[NEohioPAL] Berko preview: GILLIGAN'S ISLAND THE MUSICAL--THE FUNDRAISER

[Roy Berko]

See the musical GILLIGAN’S ISLAND and make a contribution to a good cause
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
Times            

 
--COOLCLEVELAND.COM—
 
Are you a ‘GILLIGAN’S ISLAND’ fan?  If so, you will definitely want to see the 
hilarious musical based on that iconic television show.  And, even if you aren’t 
a  devote of Gilligan, the Skipper, Ginger and the Professor, you’ll be 
contributing to a good cause when you attend one of two local special 
fundraising showings.
In a spirit of helping the community, Cleveland’s actors will be presenting 
their ninth annual event to raise money for the Community Aids Network and the 
AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. 

"GILLIGAN'S ISLAND: THE MUSICAL" which was written by Sherwood and Lloyd J. 
Schwartz, has music by Hope and Laurence Juber.  The plot involves the discovery 
of some hieroglyphics on the island, describing a visit from "creatures from the 
sky."  While the castaways are working to build a rocket to launch an SOS 
message to civilization, one of the creatures -- a silver space alien -- makes a 
return trip to the island to observe the inhabitants.  (Hey, what can you 
expect, this is the goofy fun cult Gilligan’s Island stuff?)
 
The show begins with the theme song, which has been selected the #1 TV theme 
song of all time.  Remember, ““Five passengers set sail that day/For a three 
hour tour….a three hour tour….”  I defy you to sit there and not sing along.  In 
fact, singing along at the performance is encouraged.   Other songs are “Goodbye 
Island,” “The Professor’s Lament,” “It’s Good To Be Rich” and “Though Winds May 
Blow.”
The musical has received some very positive press.  Katie Couric stated, “You've 
got to love it... Timeless."
   CBS MORNING NEWS stated, “, "A great time... Fabulous!"and PEOPLE MAGAZINE 
probably summarized it best when it stated, "Love and lust among the coconuts."

The local cast includes Nick Koesters as Gilligan, Kevin Joseph Kelly as The 
Skipper, Greg Violand as Thurston Howell III, Maryann Nagel as Lovey Howell, 
Tricia Bestic  as Ginger Grant, Brian Bowers as The Professor, Eileen Burns as 
Mary Ann and Patrick Ciamacco as The Alien.  The epic is directed by Curt Arnold 
with choreography by Allison Butler.  The musicians are Gregory Cross, Tim Keo, 
Karen Langenwalter, and Phil Miller, under the leadership of musical director 
Butch Marshall. All performers and technicians are donating their time, services 
and materials, so that 100% of the ticket price is a donation. 

 
Side bar:  I have an iconic connection to Gilligan’s Island.  Years ago, while I 
was the public relations director at the Cherry County Playhouse, in Traverse 
City, Michigan, Natalie Shaefer, who portrayed Lovey Howell on the television 
show, came to star in a production.  As a gimmick, I found there was an island, 
just off the city’s shores, which was unnamed.  I got a boat, which of course we 
named the Minnow, took out a TV crew, and with the permission of the state 
department of the interior, Shaefer officially dedicated and named the slip of 
land, “Gilligan’s Island.”  To this day, the maritime map of Grand Traverse Bay 
designates the area with its anointed moniker. Hey, maybe we can find an unnamed 
island in Lake Erie and do the same thing here.  What a tourist attraction that 
would make.
The shows are Monday, August 23 at 7:30 pm at Weathervane Community Playhouse, 
Akron (call 330-836-2626 for $20 tickets) and on Monday, August 30, at 8:00 pm 
at the Cassidy Theatre, Parma Heights  (call 216-621-0766, ex 255 for $25 
tickets).  

SEE YOU THERE! 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2010, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to 
subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)