‘Night of Sketchy Comedy’ set by Rust Belt Theater

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Rust Belt Theater Company will present “A Night of Sketchy Comedy,” featuring eight outrageous one-act plays, written by local playwrights Michael Dempsey, Mary James, Roger Jones and Robert Dennick Joki. Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Aug. 21 and 22.

The shows are being directed by Kage Coven, James and Joki. They are:

“Hampshire Hamster” by Dempsey: Two men discuss the recent purchase of three hamsters with unusual properties. Hilarity ensues.

“Birthright” by Dempsey: A young man pays a private detective a significant amount of money to track down his birth mother, and the result is nothing like what he expected.

“Victor Death” by James: An office romance blossoms between two fantasy-world role-playing-game enthusiasts.

“Regurgitating Bob” by James: Taking place in an afterlife, purgatory-style waiting room, various characters, all named Bob, await reincarnation and discuss their past lives.

“The Beautiful Nose” by Jones: Two lovers meet for a romantic rendezvous, fixating on a very specific body part.

“The Explorers Club” by Jones: The wealthy members of the Explorers Club meet to recount their past triumphs, and also to plot each other’s untimely deaths.

“Well Baby” by Joki: A little girl has fallen down a well, and her mother has a very difficult time finding help because the media’s attention is focused elsewhere.

“Serial Monogamy” by Joki: Two of the most awkward people of all time meet for a blind date. They discover that they share more in common than they think.

The cast includes Erica Perna, Katrina Mink, America McNeil, Aedan Hnida, James Hain, Jayden Byrne, David Cirelli, Celena Coven, Donnette Bishop, Jeremy Hernan, Tricia Terlesky and Shilo Nierhorster.

There will be a reception after the opening-night performance.

Tickets are $15 for regular admission; $10 for students and seniors. For reservations, call or text 330-507-2358.

The Rust Belt Theater Company is in the Calvin Center, 755 Mahoning Ave., just outside of downtown Youngstown. Parking is free.