Show to focus on gay experience

Submissions for stories are still being accepted.

YOUNGSTOWN — Local performers will tell the stories of local gay-lesbian-bisexual-transexual individuals, friends and allies on the theme “When I Knew …and How It Saved Me” in a benefit show at 8 p.m. April 17 and 18 at the Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St., downtown.

A 7 p.m. reception will precede both shows, which have been assembled by local theater director/actor Robert Dennick Joki.

Joki collected the stories from friends and GLBT organizations and by spreading the word online.

The testimonies will be part of a performance that also features music and spoken word.

Stories that are not performed on stage will be showcased in the Oakland Star Gallery.

It is not too late to submit a story. Send submissions for “When I Knew … and How It Saved Me” as a Microsoft Word attachment or as a rich text file to wheniknewshow@yahoo.com.

Include a brief biography with your name, contact information, age, gender or gender identity and anything else you would like known.

Anonymous submissions will not be accepted, but names may be withheld from the performance at the author’s request.

Submission deadline is Friday. For more information, contact Joki at robertjoki@aol.com.

Along with Joki, performers will include Maxine Factor, Nicole Zayas, Ric Panning, Joyce Jones, Molly Makselan, Kage Jonas, Beth Farrow, Kelly Bancroft, Natalia Hagan, Kerri Rickard, Rick Morrow, Carlos Rivera and Nikita Jones.

All proceeds will benefit Pride Youngstown, which is planning the city’s first gay pride celebration June 6.

To make reservations for the show, call (330) 746-0404.