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Oakland theater begins comeback with new board
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
The Oakland Center for the Arts is getting a second life.
The community theater went dark last year after it got in over its head in debt. It was forced to leave its rented space in the Morley Building, downtown, and sell its equipment to settle its bills.
But a trio of Oakland veterans has stepped up to revive the theater and will produce plays in several places.
At least three plays are planned for the upcoming season, beginning with a production of “Tuesdays with Morrie” Aug. 11-14 (7:30 each night, except 2:30 p.m. Sunday) at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane. Tickets are $20 and include dessert and coffee. For tickets, call the JCC at 330-746-3251 or go to jccyoungstown/morrie.
Also on tap for later this summer at the JCC will be Neil Simon’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.”
The third show will be the musical “The Awesome ’80s Prom,” but the location and dates have yet to be determined.
The new team at the helm of the Oakland is Harold Davis, president and treasurer; Brendan Byers, vice president in charge of artistic vision; and Kristina Terlecki, secretary, in charge of marketing and locations.
“I feel really good about this,” said Byers. “The Oakland meant a lot to a lot of people, and I feel like I’m going to give back to the Oakland for what it gave to me. I grew as a performer there, and as a director. It also taught me the production side of things, and what to not do wrong, and I’ve made many friends there.”
Byers has produced dinner-theater shows in Pittsburgh and Youngstown in recent years. He also has a children’s theater company that will be brought under the auspices of the Oakland.
At the time of its demise, the executive board of the Oakland consisted of Mary James, Tricia Terlesky and Amy Banks. To facilitate the takeover, they named the new trio to the board, and then immediately resigned.
Davis served as president of the Oakland in the early ’90s, when the theater company moved into its longtime space on the third floor of what is now known as the Morley Building at 220 W. Boardman St., downtown. Ballet Western Reserve owns the building and is housed on the first floor.
Byers said having Davis – who led the theater in its first period of transition – is huge.
Byers also was involved at the Oakland at that time, serving as operations manager and managing director of Magic Carpet Theater, the children’s division. In his new roles, Byers will write grant applications and be in charge of artistic direction and general operations.
Kristina Terlecki had worked with Byers as a performer at the Oakland in the ’90s.
For the first production, Byers is bringing back “Tuesdays with Morrie,” which he directed at the Youngstown Playhouse in the 2014-15 season and will use the same two actors: Victor Garcia and Tom O’Donnell.
The small cast and staging requirements make it a good choice for the Oakland’s rebirth, said Byers.
The Oakland intends to remain true to its philosophy of being different – staging works that are new, if not edgy – and toward that end will seek unique locations to stage productions after the initial two at the JCC.
For “The Awesome ’80s Prom,” the Oakland is looking for a venue that is unique and authentic – possibly a high school gymnasium. The interactive musical will be done as dinner theater.
The new executive board also has had talks with officials at some traditional venues, including the Youngstown Playhouse, Salem Community Theater and Stambaugh Auditorium, about future productions.
The new board is reaching out to fill an advisory board and is being met with an eager response from past Oakland veterans.
“People were passionate about the Oakland, and it broke a lot of hearts, including Harold Davis’ and mine, when they ran into this [financial] problem,” said Byers. “Everyone we’ve asked to get back involved has said yes.”
The list, he said, includes Chris Fidram, who was a lynchpin director and actor at the Oakland before it closed.
As for the Oakland’s financial problems, Byers said there appears to be no outstanding debt.
“[The previous board] assured us they’ve paid off the debt,” he said. “[Davis] is looking at the financials now. So far, everybody I’ve called, as far as utilities and the like, are reporting zero balance. But if we find something, we will face it head-on when it happens.”
Because the theater company had to sell its lighting and sound equipment, Byers said the new board is starting from scratch and will seek grants and hold fundraisers to purchase new equipment.