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‘Stranger Sings’ parodies more than Netflix show

YOUNGSTOWN — Parody shows, by design, appeal to a specific audience. “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical,” which is being staged by Millennial Theatre Company at Youngstown Playhouse through Nov. 23, is no different. Familiarity with the Netflix series “Stranger Things” certainly adds to the enjoyment of this spoof, but that streaming series isn’t the only target for comedy. Jonathan Hogue’s script and songs have nearly as many jokes and homages to musical theater as they do to the Duffer brothers’ creation. For fans of both “Stranger Things” and musical ...

‘Midnight’ brings mystery to TNT stage

NILES — There’s murder and foul play afoot at Trumbull New Theatre with “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.” Peter Colley’s script plays a little like “Gaslight” meets “Deathtrap,” and it’s difficult to talk about in great detail without venturing into spoiler territory. The setting is a farmhouse that Greg Sanderson (Marc Bye) rents where he can continue his archaeological research and his wife Jan (Niki Baringer) can recover from a recent mental breakdown. However, being in a remote farmhouse is the last place a woman who dreads being alone feels comfortable. ...

MTC spoofs Netflix hit

Those anxiously awaiting the final season of “Stranger Things” won’t have to wait until the first batch of episodes drop on Nov. 26 on Netflix to get their fix of the weird goings on in Hawkins, Indiana. That’s the way Millennial Theatre Company, which will stage the show “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical” for a three-weekend run in Youngstown Playhouse’s Moyer Room, planned it all along. The parody musical, written by Jonathan Hogue, made its debut as a cabaret show in 2018 and first appeared Off-Broadway in 2021. “They had released a pro shot of it online for ...

TNT presents mystery thriller

“I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” might be an unfamiliar play to many, and director Lisa Bennett wants to keep it that way. “You're not sure who's who,” Bennett said about the characters in the script. “You’re really unsure — ‘Oh, they’re OK.’ ‘No, they’re not.’ I kind of like that edge-of-your-seat type show, where you can’t identify evil until it’s right there.” The answers will come starting Friday, when “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” opens at Trumbull New Theatre for a three-weekend run. Peter Colley’s play, first produced in 1979, tells ...

Gray Areas: PBS program looks at food banks’ importance

Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment: • PBS Western Reserve has a couple of locally produced programs premiering the next two Fridays. “Feed Our Region” at 9 p.m. Nov. 14 looks at the regional food banks in the PBS channel’s broadcast area, including Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley, which serves Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. The efforts of organizations like Second Harvest always are vital, but they’re even more important with the current interruption in SNAP benefits. In the press release announcing the program, PBS Western ...

Mahoning Valley arts and entertainment

Art ARTS & EDUCATION AT THE HOYT, 124 E. Leasure Ave., New Castle, Pa.: “Jim Soppelsa: Abstract Variations” and “Dan Droz: Hidden in Plain Sight,” both through today. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. hoytartcenter.org and 724-652-2882. BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown: “Fred Staloff: Origins of a Modernist,” through Nov. 16; “Kim Novak: Tribute on the Occasion of Her Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award,” through Nov. 23; “Julio Larraz: A Prayer for Peace,” through Nov. 23; ...