New literary group aims to serve Valley writers

A new group has formed with a goal of giving the local literary community a home.

Lit Youngstown will offer at least a dozen creative-writing workshops each year, plus open-mic nights.

Karen Schubert is the founder of the group. A Youngstown State University graduate, Schubert has taught creative writing at several colleges and at the English Festival at YSU.

Her most recent chapbook, “I Left My Wings on a Chair” (Kent State Press, 2014) is a collection of prose poems.

Schubert got the idea to form Lit Youngstown while facilitating a writers workshop at Fellows Riverside Gardens. “It occurred to me that there was either a need here for more opportunities, or for letting people know what’s already happening,” she said in a press release.

Enrollment is now open for workshops in storytelling, prose poetry and song writing, as well as a prose writers roundtable. All offerings begin in March and will take place at several locations, including The Cafe at Wittnauer’s in Poland, Oak Hill Collaborative on the South Side and the First Unitarian Universalist Church on the North Side.

To learn more about the course and their instructors, and to register, go to Lit-Youngstown.wordpress.com.

The group also will have monthly readings and open-mic nights at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month at Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts on North Phelps Street, downtown, beginning March 4.

OPERA STAR LAWRENCE BROWNLEE HAS REGIONAL PERFORMANCES

Lawrence Brownlee, the international opera star who hails from Youngstown, will be in the region for performances in the near future.

Brownlee, a tenor, will perform in concert at EJ Thomas Hall in Akron on Feb. 26, part of the Tuesday Musical Club series. He’ll sing a program that will include works by Mozart, Joseph Marx, Liszt, Alberto Ginastera, Ben Moore and arrangements of spirituals by Damien Sneed. For tickets, go to Ticketmaster.com.

Brownlee also will sing the role of Tonio in Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Donizetti’s “Daughter of the Regiment.” Performances will be at 8 p.m. May 2, 7 p.m. May 5, 7:30 p.m. May 8 and 2 p.m. May 10, all at Benedum Center. For tickets, go to Pittsburghopera.org.

Brownlee graced the stage of Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown on Nov. 30, 2012, when he sang the role of Count Almaviva in Opera Western Reserve’s production of “The Barber of Seville.”

THE PARTY IS ABOUT TO END FOR VALLEY ROCKERS NO XCUSE

After 15 years, No Xcuse is about to say good night. The band has been a mainstay in the Mahoning Valley, playing gigs almost every weekend and always delivering energetic party rock.

The band, which plays mostly covers, has about a half-dozen shows left. “We just figure it’s run it’s course and want to end on a high note,” said band leader Craig Allen Pepey.

Pepey is going to take some time off before determining his next musical project.

‘I REMEMBER MAMA’ DATE CHANGE

A cast member’s medical emergency has forced the Victorian Players Theater to push back its production of “I Remember Mama” by one week. The play was scheduled to open Saturday. Performances will now be Feb. 13-15, 20-22 and Feb. 27-March 1. Call 330-746-5455.