Dinner-theater premieres with 'Finnegan's Farewell'

April 9, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

BOARDMAN

Food Glorious Food Dinner-Theater is preparing its first production, “Finnegan’s Farewell,” an audience-interactive show that recreates a raucous Irish wake.

The comedy show will take place at 7 p.m. April 16, 17, 18, 24 and 25 at Trinity Fellowship Church, 4749 South Ave.

Brendan Byers, a veteran of theater and the food-service industry in the Mahoning Valley and Pittsburgh, is the founder and chief of Food Glorious Food.

The dinner-theater concept allows him to put together the fields he knows best. “It’s the two things I know very well, a marriage of the two,” said Byers, who is one of the original partners of the Double Wide Grill on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Byers also has worked as food and beverage director at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association and at the Ligonier, Pa., Country Inn.

The Youngstown native also has performed in many productions over the years with Easy Street Productions, the Oakland Center for the Arts and the Youngstown Playhouse. He most recently directed last year’s critically acclaimed production of “Tuesdays With Morrie” at the Playhouse.

For “Finnegan’s Farewell,” Byers will not only direct the show, but also oversee the kitchen. Food Glorious Food, he noted, is also a catering company.

“Finnegan’s” will have space for about 100 patrons per show, seated at tables of eight. It will begin in the church sanctuary for the funeral, and then proceed to the Fellowship Hall, where the banquet part of the show will take place.

Audience interaction is a big part of the fun. “Actors have to recognize which audience members want to be active in the show,” said Byers.

The cast of “Finnegan’s Farewell” includes Byers, Jenna Cintavey, Patricia Fagan, Geri DeWitt, Karen Gagliano, Donna Smith Downie, Pat McLeery, Medford Mashborn, Cheri DeGregory, Debbie DiBacco, Victor Garcia, Joshua William Green, Shawn Shasteen, David El’Hatton, Terri Wilkes and Maddie Devlin.

“Finnegan’s” is less scripted than similar shows, such as “Tony and Tina’s Wedding.” The funeral portion is fully scripted, but much of what follows is open to a different interpretation every night, said Byers.

It will be a typically raucous Irish wake, with Irish music and step dancers from the Burke School of Dance.

The audience will become the attendees of the wake and will be served their food as if part of the wake.

Hospice of the Valley will receive a portion of the proceeds.

Tickets are $35 and include dinner ($32 for seniors). Tables will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. For reservations, call 330-406-0606.