The Stage at Oakland brings variety with its open-mic night

By Milan Paurich

All kinds of talent can be expected each Thursday night.

YOUNGSTOWN — If you dig the idea of open-mic nights but wouldn’t be caught dead in a smoky, smelly bar packed to the gills with soused hooligans, the Oakland Center for the Arts just might have the answer for you.

On Thursday night, The Stage at the Oakland returns for a third season of free-for-all, open-mic-style entertainment. Your $5 admission price includes free snacks and the chance to mingle with friends, artists and even complete strangers for three fun-filled hours. There’s nothing else like it in the Mahoning Valley, and it’s a great opportunity to dip your toe into the sort of cultural diversity that makes Youngstown the grand and glorious melting pot it is.

It’s not just bands that will be taking the stage, either. Actors, poets, belly dancers, jugglers, comedians, ventriloquists, yodelers — everyone’s welcome. In the spirit of old-fashioned vaudeville, The Stage celebrates performance versatility in all of its eclectic permutations.

Brooke Slanina, president of the Oakland’s board of directors and a series co-founder, is understandably proud of The Stage’s uniqueness as a community presence. “It’s certainly a calmer, more intimate and more relaxing atmosphere than you’ll find at a bar. You can sit down, interact with the performers and really feel a connection with them. The variety show format really encourages everyone to let their guard down,” Slanina said.

Because of The Stage’s casual setting and friendly vibe, even newbies to the theater scene don’t seem remotely intimidated. Performers of various age, and talent level have all taken the stage and sang, danced and even snake-charmed their little hearts out. The liberating aspect of being able to finally share your hidden gift, whatever that may be, with a live audience is what brings people back month after month. Plus, the sheer unpredictability of the acts — you never know quite what you’re going to see on any given night — makes The Stage more entertaining, and certainly more distinctive, than standard-issue live theater.

Slanina is still jazzed about “Stage Fright,” last October’s Halloween-themed edition of The Stage. “We were completely full and even had people standing in the aisles,” she said.

The Stage hit the road this past summer, bringing its unique brand of anything-goes revelry to the Summer Festival of the Arts, Youngstown Rocks the Arts, Pig Iron Press Fest and various other outdoor venues. But with the cold- weather season fast approaching, returning to the warm, dry environs of the Oakland only makes sense.

In honor of its third anniversary, performers will be admitted free to this month’s edition of The Stage. Anyone interested in signing up for a performance slot can call (330) 718-5515, leave a message on the Oakland’s Web site (http://oaklandcenter.com) or simply show up in person from 7-8 p.m. Thursday.