F.Y.I.

Ballantyne named Victorian director

YOUNGSTOWN

J.E. Ballantyne Jr. has been named managing director of Victorian Players Theater.

Ballantyne had been serving as interim managing director since the Dec. 25 death of Marilyn Higgins, who had long held the post. The theater’s board of directors named Ballantyne her permanent replacement at a meeting Sunday.

Ballantyne has been involved with the Victorian for several years as a director. He also started the annual Halloween productions there. His company, J&B Theatrical Promotions, handles marketing for the theater.

Ballantyne said the theater will continue to move forward in Higgins’ vision for the theater.

Rock Hall of Fame opens its archives

CLEVELAND

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened its new library and archives to the public Tuesday to give scholars and fans access to the stories behind the music through such “artifacts” as personal letters from Madonna and Aretha Franklin and a 1981-82 video of the Rolling Stones tour.

The collection, catalogued over the past few years, includes more than 3,500 books, 1,400 audio recordings and 270 videos, and is housed in the new four-story, $12 million building on the nearby Cuyahoga Community College campus. Thousands more books and recordings and hundreds of videos will be added as previously stored items and new donations are catalogued.

Two more movies will be made in Ohio

CINCINNATI

The Ohio Department of Development said this week that tax credits totaling more than $1.5 million have been approved for two more movies. “A Doll’s House” with Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley will begin shooting in the Cincinnati area in late January. Officials expect producers to hire 188 Ohioans for cast and crew.

Later this year, scenes for a thriller called “Scorned” will be shot in the Shawnee State Forest area in Scioto County in southern Ohio. The state expects the production to hire 107 Ohioans. The movie’s cast hasn’t been announced.

The movie tax credit has helped bring 28 films within three years worth $115 million in spending.