EASY STREET Concert to feature music of film, stage
If it rains, the show will move into Warren G. Harding High School.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Movie and Broadway music take center stage tonight when Easy Street Productions performs its second free concert in the city.
The group, based in Youngstown, will perform "From Broadway to Hollywood," at 7 p.m. today on the south lawn of Packard Music Hall. It's the second in a series of two free performances in the city this summer.
One of the group's founders says they'd like to offer more performance for Trumbull audiences.
"We'd like to do shows out there" as well as performances at Powers Auditorium in Youngstown, said Todd Hancock of Easy Street Productions.
Like Powers, it can be difficult to find open dates on the W.D. Packard Music Hall schedule, he said.
"We'd like to do our Christmas performance, 'Miracle on Easy Street,' out there as well as at Powers," Hancock said.
An Easy Street show last month drew about 1,400 people.
That number was a pleasant surprise to performers who figured rain would keep people at home, Hancock said. That performance was moved inside the music hall.
If it rains tonight, the show will be moved inside Warren G. Harding High School.
It's free
The performance is free and sponsored by Covelli Enterprises, Thomas Fok and Associates and Sky Bank, said Mayor Michael J. O'Brien.
"Hopefully, they'll be in a position to perform additional shows in the city," the mayor said.
Hancock described tonight's show as a collection of show tunes and movie themes. Selections include older favorites like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and pieces from "Annie" to newer movie and Broadway songs from "Titanic," "The Lion King" and "Rent."
Easy Street Productions was founded in Youngstown in 1988 by Hancock and Maureen Collins. They brought Mahoning Valley audiences "Pump Boys and Dinettes" in the 1980s and also "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "The Will Rogers Follies" and "Annie."
denise_dick@vindy.com