TimesLeader.com

July 9, 2008

76 trombones at Music Box

Music Box Dinner Playhouse’s presents ‘The Music Man’ as fundraiser for scholarship in memory of Father Joseph T. Gilbert

BEN FREDA Abington Journal Correspondent

SWOYERSVILLE – To honor and preserve the memory of the late Father Joseph T. Gilbert, the Music Box Dinner Playhouse in Swoyersville will hold memorial show and a scholarship fund dedicated to him.

Born in Scranton, Father Gilbert unexpectedly passed away on April 20. He had been a priest of Sacred Heart St. John’s in Wilkes-Barre and a chaplain of Holy Cross High School in Scranton.

As a theater enthusiast, he worked with children in Seton High School’s drama program in Pittston. In 1995, he began acting in plays at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse where his roles included Max Detweiler in “The Sound of Music”, a gangster in “Kiss Me Kate”, and the English ambassador in “The King and I.” He later took acting courses on the side at The Northeast Theater in downtown Scranton.

“He was always learning. He enjoyed going to theater,” said Michael Gallagher, manager and technical director of The Music Box. Gallagher explained that Father Gilbert eventually served on the Music Box’s Board of Directors for six years and as the theater’s president for two years.

The Music Box staff is purchasing a star to honor Father Gilbert’s work in their “Theater of the Stars”, which is a wall of star-shaped plaques that people buy when they want to honor someone. It raises funds to supplement their income. The “Theater of the Stars is located in the Music Box’s auditorium.

The Music Box Players will perform Father Gilbert’s favorite play, Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man,” in his memory. This will be the third time that they’ll be performing “The Music Man”, with previous performances in 1985 and 1994. Performances will run Thursday to Sunday from July 18 to August 3. Curtains open at 8 p.m. for Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances and Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m.

The large cast consists of 34 people ranging from ages eight to 76 with a mixture of first-time performers and Music Box veterans. The cast includes Ron Araya as Professor Harold Hill and Marcelle McGirk-George from Exeter as Hill’s love interest Marian ‘The Librarian’ Paroo.

Araya has been a Music Box Player for 25 years and McGirk-George for four years. A few of the most memorable songs in “The Music Man” are “76 Trombones”, “Till There Was You”, and “Gary, Indiana”.

“I’m really looking forward to putting on a great show,” said Kevin Costley, artistic director of the Music Box and director of this production. Linda Orseck is the musical director.

The major sponsors for the show are Geraldine and Myron Mokris and the Werbin family who donate money to The Music Box. The Music Box Dinner Playhouse accepts private and church donations for the scholarship fund, which is also in Father Joe’s honor.

Patrons who wish to contribute to the memorial scholarship are encouraged to sent donations to the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville, PA 18704. Checks should be made payable to “Father Joe’s Scholarship.”

Five underprivileged children, four from Wilkes Barre and one from Mountain Top, are chosen by the Luzerne County Children and Youth Services in Wilkes Barre to attend this year’s Summer Theater Workshop with funding from the scholarship.

“The players feel honored to dedicate this memorial show in Father Joe’s memory because it’s one of his favorite shows. I’m sure that he will be in Heaven enjoying it,” said Gallagher.