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Playhouse to auction some props, equipment
Military uniforms are expected to generate interest from collectors.
YOUNGSTOWN — Interested in purchasing old Army fatigues? How about a 10-burner gas stove?
The struggling Youngstown Playhouse plans to raise money by selling some of its assets that are not essential to its operation, theater officials said.
The offered items should fetch more than $10,000, said auctioneer Jeff Byce of ByceAuction of Youngstown, which is handling the sales.
The contents of the commercial kitchen will be auctioned at 10 a.m. June 2 at the Playhouse. Food-service equipment, banquet chairs and tables, and office furniture will be part of the sale.
“It will be a great sale, as the items have hardly been used and are in very good condition,” said Byce.
Pat Fagan, Playhouse spokesperson, said the theater company once used its kitchen to prepare opening-night dinners and brunches for children’s performances. It was also lightly used by rental parties.
Also being offered is an industrial back-up generator, which will be sold by sealed bid. Interested parties can preview it and pick up a bid package during the June 2 kitchen auction at the Playhouse.
“The generator has less than three hours of use and would be ideal for a company that wants to save thousands on a new one,” said Byce. Many items from the theater’s prop and wardrobe collections also will be auctioned, including more than 150 military uniforms going back to World War II and a vast amount of military accessories, as well as other collectibles. The items were amassed over the years for use in performances.
The prop-wardrobe auction will be at the ByceAuction gallery, 755 Wick Ave., on the North Side. The date has not yet been set. Photos of all of the items, as well as specific information, can be found online at byceauction.com. Interested parties can call Byce at (330) 747-7000. The military uniforms are authentic and should generate a lot of interest from collectors, said Fagan. They were deemed expendable because they don’t fit the actors, she said.
“Even when we did a play with military in it, like ‘South Pacific’ or ‘A Few Good Men,’ we couldn’t use them because they don’t fit the contemporary young man of today,” said Fagan.
The Youngstown Playhouse has been on hiatus since October as it works to pay off back taxes and reopen. Its Glenwood Avenue building is in need of roof and plumbing work, and proceeds from the upcoming sales will go into the Playhouse’s general fund, said Fagan.
The Playhouse will present two plays in July at Boardman Center Middle School. It also is having a “Night at the Races” fundraiser June 20 at the Playhouse.