F.Y.I.

Top Hat to launch season with ‘Ragtime’

YOUNGSTOWN — Top Hat Productions will open its 2009-10 season Oct. 2 with a three-weekend run of “Ragtime.”

Top Hat was one of the last theater companies in the nation to secure the rights to the production. The rights became limited in anticipation of the musical’s return to Broadway in October.

Performances for “Ragtime” will be at 8 p.m. Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 18. Reservations are available online at tophatproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.

“Ragtime,” written by the award-winning team of Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens and Terrence McNally, is based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow. It paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America. The stories of three families intertwine as they confront contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice and hope and despair.

Top Hat’s production, with musical direction by Brian Palumbo, Dave Mullane, Errol Kehrberg and Emily Slaven, features a cast that includes Nikita Jones, Joshua Green, Donny Wolford, Jennifer Kuczek, Bill Marr, Mark Samuel, Denny Villa, Brian Palumbo, Chloe Housteau, Richard Moore, Anna Frabutt and Marlene Figley. Other cast members include Angel Febres, Jim Figley, Joyce Jones, Jack Kuczek, Wayne Morlock, Julie Palumbo, Liz Samuel, Anthony Villa, Mary Ann Villa and Dave Wolford.

Top Hat’s season will also include “Nativity” in December and “The Music Leads Me Home” (dinner-theater) and “The Earth Trembled” in 2010.

Battle of the Bands seeks contestants

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Riverplex, 11 S. Mill St., is holding a Rockin’ the River battle of the bands. Auditions are every Wednesday and Thursday throughout September. Audition fee is $30. Musicians need to bring only instruments; sound will be provided.

Finalists will play weekends throughout October at Stage 3 at the Riverplex. Four to five bands will play 30-minute sets each night. The winners each week will advance to the finals. The grand-prize winner will receive $500 and a full show at Stage 3 with sound, plus event T-shirts and booking at the Riverwalk Amphitheater next summer.

Competitions also will include best drummer, best vocals and best performance. For more information, e-mail jason@theriverplex.com or mdesalvo75@yahoo.com.

Arts program open house

SALEM — Salem Community Theatre, 490 E. State St., will have an open House for its performing arts program from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. The program includes the Children’s and Youth Chorus, private voice lessons and dance. Dance classes will be offered for age 3 through adult. Youngstown Dance Supply will be at the open house for shoe fittings and clothing purchases. For more information, call the theater at (330) 332-9688.