Youngstown, OH — The Youngstown Playhouse will present a virtual special event in partnership with New Castle Playhouse, Area Community Theatre of Sharpsville, Greenville Area Community Theatre and Red Barn Players, under the leadership of the Community Foundation of Western PA and Eastern OH. 

“Regional Theatres Christmas Celebration: A Virtual Collaboration” will feature local performers singing holiday selections, while raising funds for each organization. Viewers of the concert will have the opportunity to donate to the theatre of their choice. The impact of donations will be maximized by $15,000 in total matching funds that have been pledged by The Winner Foundation, the Anderson Family Foundation and the O’Brien Children Memorial Fund. Funds will be allocated in accordance with individual donations received by each theatre. 

Since COVID-19 struck in March 2020, theatres have been unable to present live performances and are hurting financially without revenue from ticket sales. This collaborative effort will allow theatres to raise funds while sharing talents from their respective organizations.

The Youngstown Playhouse is represented by performances from Natalie Kovacs (Disney’s Frozen Jr.), Brandy Johanntges (Noises Off, Mamma Mia!), and Jessica Joerndt (Dreamgirls). 

Singers recorded songs individually in front of a green screen at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, PA, adhering to pandemic safety protocols. 

States co-producer Toni Schlemmer, of Red Barn Players, “We came together to support each other with the common goal of raising money to keep the theatres alive. All community theatres rely on their productions to pay the bills. We have a mortgage, utilities, insurance—all of which must be paid regardless of whether we are putting on shows.” 

Development Director Kayla Boye states, “The Youngstown Playhouse is excited for our first large-scale collaboration with our fellow regional community theatres. As we head into the coldest months of the season, funds raised from this concert will allow us to pay for utilities during the hardest time of the year for our historic building.”

The concert will premiere on Friday, December 18, at 7pm  and will be available for viewing until midnight on December 31, at www.RaisetheCurtains.org.   

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