Mountain Playhouse staging 'Ring of Fire' at Pasquerilla arts center

May 16—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A new season at Mountain Playhouse is set to provide theatergoers with top-notch entertainment.

Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus in Richland Township will once again serve as the playhouse's home for the 2024 season, during which it will stage three productions.

"We are getting closer to reestablishing our home in Somerset County in the heart of the Laurel Highlands," said Joseph Beer, chairman of the Mountain Playhouse board of directors.

"The stars are not aligned just yet, but we are very hopeful. When and if it is a successful effort, it will take at least another season at UPJ before productions can resume in Somerset County."

The season kicked off Wednesday and will continue through May 26 with a musical tribute to Johnny Cash, "Ring of Fire."

From the songs and stories of a true legend, the theatrical and musical experience will lift hearts and stir the soul.

In "Ring of Fire," a cast of performers and musicians takes on a rousing adventure of love and faith, struggle and success, all with the strength, humor and honesty that made Cash one of the greatest songwriters and most revered storytellers in American music.

The production features 38 of the music legend's songs, such as "Country Boy," "A Thing Called Love," "Five Feet High and Rising," "Daddy Sang Bass," "Ring of Fire," "I Walk the Line," "I've Been Everywhere," "The Man in Black" and "Hurt."

"A Year With Frog and Toad" will be presented May 29 through June 2.

Based on Arnold Lobel's beloved children's books, "A Year with Frog and Toad" is a whimsical musical that tells the story of two best friends — the cheerful Frog and the curmudgeonly Toad.

The musical follows Frog and Toad through four colorful seasons, from hibernation to hibernation.

Frog and Toad, along with their playful, quirky friends Snail, Turtle, the Birds and more, enact many adventures, from rushing down a hill in a runaway sled in the winter to taking a picnic and a quiet moment in the summer.

Children and adults will relish the joyful vignettes, which feature catchy tunes, funny dialogue and bright, memorable characters.

From June 13 through 22, "The Play That Goes Wrong" will be staged.

The chaotic comedy follows the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society — an amateur drama group putting on a production of a 1920s murder mystery.

As the show's title may suggest, things don't go as smoothly as they would have hoped.

As the show progresses, things fall apart as the sets collapse, lines are forgotten and props go missing.

But, as the saying goes, the show must go on even if it limps to the final bow.

"This year, we are swinging for the fences," said Joseph Domenic, Mountain Playhouse's producer. "It's an ambitious season for us, but one that we believe will be unforgettable.

"Every one of these shows offers something special that people won't want to miss."

Tickets are $39 to $44 for adult evenings; $37 to $41 for adult matinees; and $12 for students. A $2 service fee applies to adult tickets. Groups with a minimum of 10 guests qualify for discounts.

For more information or to order tickets, call 814-629-9220, or visit www.MountainPlayhouse.org.