Kids will see show, Santa, Frosty and cast

All of the proceeds from the special performance go to Youngstown/Mahoning
Valley United Way charities.

YOUNGSTOWN — A lot of lucky kids and their families will have their holiday season enhanced with free tickets to the Dec. 13 performance of “Miracle on Easy Street” at Powers Auditorium downtown.

At a reception Thursday at Powers, the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way distributed 750 tickets to 21 local nonprofit agencies to give to children and their families who receive services from the agency programs.

“Miracle on Easy Street” is a musical production featuring holiday tunes and area singers and dancers. The cast includes 60 “Little Rascals,” who are children from the community, and some 50 dancers from studios around the Valley. Choreography by Renee Rogers includes a variety of styles including tap, jazz and hip-hop.

The special Dec. 13 show also benefits the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the performance going to United Way charities, said JoAnn Stock, director of marketing and resource development.

Children from the Potential Development program, dressed in elf costumes, enlivened Thursday’s event with a “thank you” song; and they even got to talk to Santa Claus.

Also during the event, 19 local businesses who served as sponsors for the special United Way Family Night at “Miracle on Easy Street,” performed by Easy Street Productions, were recognized and thanked for their efforts. Sponsorship packages ranged from $500 to $10,000 and included tickets donated to local children and their families who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend the show, Stock said.

In addition, she said dollars raised from this special fund-raising event will go toward the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way’s annual campaign, currently in progress. The local United Way helps fund 70 programs run by 29 nonprofit agencies.

Some 25 percent of area residents benefit from United Way supported programs, said Douglas Sweeney, chairman of the 2007 financial campaign. He said 54 percent, or about $1.5 million, of this year’s campaign goal of $2.9 million has been raised to date.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Huntington Bank, and Denise and John York and The DeBartolo Corp. Denise DeBartolo York and Cindy Miller of the DeBartolo Corp. passed out the tickets to agency representatives.

Other event sponsors are: Schwebel Baking Co., Lariccia family, Akron Children’s Hospital, Aqua Ohio, Butler Wick, Fifth Third, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Farmers National Bank, General Motors Lordstown Complex, First Place Bank, Altronic, First National Bank, National City, and Youngstown Fence; and ticket-only sponsors, Charter One and Dominion East Ohio.

United Way Family Night at “Miracle on Easy Street” also includes a pre-event reception, at which attendees can “meet and greet” Santa Claus and his elves, Frosty the Snowman and show cast members. There will also be face painting, coloring stations, and pictures with Santa, Stock said.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $12 for children age 12 and under. Tickets for the pre-event reception and a preferred seat at the show are $50 each.

Tickets are still available for the United Way Family Night performance and can be obtained by calling the United Way office at (330) 746-8494.