‘Little Mermaid’ swims into Badger

Joseph Badger Schools’ Drama Department will present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” at Badger School’s auditorium, 7119 state Route 7, Kinsman.

The musical is based on the 1989 animated film and includes such songs as “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea.”

Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and students and can be purchased at the door.

For more information, email holly.ceci@badgerbraves.org.

Butler displays student art Sunday

An art exhibition in conjunction with National Youth Art Month is scheduled Sunday at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown.

This is the fourth year the Butler has displayed the art of students in grades K through 6 from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

It will feature the work of nearly 30 young artists and more than 40 art educators.

First, second, third and honorable mention awards will be given for each grade level and recognition to every participating teacher.

It runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday with an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Lit Youngstown offers writing workshop

Lit Youngstown will host a writing workshop series for adults experiencing grief at the Girard Free Library, 105 E. Prospect St.

These sessions will include group poetry readings, peer-led discussion, thought-provoking prompts and the opportunity for participants to share work.

Session leader Alex Abruzzi has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Youngstown State University and currently is an instructor there.

The workshop will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays from April 2 to May 14 with no class on April 16. Advance registration is required at lityoungstown.org.

‘High School Musical’ features high schoolers

After hosting a production of “High School Musical” featuring a cast of elementary school-aged students last weekend, Ashtabula Arts Center, 2928 W. 13th St., will have a teen version of the musical this weekend.

The Matthew Gerrard-David Simpatico musical is an adaptation of the 2006 Disney Channel movie.

It is directed by Christy Seymour.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for students, senior citizens and military and $13 for children ages 2 to 12 if purchased in advance at ashtabulaartscenter.org or by calling 440-964-3396. Tickets are $2 more at the door.

Comedy fundraiser planned in Ashtabula

The Ashabula Arts Center will have a “Last Comic Standing”-style competition as part of its annual Comedy Night Fundraiser.

Six standup comedians — WestSide Ken Busler, Shayla Freeman, Dre Gray, GW Nell, Mike Shanks and Nick Stanco — will compete for a $500 prize ($250 for the runnerup) with the audience picking the winners.The headliner will be Dan Brown, a Cleveland-area comedian who recorded a standup special for Dry Bar Comedy and has appeared on “Huckabee.”

Tickets are $50 for the event, which starts at 7:45 p.m. March 28 at AAC, 2928 W. `3th St. Tickets are available online at ashtabulaartscenter.org and by calling 440-964-3396.

Westminster College presents author talk

Author Brenda Tate will speak at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Westminster College about her memoir “Journal of a Black Woman in Blue: Navigating Abuse, Addiction, Racism and Sobriety.”

A 40-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Tate will share her story of overcoming adversity while navigating racism and sexism within the police department and confronting her own struggles with addiction.

The program is scheduled in Dietz Sullivan Lecture Hall in Hoyt Science Center on campus, and admission is free. For more information, email lahram@westminster.edu.