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Gray Areas: ‘Christmastime’ and live music time for Radio Lark

Back in 2019, Radio Lark released a great holiday track called “It’s Christmastime.” For those who’ve never heard it, check out the video on YouTube, which features a who’s who of Mahoning Valley musical talent. While Radio Lark’s Chris Rutushin has sung “It’s Christmastime” a couple of times with The Vindys (Jackie Popovec is prominently featured on the track), the band that recorded it never has played it live. That will change Saturday when Radio Lark & Friends performs Saturday at Westside Bowl, which will be the band’s first local show since the pandemic. ...

Mahoning Valley arts and entertainment

Art ARTS & EDUCATION AT THE HOYT, 124 E. Leasure Ave., New Castle, Pa.: “Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e,” through Jan. 29, 2026. 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: “Kim Novak: Tribute on the Occasion of Her Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award,” through Sunday;“Robert Rauschenberg: A Centenary Tribute,” through Jan. 4, 2026. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. ...

Cindy Lou Who returns for another round in MTC’s ‘Who’s Holiday’

Cindy Lou Who is a lot of trouble. The wee tot who was not more than 2 in Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is now an alcohol-swilling, foul-mouthed Whoville outcast in Matthew Lombardo’s comedy “Who’s Holiday.” If Brandy Johanntges, who plays Cindy Lou, gets into any trouble, there’s no one to bail her out. “Who’s Holiday” is a one-character show, so all the dialogue — written in Seussian rhythms of Theodore Geisel’s children’s books — and all the action come from Johanntges. She also starred in Millennial Theatre Company’s inaugural ...

Kids make for a spectacular show

The W.D. Packard Concert Band presents its Family Christmas Spectacular, a free concert open to the public, Sunday at Packard Music Hall. Two days before the public event, the band will play an abbreviated version of that concert for thousands of area schoolchildren. Thomas A. Groth, executive director of the band, programs the Christmas concert with those children’s shows in mind. That’s why there will be school-aged children on stage as well as in the audience. “I just want to give the young people in the audience the chance to see other young people performing and say, ...

ACTS presents new ‘Christmas Carol’ script

ACTS Performing Arts Center presents a recent adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for a two-weekend run. Justin Haigh’s adaption, which has played to sold out crowds in Toronto since its debut in 2019, includes original scenes, characters, dialogue and songs in its retelling of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts who visit him one Christmas Eve. According to director Maria Petrella-Ackley, “I am excited to share this special version of the classic Christmas tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge’s journey through his past, present and future. You see a side to ...

Ballet Theatre Ashtabula stages ‘The Nutcracker’

Ballet Theatre Ashtabula will stage “The Nutcracker” for 13 performances starting Friday at Ashtabula Arts Center. The annual production is ever changing due to the make up of the cast being different each year. According to Clover Robinson, director of dance for Ballet Theatre Ashtabula, “Dancers move into different roles as their skills and artistry develop, and each one is going to bring something different to that role even in the pieces of choreography that don’t change. Because the number of students at a particular skill level is constantly fluctuating as people move ...