Summer theater is great because there are some venues in Northeast Ohio that allow you to escape the traditional darkened theater and enjoy some seasonal stages. Ashtabula Arts Center is one of those venues, which presents shows in its Straw Hat Theatre in the summer months. As we move into July, they are already wrapping up another production this weekend with their young thespians leading a production of Disney’s “My Son Pinocchio JR.” “My Son Pinocchio JR” is on stage July 5-7. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Children’s Show advance sale tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for senior/student/military, $11 for children 2-12. For tickets at the door, add $2. Pay What You Can pricing is available for all performances. Call 440-964-3396 or go to ashtabulaartscenter.org to purchase. “My Son Pinocchio JR” features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by David Stern. The show is directed by Sarah Riley and music directed by Jeannie Jyurovat. This children’s musical is a comedic reimagining of the familiar Disney film in which the Blue Fairy (Claire McMurtrie), having granted toymaker Geppetto’s (Travis Greenaway) wish to bring his beloved puppet Pinocchio (Emerald Bopp) to life, finds herself taking complaints from the frustrated new father as he learns that having a child brings about a world of challenges. Geppetto struggles to make his son “the perfect boy,” only to lose him to a gang of Roustabouts. It’s only when faced with the thought of never seeing Pinocchio again that Geppetto truly learns the joys of being a father and loving his child unconditionally. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund the arts center with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Catch the folks at the AAC in their summer venue this weekend. Young Thespians is a column focusing on youth theatre. Have a story idea or production you would like to see listed? E-mail stevecouch@windstream.net or post them on our “Young Thespians” Facebook group page so we can get you on our calendar!