe it? The enegry was amazing last night...young people milling about, nervously pacing the scene shop, grouped on folding chairs near the kitchenette, sitting stiffly on the couch, or desperately learning a song in the box office. Under the careful guidance of Danielle, they all found their way into auditions, into the patient hands of Rob and Anthony, who had them sing scales and songs and dance about. Several choreographers were there, and multiple board members. The cast of Driving Miss Daisy was rehearsing in the theater. It was a great, exciting night to be at the O.

Special thanks goes to:
a. Rob Joki, for being such a great director that people want to work with him
b. the Play Selection Committee, for choosing such a fantastic show that everyone wasnt to be in
c. Murad Shorrab and the Zou, for promoting the auditions to students in Kent during their show last Firday
d. The Vindy, for running our audition notice in last Thursday's paper
e. Facebook, myspace, this blog, and email, for begging everyone to come audition
f. all of the above

Correct answer: f. It takes a village, people. Thanks for spreading the word and showing up!

* Did you know wikipedia has an entry about the number 47? and that it is , quite possible, the nerdiest thing I ever read? It mentions Star Trek like, 47 times. OMG1 47! It's the quintessential random number!!!

Reefer Madness Auditions March 16-17

2009-03-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang,

Don't forget to come on out for Reefer Madness auditions this coming Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, from 7-9 pm. March 17 is St. Paddy's day so come on over after the green beer gives you the courage to audition!

Auditioners are encouraged to wear loose-fitting clothes to allow for some light movement (physical challenge!). Plus you'll have to read from a script. Oh, and sing. Come prepared with a song (not just the one in your heart) and sheet music or a CD (music ONLY, don't sing along to vocals!) and we'll provide an accompanist or CD player.

Auditions will be held at 220 W. Boardman St. in the Star Gallery on the 3rd floor.

Robert Dennick Joki and Anthony Ruggiero, the team that brought you Bat Boy: The Musical, are teaming up yet again as director and musical director, so you know this show is gonna be fun.

We need a BIG cast for this show, so actors of all backgrounds, shapes and sizes are encoruaged to audition. Never been on stage? This is a great opportunity to work with seasoned pros and learn a thing or two. Haven't been in a show in years? What a great time to come back!

Performances run May 1-16 and cast will be required to actively participate in promotional events before and during the run of the show.

Already signed on to design lighting and set are Ellen Licitra and Jimmy Lybargher, two amazing technical designers. Danielle Jackson and Terri Labedz will be the masterminds running the backstage show, and Kerri Rickard is doing makeup. As for choreographer...Rob has decided to use different people to do different songs. So, if you have a dance background and wanna put together a few moves, let us know! Same goes for costumers...we'll be using a buncha different people to do different things, so if your sewing finger has an itch, we can scratch it!

We'll need lots of help building and painting the set, tearing down the set from Driving Miss Daisy, applying makeup, dressing people, running floor crew and tech crew, taking tickets, selling munchies, cleaning, promoting,...you know, the usual. And YES, we will need help with props...but not the kind you're thinking of, ya damn pothead!!! ;) Oh, and we'll need musicans as well! And we could use an underwriter...anyone know a business or individual who would support a crazy show like REEFER MADNESS?!?!?! St. George and the Dragon, where are you?!

So, if you're in the mood, come on out for auditions or email/text/call me and let me know if you wanna help in any other way!

Not to BUG you...

2009-02-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

...but you should immediately run to the nearest phone, dial 330.746.0404 and make a reservation for Bug today. Then show up this Friday or Saturday, next Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, or the following Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. See the show that will be talked about for years to come...the Oakland finally returns to its roots with on-stage nudity, blood, angst, and fire.

Pictured below are Terri Labedz and Ron Aulet, the lead actors in Bug, on the marvelous set for the play, which opens this Friday. Photo credit: Director Robert Dennick Joki. (ed note: I literally, for no apparent reason, just wrote "Jookie" instead of Joki...does that mean I was thinking of cookies? Probably. I usually am. Mmmmm, cookies.)

The Official Press Release:

The Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman Street in Downtown Youngstown, is proud to announce its first show of 2009. Bug, written by Tracy Letts, opens Friday, February 20, at 8 P.M with a reception immediately following the performance. Local artist Gail Trunick, whose work was recently featured at The Butler Institute of American Art, is the featured Star Gallery artist.

Set in a seedy hotel room, this thriller centers on the blossoming relationship between Agnes, a divorced waitress, and Peter, a soft spoken Gulf War drifter. Agnes stays at a hotel in hopes of avoiding her physically abusive ex-husband, Jerry, who was just released from prison. On top of that, there’s a hidden bug infestation problem that has both Agnes and Peter dealing with scathing welts and festering sores. Their fears soon escalate to paranoia, conspiracy theories, and twisted psychological motives.

Robert Dennick Joki, known for such Oakland hits as The Full Monty, Bat Boy, and How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas, will direct. The cast includes Ron Aulet of Niles, Terri Labedz of Youngstown, Ric Panning of Hubbard, Lisa Skerkavich of Youngstown, and Jim Canacci of Boardman.

The show runs February 20, 21, 27, 28, March 5, 6, and 7 at 8:00 pm with a matinee on March 1 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 55 years and over, and $10 for students with valid ID. Group rates are also available for parties of 10 or more.

For reservations, please contact 330-746-0404. For additional information, cast photos, blogs and more, visit oaklandcenter.com. Also check myspace.com/oaklandcenter for special discounts.

A special Press Release announcing discounted prices:

In light of the economic climate, The Oakland Center for the Arts will be offering several discounts during the run of Bug, the opening show of 2009. Performances are February 20, 21, 27, 28, March 5, 6, 7, at 8 pm and March 1 at 2 pm. Directed by Robert Dennick Joki and featuring Terri Labedz, Ron Aulet, Ric Panning, Lisa Skerkavich, and Jim Canacci, the dark drama follows a couple on a slow descent into madness in a seedy motel room.

During the opening weekend, all students who show ID will be admitted for only $5. Regular student tickets will be $10 the following two weekend.

$5 discounts are being offered to anyone who shows a ticket stub from the Pavlik fight at the Chevy Centre. Also, Military members will receive a $5 discount with proof of ID.

Regular ticket prices are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 55 and over, and $10 for students. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more. Ticket price also includes admission to the Star Gallery, where artist Gail Trunick's work will be on display through March 7.

Reservations can be made by calling (330)746-0404. Visit oaklandcenter.com for more information, and check out myspace.com/oaklandcenter for additional internet-only discounts to be announced.

The Oakland, a non-profit community theater and arts organization, is located in downtown Youngstown at 220 W. Boardman St.

The Buzzing Blogosphere:

Lucy's loving account of being part of getting this show in its sticky little feet

Another account from Lucy regarding the community's perceptions of us

Mr. Barzak is psyched!

Youngstown Moxie always supports us

Wouldn't you like to be a part of the buzz? Feel free to post the press release, publicity photo (see about) or poster graphic (see below). We encourage you to steal from this blog!

It Never Ends...

2009-02-09T16:41:00.000-08:00

On the plus side, we managed to tear down the old set and put up the new one in effectively 8 hours...the last 4 or so of Saturday were spent tinkering with one tricky wall, painting it to look like panelling, sweeping up the mess and trimming half the set. It was an inspired day, with Jim Canacci, aka Superman, showing up for work at 9 am sharp. I had Starbucks Italian roast (yow! it pays to have a Stabux connection on the board!) brewing and an assortment of fattening sugar-loaded snacks laid out. Soon, Danielle Jackson, Stage Manager Extraordinnaire, surfaced with drill and hammer in hand. Within moments, Jack and Sandy Slanina were there, ready to tear down sets. Then Jeff Chann and Julie Palumbo meandered in and immediately got their hands dirty. Over the course of the day, we were visited by Terry Esarco, Paul Hagman, Paris Kriech, Luke Pitzullo, Denise Glinatsis, Katie Libecco (with donuts!), Jessica Paul (thanks for the blog post, Valley24!), Robert (Jim's student), Kris Harrington, Adam Jackson, and Director Rob Joki (bearer of paint and trim).

Just as things were looking up, we lost a performer...two weeks before opening. I hate when this happens. It happens more often than you think. It's not the worst we've ever experienced (an actor walked out the night before a play opened once) but it's still frustrating. Luckily, we quickly found a replacement willing to step up to the challenge. And so, Jim Canacci saves the day again as he will be the new Dr. Sweet in this production.

I'm typing away, trying to get a new web design going, contacting TV media, figuring out a spin to promote the show, plugging in bios, generally feeling overwhelmed and two steps behind. Everytime something goes right (we have curtains! and they will look awesome!), something else goes wrong (we don't have a light design yet!). Such is the way of theater.

Tip your Hat to Top Hat

2009-02-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

Ah, Top Hat Productions...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

1. Your incredible lighting design
2. Your lovely volunteers
3. Your mega-watt talent
4. Your presence in the theater community
5. Your ability to support and interact so sweetly with other theaters
6. Your connection to Selah Restaurant
7. Your innovative use of online-ticketing, which I will soon steal
8. Your fabulous new website
9. Your convenient location (4220 Youngstown-Poland Rd.)
10. Your fabulous, evolving space (Fairview Arts & Outreach Center)

There are more, but I think 10 is a nice, round number.

What I really love about Top Hat is one of its board members/volunteers/lighting guru/wunder-kid, Jeff Chann. Jeff is the funniest, sweetest guy you'll ever want to meet. He's a talker, but in a way that never ceases to entertain and intrigue. There are other talkers who just drive me up a wall, yakking on and on about their grandkids and sales at Target. Jeff doesn't do that. He does good talking, the kind that incites action and brings issues to light, then follows with positive solutions.

Oh, and I love Julie Palumbo. I don't know Julie all that much, but she's also very sweet and funny and has a great voice. I'm pretty sure she'll be in their upcoming production of Smokey Joe's Cafe, which is a dinner theater show and runs Feb 20, 21, 27, 28, and March 1 at 6:30 each performance. Remeber when I said Top Hat is connected with Selah? Yeah, dinner show = can't go wrong. Oh, and also it's pretty cheap: less than 30 buck ($27 to be exact) for fine dining, stellar environment, and delightful entertainment.

Julie and Jeff will be appearing at the Oakland this Saturday to help with construction. Isn't that awesome of them? Isn't that the true spirit of community theater? That's what people don't get to see: how we all help each other survive the bad times, and how we celebrate the good times together as well.

Since the run of Smokey Joe's Cafe coincides with the run of Bug, you better arrange your schedule now so you can see both at the end of the month!

Want to learn more about Top Hat? Check out their new website (I know, I said that already): www.tophatproductions.org.

If I had a Hammer...

2009-02-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

I'd hammer all day, especially this Saturday, February 7, at the Oakland from 9 am til whenever hammering is no longer necessary...

Catchy tune, no?

You know what I like about our new president? His effort to be transparent about his governing, and his ability to call a press conference and say "you know what? Dude, I effed up. Sorry. Let's fix it!" And while maybe what's really to blame is an extended history of corrupt politicians and political systems that typically turn a blind eye, our president is willing to take his lumps and rather than keep digging holes to hide things, air it out to the public, who has every right to know.

So, here's the Oakland's dirty laundry: we have a problem with the set for Bug, which opens on February 20 (so, like less than 3 weeks from now). And we've had a lot of problems with sets in the past. But this time, instead of masking problems, we're going to fix it. This is a stellar play with a hard-working cast who is killing themselves to get it right, and they deserve a stellar set.

So, we're doing some emergency work this weekend in order to tear down and rebuild a new set. But, we can't do it without you.

So, if you have any carpenter skills or have built a set before (even in high school), grab your tools (hammer, drill) and head down to 220 W. Boardman St. around 9 am on Saturday, or later in the day if you can. Whatever works for you. We'll be there all day, and we'd like to accomplish our task by Saturday night or early Sunday at the latest. We'll sate you with snacks and pizza, plus hydrate you, and in the end you'll get your name listed in the program and that satisfactory feeling when you see the show and think "I helped build that! That's the nail I pounded in holding up that flat!"

We're a community theater, which means we rely on our community to help us, and we give back to the community with entertainment and a safe space for creative expression. I say it all the time, but we really couldn't survive without you. Yeah, you. All of you. So, please help us if you can this Saturday. The set is relatively simple (it's one ugly, run-down hotel room with a kitchenette, bathroom, bed, a window and 2 doors) and if we get enough people, it shouldn't take too long to accomplish our task.

Oh, and if you suck at construction, we can always use your painting/wallpapering/set decorating skills). I myself lack the upper body strength/hand-eye coordination to do anything but hinder construction, which is why I will be handling food supplies and scrubbing the toilets rather than trying to hammer my finger into the set.

Leave a comment below if you'd like to help. If you read this on Saturday and decide to head down, call 330-718-5515 for directions or info. Ask for Brooke.