Cleveland Heights and Cain Park Present Night Of A Thousand Stars, 6/26
By: Kelsey Denette
The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park present Night Of A Thousand Stars – In Honor Of Paul Gurgol on Tuesday, June 26 at the Alma Theater at Cain Park at 7 pm.
This is a free event. No tickets are necessary and seating is open. Donations will be accepted in Paul Gurgol's name for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.Paul Gurgol, an innovative and visionary stage director who championed new works and undiscovered artists, passed away at age 55 in March of this year from pancreatic and liver cancer.
Known especially for his mastery of musical theater, he was artistic director of Kalliope Stage, the small but groundbreaking professional theater he founded with life partner Rex Snider and longtime collaborator John Paul Boukis. He directed more recently at Cain Park (Sweeney Todd in 2009), the Beck Center and Opera Cleveland, and he was rehearsal director for Dancing Wheels. Much in demand, Gurgol had just cast the production of Avenue Q he was planning to co-direct this summer at Cain Park when he became ill. Night Of A Thousand Stars, conceived by John Paul Boukis (Rod in Avenue Q and music directed by David Robison (Avenue Q music director and long-time Gurgol collaborator) will fill the stage with artists who collaborated with Gurgol throughout his lifetime. The cast will perform songs from Gurgol's many memorable musical Theater Productions including Evita, Grand Hotel, Carousel, A Little Night Music and Cabaret as well as share reminiscences.Performers include John Paul Boukis, Kris Comer, Dancing Wheels, Mark Friedlander, Pat Mazzarino, Halle Barnett, Neda Spears, Joan Ellison, Allison Hedges, Killeen Vogel, Katrya Oransky-Petyk, Elizabeth Kelly, Liz Rubino, Adina Bloom, Jared Leal, Dezree Foster, Bob Russell, Patty Lohr, Benjamin Czarnota, Mary Verdi Fletcher, Gene Carlin and more.The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Cain Park 2012 season sponsors include Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Cleveland.com, Intercontinental Hotels - Cleveland and Motorcars Honda/Toyota/Scion.
Cain Park, a municipally owned and operated summer arts park and one of the nation's oldest landmark outdoor theatres entering its 74th season, is produced by the City of Cleveland Heights and is located on Superior Road between Lee and South Taylor roads.
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