A resurgence at the Playhouse

The Youngstown Playhouse is finishing up the year with a level of optimism that it hasn’t seen in a while.

Midway through its 90th season, the community theater is in a good place both creatively and financially.

But six years ago, there was no guarantee that the Playhouse would have even been around to celebrate the landmark anniversary. A severe financial crisis forced the theater board to cancel the 2008-09 season while it focused on righting its ship.

With all of that drama behind it now, the South Side playhouse has emerged into a new era of positivity.

Bernie Appugliese is the executive director of the theater. He took over the position early this year after the board fired half of its payroll employees, including the former director.

Appugliese said the theater is going into the new year stronger and more productive than ever, and he credits the community for the turnaround.

Attendance is up more than 60 percent, and the theater has added almost 100 new season subscribers. All but one of its productions required an extended run to meet demand.

The theater also is reaching the younger set, entertaining more than 500 students with its holiday production of “A Youngstown Christmas Carol” this month.

A fundraiser concert featuring big-band singer Angelo Babbaro two weeks ago was so well-attended that the Playhouse already has scheduled it again for next season.

Looking ahead, the new year will bring more positive news.

Construction has already begun on a new rehearsal space. The large area, just off the lobby near the ticket window, most recently was office space. It has been gutted and will reopen next year, thanks to grants from several local foundations and the support of MS Consultants and Alex Downie & Sons.

The space also will be used for meetings and as an art gallery.

Just this week, the Playhouse got the rights to perform “Cats,” which Appugliese is fired up about. The ever-popular and unusual musical is scheduled for August. It will be directed by David Jendre, who helmed an outstanding production of “A Chorus Line” in September.

“Cats” will be followed in November by another blockbuster on the main stage: the Disney musical “Mary Poppins.”

Other highlights on the horizon include a production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in May that will be directed and choreographed by Stas Kmiec, the highly accomplished artistic director of Ballet Western Reserve.

Also, the submissions phase will open soon for the Playhouse’s fourth annual Voices of the Valley New One-Act Play Festival.