‘A place where the stars shine:’ Youngstown Playhouse celebrated for 100-year anniversary
Several Youngstown establishments are celebrating major milestones, including the Youngstown Playhouse, a long-standing monument to arts of the south side since the 1920s.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber joined the Youngstown Playhouse for a ribbon cutting at noon Sept. 18 to commemorate 100 years of drama, arts and entertainments.
Susi Thompson is the secretary of the Youngstown Playhouse board of directors and often directs plays.
“The arts enhance a city’s attractiveness as a place to live and work, which can lead to longer-term economic growth,” said Thompson. “A robust arts scene contributes to a high quality of life, making the city more appealing to talented professionals and innovative companies looking to relocate.”
For 100 years, children, teenagers, families and community members came together to experience live theater at the Youngstown Playhouse.
Students will be learning new skills like acting, playwriting and a unique preparation for future auditions during this fall’s workshops.
According to Thompson, the Youngstown Playhouse serves over 9,000 audience members annually through workshops, concerts and other creative programs.
“Creative industries, often clustered in culturally rich urban areas, benefit from the synergy and networking opportunities that vibrant arts communities provide,” said Thompson.
The Youngstown Playhouse Archive Committee is inviting former actors, technicians, office personnel, board members, volunteers, youth theatre participants and anyone who worked or volunteered at playhouse in the last 100 years of production to attend a centennial gala celebration.
The Youngstown Playhouse was established in 1924 on Market Street before later moving to its current Glenwood Avenue venue.
Generations of Mahoning Valley residents performed in and watched plays, supporting the arts and artists for the past century.
“We tell stories that connect us, that let us walk in someone else’s shoes and illuminate the human spirit. There’s nothing better than entertaining people and making them laugh or cry,” said board president John Cox.
On Sept. 21, the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society hosted a screening of a ten-part documentary about The Youngstown Playhouse with video interviews, audio clips and thousands of photographs through the years.
In addition to the documentary A Centennial of Live Theater, Youngstown playwright J.E. Ballantyne Jr. created two books about Youngstown Playhouse, in-depth scrapbooks of beloved photos and performances available for purchase.
Check out the Centennial Project’s online store for more information.
.jpg "Book+Cover2+(c).jpg")
Current and upcoming shows
This weekend, get tickets to see Something Rotten at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday or at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday on the main stage of the Youngstown Playhouse.
Tickets are on sale to see Puffs or 7 Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic premiering at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25.
If you can’t make it to opening night, there’s another show at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Check with the Youngstown Playhouse for ticket release dates and more announcements for the centennial season, like The Thanksgiving Play, Nov. 11 - 24 and shows in 2025, like Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief and Oklahoma!
Support our journalists with a tax-deductible donation
Sign up for our Mahoning Matters newsletter
