Staff photo / Andy Gray

Jonny Kaufman plays the title character in Opera Western Reserve’s production of “Faust,” which will be staged Saturday at Powers Auditorium. A fall tradition in the Mahoning Valley will close out summer this year.

Opera Western Reserve will stage Charles Gounod’s “Faust” at Powers Auditorium on Saturday. In the past, OWR has waited until November to present its annual full-scale production.

Director Scott Skiba said they started rethinking the schedule in 2023 when it switched from Stambaugh Auditorium to Powers for the venue.

“I’m always looking several years ahead and planning,” he said. “Because we’re doing it at a different place, is it still the best time to do it? We are up against a lot of other things. In November it’s ‘Nutcracker’ season and recital se

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