Chicago is a Playhouse hit

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Playhouse has had more than its share of troubles in recent years.

But it’s been decades since it had a problem like the one it has now: a “good” problem.

The theater, which was on the brink of closing two years ago because of financial woes, can barely keep up with demand for its current production, “Chicago.”

It sold out all six scheduled performances and then added a seventh — an 8 p.m. show Sunday that is also expected to sell out. About 500 seats are available for each performance, so the run’s total attendance will be around 3,500. Extending the show another weekend isn’t an option, because some cast members have other commitments.

The box office has been swamped since the day after Labor Day, and most callers have been met with a busy signal. As of Thursday morning, about 120 phone calls for ticket reservations were in the phone message queue, awaiting callbacks.

Mary Ruth Lynn, executive director of the theater, was almost at a loss to explain the frenzied demand.

“It has taken us all by surprise,” she said. “This has been going for two weeks. It’s crazy. None of us know what to say.”

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com