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TNT stages one-act plays

Trumbull New Theatre will present two one-act plays led by first-time directors for a three-performance run next weekend. Steven Fraley will direct “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors” by Ian McWethy. A casting director has one day to find the leads for a community theatre production of “Romeo and Juliet.” What seems like a simple task proves impossible when the pool of actors includes extreme method actors, performers who just don’t know what to do with their hands and one particular woman who may or may not think she’s a cat. Alex Williams will lead the one-act entitled ...

Usher makes case for R&B in stadiums

LOS ANGELES — As Usher prepares to launch a stadium tour with Chris Brown, he says the criticism and legal troubles surrounding the singer never factored into his decision to embark on the tour. “Absolutely not,” Usher told The Associated Press. “He’s my brother, and he’s amazing ...

‘Nutcracker’ ballet announced for Packard

The World Ballet Company will bring its production of “The Nutcracker” to Packard Music Hall on Dec. 1. The performance will feature Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score performed by a live orchestra and 150 hand-crafted costumes. Tickets for the 7 p.m. performance go on sale 10 a.m. Friday through Ticketmaster. An online-only presale starts at 10 a.m. Thursday with the password: SNOWFLAKE.

OWR plans ‘Pagliacci’ for Powers

Tickets go on sale Friday for “Pagliacci,” which will be Opera Western Reserve’s fall production. “Pagliacci” (The Clowns) is a verismo-style opera, featuring realistic characters thrust into everyday life crises. Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo wrote both the words and the music in 1892. The story follows a raucous band of traveling clowns, jugglers and actors who arrive in a small Italian town to perform their boisterous comedy act. Tensions rise behind the scenes between the actor playing Pagliaccio and his young wife, whom he suspects is having an affair. As his ...

Nelly returns to Youngstown for Covelli date

Rapper Nelly, who drew a huge crowd at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in 2021, returns to the Mahoning Valley for a Sept. 13 concert at the Covelli Centre. In 2000 Nelly released his debut album, “Country Grammar,” which sold more than 10 million copies and included the hits “Ride Wit Me” and the title track. Its blend of hip-hop, pop and country was barrier-breaking at the time and remains prevalent in modern country today. The three-time Grammy winner’s other hits include “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma,” “Air Force Ones” and “Just a Dream.” Opening ...

July calendar of events in the Valley

1-4 — 80th Newton Falls 4th of July Festival at community park 1 — TLC Acoustic and Sandy’s Melt Down at Kinsman Free Public Library at 5:30 p.m. 1 — Lit Youngstown First Wednesday Reader Series: Meredith Doench and Erin Flanagan at Westside Bowl, Youngstown, at 7 p.m. 1 — ...