Book showcases the history of local playhouse as 100th season approaches

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Youngstown Playhouse now has documentation of its long history available for the public as the 100th season is only two weeks away.

The archive room at the Playhouse is filled with items from its past. They all tell the story showcasing the organization’s first century.

Jack Ballantyne flipped through a scrapbook from one of the first 100 years of the Youngstown Playhouse.

“I think one of the most fascinating things was when the Playhouse started way, way back in ’24 [1924], they were hiring Broadway directors right off the bat to come in and direct shows with them,” Ballantyne said.

The first home for the Playhouse was in the Arlington Street Theater. It moved to its current home in 1959.

The Playhouse has always been a popular place for Youngstown community theater. At one time, it was called a “beehive of activity.” Ballantyne feels the best days are easy to recognize.

“Between the mid 60s, probably up through the mid 80s to the 90s, when Bentley Lanhoff was here — he really knew how to run this place,” he said.

Ballantyne has written two books corresponding with this historic season. One shares the written story and the other is a picture book. It’s called the Centennial Project.

Each chapter covers a decade of what happened at the Playhouse, which was incorporated as Youngstown Players. Ballantyne found something in the archives to include every time period.

“Theater goes up and down and up and down, just like everything else, and in the book, I deal a lot with Youngstown, the history of Youngstown also, because what happens in Youngstown affects the Playhouse,” Ballantyne said.

As the 100th season is about to start, Ballantyne has dug through every scrap in the archive room to document the history but he’s also looking forward to the Playhouse’s future.

“Well I hope they see it progress even further than it is now, than it did over the first 100 years. I hope they see a bigger boom than any of us can imagine,” he said.

Those interested in the books or other parts of the Centennial Project can find it on the project’s website.

The 100th season opens Aug. 23 with The Carole King Musical.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.