Bentley Lenhoff, community theater icon, dies at 85

YOUNGSTOWN — Bentley Lenhoff, a towering figure in the region’s theater community who once turned away Barbra Streisand from one of his productions, died today at 85 after a brief battle with cancer.

Lenhoff was closely associated with the Youngstown Playhouse in its glory years for decades and guided it through good times and bad.

He was at the helm of the Playhouse from 1965 to 1985, when the theater was thriving.

When hard financial times hit in 2004, Lenhoff returned at the request of a group trying to save the theater on the city’s South Side. Through his efforts as volunteer director, he was able to restore the Playhouse to firm footing.

Bernie Appugliese, the Playhouse’s operations director, was a protege, colleague and friend of Lenhoff for much of his life.

“Bentley Lenhoff is the reason the Youngstown Playhouse still exists and thrives today,” Appugliese said. “He was the major force behind this organization for more years than I have been alive. He was never content to rest on his laurels, but rather took this theater to the next level with every new season. He constantly pushed the limits and tried new and exciting things.”

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com