Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Meadville Community Theatre performing holiday classic

11/29/2022

Meadville Community Theatre brings to life the holiday classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” as a 1940s radio broadcast.

"It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" runs at 7:30 p.m. December 2 and 3 and 9 and 10, and 2 p.m. December 4 and 11 at the Odd Fellows building on Allegheny College’s campus, 400 N. Main Street in Meadville. Tickets are $11 to 13 and may be purchased at the door, at www.mctbackstage.com/tickets or at 814-333-1773.

“In their day, radio performances relied on the imaginations of writers, actors, sound technicians, musicians and the audience itself," said director Tom Hall. "Without relying on visuals, a 300-pound man could play a little girl, a box of cornflakes could become cracking ice and one actor could create 10 characters. All done without costumes, makeup or computer-generated images.”

"This radio show production is such a unique way to experience this story in a way that our audience may not have before,” said Alicia Greathouse, who plays Hatch Bailey.

She is one of 12 people that will bring the magic "It's a Wonderful Life," which was inspired by Philip Van Doren Stern’s “The Greatest Gift.” Greathouse is joined by Jason Sakal, Kelly Perrett, Geoff Hall, Glen Holland, Glenn Tuttle, Adam Leute, Scarlett Shepard and Hilletje Moller Bashew. They are voicing 44 characters between them. Music and auditory effects are created by Dave Allen, Becky Hall and Debbie Ormston.

Help Associated Charities help the community this holiday

11/29/2022

Associated Charities will hold a Christmas for Kids fundraiser from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, December 4, at Titusville Iron Works.

The event will include a silent auction, raffles, special vendors, food and live music. A bidding auction will start at 4 p.m. The Women of the Moose will also be selling rip-off tickets.

"As you come out next Sunday for a day filled with fun, great prizes, talented entertainment and good food and drink, we thank you for opening your hearts and wallets so that we can help those struggling to make ends meet during these challenging times," the organization posted online.

Admission is $10, which includes a chance to win a designer purse. Attendees should also bring an unwrapped gift or toy for a child. For those needing suggestions as to which toy to donate, Associate Charities suggests any of the following:
Squishmallows, Legos for boys and girls, Barbies and Barbie clothes, Play-doh sets, play make-up sets, Hot Wheel sets, Skipbo, Sequence, Baby Alive, Mini Brands, fast food gift cards for teens.

All the proceeds will benefit children in the Titusville community through the Associated Charities efforts.

Find out more on the organization's Facebook page.

In 2022 Associated Charities has provided :

50 to 60 families each month visit the Thrift Store to receive free clothing, household and personal hygiene items.
$27,000 paid toward utilities.
130 families are fed each month through our food pantry
120 kids received new school clothes,
49 students received back-to-school haircuts.

Karma series on the move again

11/27/2022

The Karma concert series has a new home again. Rebranded "Billy's Has Karma", the December performances will be held at Billy's on Seneca Street in Oil City. Along with the music, there will be a full menu and drinks available to purchase. "It’s gonna be a good thing," said organizer Kay Woods.

Concerts will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Performers will be the following:

December 1 - Brandon-Rae
December 8 - Memphis Honey Blues Band
December 15 - In Harmony
December 29 - Better on the Drums.

Admission to the concerts is $5 with proceeds going to the Lyric Theatre Restoration Project.

Sam Breene and the Oil City Arts Council are sponsoring the month of music.

The series, which has raised $20,000 in four years, originated at the now-closed Karma Coffee and was recently at the Tipsy Chef.

Titusville hosting holiday kick off Friday night

11/24/2022

Titusville will be in full holiday mode Friday night.

The Santa parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on North Perry Street near the train station. The jolly man will make his way through the downtown by way of Spring Street, Franklin Street and Central Avenue. He will end at Scheide Park where he will be available to meet with visitors in the gazebo. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available.

Across town, the Take Pride in Titusville’s Holiday at Burgess drive-thru display will also open at 6 p.m. It will be open every night from 6 to 9 p.m.

Santa will be at Burgess park every Friday and Saturday in December and most Saturdays will have a special event. December 3 will feature ice sculptures, December 10 will be sled dogs and December 17 will be live reindeer.

The display is free to visit, though donations are accepted through the Titusville Chamber of Commerce.

Titusville and Franklin businesses among ORA contest finalists

11/21/2022

This year's Outdoor Recreation Business Plan Contest announcement will have a few extra winners.

Along with revealing the winner of the annual business competition, organized by the Oil Region Alliance, the evening will include awarding prizes to two ceremony attendees. The announcement and the giveaways are slated to happen at 7:15 p.m. Friday, December 2 at Town Square in connection conjunction with Oil City's 22nd annual Christmas Past tree lighting.

The finalists for the business competition include

Adam Diem of Oil Valley Gravel, LLC. for the Roughneck Gravel Roubaix bike race based in Titusville over Memorial Day Weekend;
Hannah Gamble of Iron Furnace Coffee to expand the business with a coffee trailer to take to events, parks, and other offsite locations;
Theresa McQuaide of Ziibi Fins and Floats for overnight camping along the Allegheny River and pedal kayak rentals; and
Erin Wanninger and Marcy Hall for outdoor seating, bike parking, a bike fix-it station, and an overlook of Allegheny River at Woods and Rivers Coffee Shop in Oil City.

Ideas were judged based on a submitted business plan and an in-person presentation. The competition winner received $10,000 and the runner-up gets $5,000. Support for the contest is provided by Venango County Act 13 funds.

As for the prizes for attendees, those aged 5 to 12 can enter a free drawing for a bike donated by 4 Season Cycle of Franklin. Adults can enter a free drawing for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate for equipment rental or ax throwing at Outdoors Allegheny River Services of Franklin. Winners must be present to collect their prizes.

The prize announcements will cap off an evening of festive events in Oil City's Town Square park. On December 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. there will be live music and performances, sleigh rides, visits with Santa, and concessions. The festival continues through Sunday at various locations around town. Go to the calendar page for a complete Christmas Past schedule.

Christmas workshop gives child a chance to craft holiday gifts

11/20/2022

Two Mile Run County Park will be turned into the North Pole of sorts as it hosts a Christmas Workshop for children.

Christmas craft stations will be set up from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the park office. Children will be able to create gifts for their family and friends and well as enjoy cookies and hot chocolate.

The event is open to ages 5 to 12 and costs $10 per child. Space is limited. Pre-registration for a time slot is required and can be done online.

Additional refreshments can be purchased for donations. Proceeds from the event will go toward events and activities at the park.

Greenways block grant funding available

11/17/2022

The Northwest Commission is accepting applications for Round B of the 2022 Greenways Block Grant Program.

The intent of the program is to implement the greenway recommendations contained in the Northwest Pennsylvania Greenways Plan as well as advance the recreation, conservation, and heritage initiatives throughout the region. Eligible projects must be within the Northwest Pennsylvania Greenways Region of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.

The Greenways Block Grant has funded 100 projects regionally since its inception including but not limited to reforestation projects, trail initiatives, creek restorations and preservations. For more information about the GBG program, please visit northwestpa.org. Guidelines and applications are available on the website or contact Jennifer Feehan at jenniferf@northwestpa.org or by phone at 814- 677-4800 x 106.

Applications must be signed and received at the Northwest Commission office in Oil City by 4 p.m. on January 20, either by digital or hard copy to be considered. Proposed projects must be completed by October 2024.

Barrow-Civic announces 2023 shows

11/17/2022

The Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin revealed its 2023 Franklin Civic Operetta Association mainstage season and it includes four full-scale productions.

The theatre posted the season on its Facebook page with the message "This year is very special, as it marks 30 years since the theatre opened in 1993."

The season starts off with the play “Pride & Prejudice” and includes the musicals “Cinderella”, “School of Rock” and “Cabaret”.

“Pride & Prejudice” (Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen) will be performed at 7:30 p.m. March 17, 18, 24, and 25 and 2 p.m. March 19 and 26.

“School of Rock” (a musical based on the movie) will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29, 30, Oct. 5, 6, and 7 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 1.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's “Cinderella” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. June 30, July 1, 7, and 8 and at 2 p.m. July 2 and 9.

“Cabaret” will have the shortest run with performances at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 3, and 4 and 2 p.m., Nov. 5.

Season subscriptions go on sale Saturday, November 19. For all four shows, the cost is $71 for adults, $64 for seniors and military, and $52 for students. For three tickets to three shows, the cost is $53 for adults, $48 for seniors and military, and $39 for students.

Individual tickets are available starting January 3. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 814-437-3440.

Winter youth theatre program returning after two-year hiatus

11/17/2022

The Franklin Civic Operetta Association's winter Youth Theatre returns early next year with performances of “The Rainbow Fish Musical.” It is the first full-scale winter show since February 2020.

Based on the international best-selling book by Marcus Pfister, "The Rainbow Fish Musical" features a variety of charming school and sea-creature characters who admire the famous Rainbow Fish, the most beautiful fish in all the ocean, according to Pioneer Drama Service, who license the use of the material. The plot summary continues, "When Rainbow Fish refuses to share (their) vibrant, shimmering scales ... , the whole ocean seems to turn against the vain creature. Unhappy that no one adores (them) anymore, the Rainbow Fish seeks out the wise Octopus, whose tentacles can also be played by separate actors. Octopus helps the young fish learn that it’s far better to be admired for being kind than for being beautiful." The script, music, and lyrics are by Austin Zumbro.

In the Franklin production, acting and ensemble parts are available for ages 8 to 16 (or 7 if the child participated in summer camp), and tech roles for ages 10 to 18. Martha Heise will be the director and Kelly Zerbe the choreographer. Jessica Rodriguez will lead the youth tech team.

Auditions are required to be considered for a speaking role and will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 8 at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin. Those auditioning should be prepared to read and sing. "Please note there is only ONE day of auditions," director Martha Heise posted on Facebook. "If you are unable to attend auditions, you will be able to be part of the ensemble but will unable to be placed in a speaking part or singing solo."

Anyone interested in an ensemble part who cannot attend auditions should email a completed audition for to youththeatre@barrowtheatre.com. The audition form is available at this link - https://bit.ly/3Ebn0VT.

Benson library hosting reps from federal tablets, internet program

11/14/2022

Representatives from Allied One Solutions, a participant in the federal electronic tablet distribution Affordable Connectivity Program, will be at the Benson Memorial Library in Titusville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

The ACP is a U.S. government program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet. Through the Franklin visit, they will provide tablets with 25GB of data to qualifying individuals.

There is a limit of one discount per household (internet/phone/tablet).

Adults may be eligible if they meet any of the following qualifications or participate in any of the following programs:

Income at or Below 200% Federal Poverty Level
Federal Pell Grant in the Current Award Year
Medicaid
WIC
Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefits

Attendees should bring proof of eligibility. This may be an award letter or official documents that show participation in a qualifying program when applying for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Also, take a valid state or federal ID.

To learn more about ACP, visit https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/