EASY STREET PRODUCTIONS Broadway, Hollywood in town

The show is a benefit for second-grader Matthew O'Nesti, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Do you have a yearning to just sit back and enjoy those old favorite Broadway and Hollywood tunes, some high-steppin' dancing, glitzy costumes, flashy logos, and even some video footage? Then Easy Street Productions has just what you're looking for to kick off your summer.
It's a big show. More than 50 people are in the cast, including the Easy Street Little Rascals (ages 5-12), the Easy Street Dancers, The Easy Street Little Big Band, and the adult actors.
"We previously did a tribute to Broadway, and also a tribute to Hollywood," says Todd Hancock, who directs Easy Street along with Maureen Collins. "We chose the biggest and best numbers from each to create this compilation."
This one seems to be fun from top to bottom. There's a tribute to Disney, a medley ranging from the very old to fairly new. It includes "He's a Tramp" (OK, confess, how many remember when that was recorded on little red or yellow vinyls?) to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (we thought we were so smart if we could spell that) to music from "The Lion King," and the wonderful talents of Elton John and Tim Rice.
There is also a tribute to Judy Garland, music from "Fame," "Chicago," "West Side Story" and a special "Show Toons." Collins says she especially loves working with the children and is looking forward to "DoReMi" which she and the Rascals will perform.
And some of the more serious musicals are also included, such as the beautiful "Seasons of Love" from the Broadway hit "Rent," and "On My Own" from "Les Miserables."
Family themes
Hancock says he is grateful for the loyal following the theater has had all these years.
"We do not get any grants, so we rely on ticket sales to keep us in business," he said.
He feels the main reasons so many people continue to support Easy Street is because they provide family entertainment and do shows that draw crowds. Many of the actors are well-known professionals.
"And we always go the extra mile for sets and costumes," he added. "We often rent costumes from Broadway."
This show, however, Hancock described as "minimalist."
"Since there are so many different musical numbers [35], there won't be many set changes, but instead the technical end will be slick," he said. "We will have screens where the show logos will be projected, and video footage that people can also watch, along with what is happening on stage, sort of a multimedia event. The band will be onstage during the whole performance, in a sleek bandstand look.
"The band is made up of some of the best musicians in town, nine in all, many [Youngstown State University] teachers," Hancock said.
Many of them will be playing several instruments, depending on what the individual piece requires. The music director, Jeff Sanders, will return from Chicago for the performances.
Program to help second-grader
Hancock stressed that the performance is a charity benefit.
"All proceeds from the ads purchased in the program will go toward the Matthew Fund," he said.
Matthew O'Nesti is a second-grade pupil at Stadium Drive Elementary School in Boardman who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, which affects his ability to control muscle function. The Matthew Fund was set up by the family with Ohio State University to help supply money for research on the disease. More than $100,000 has been raised, and some of the leading researchers in the world are involved with the project at OSU.
Hancock said Easy Street has a long history of raising money for charities.
"We have raised over $1 million for local charities in the 17 years of our existence," he said.
XThe performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Boardman Performing Arts Center, 7777 Glenwood Ave. (Boardman High School.) For tickets, call (330) 743-8555.