View full sizePaul Gurgol CLEVELAND HEIGHTS--A memorial concert is scheduled for the evening of June 26 at Cain Park to honor local theater director Paul Gurgol of Cleveland Heights.
“Night of a Thousand Stars” will feature Gurgol collaborators from his decades in theater performing songs from his many memorable productions. The event is free, with open seating, and donations will be accepted in Gurgol’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A native of Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood, Gurgol died in March from pancreatic and liver cancer. He was 55.
A graduate of Padua High School and the Boston Conservatory of Music, Gurgol started his career as an actor and was an accomplished performer. He returned to Cleveland in the 1990s with a new production of “Rags” at the Jewish Community Center’s Halle Theater – then in Cleveland Heights – with the show selling out its entire run and breaking ticket sale records.
Gurgol would go on to direct musicals across Greater Cleveland, including Cain Park, the Beck Center for the Arts and Opera Cleveland. He served as rehearsal director for Dancing Wheels.
In 2004, Gurgol founded the Kalliope Stage, a theater dedicated to American musicals in Cleveland Heights’ Cedar Lee district. He served as artistic director at the 99-seat venue until it closed in 2008.
Gurgol had just cast this summer’s Cain Park production of “Avenue Q”, which he was set to co-direct, when he became ill. The show is now running through July 1.
“His talent was for new work, to help shape shows that didn’t yet have a shape,” said close friend and longtime collaborator John Paul Boukis. “He would shine it up and make it something exciting.”
“Night of a Thousand Stars” was conceived by Boukis, and another longtime Gurgol collaborator, David Robison, will serve as music director. The cast will perform songs from productions throughout Gurgol’s career – including “Evita,” “Grand Hotel,” “A Little Night Music” and “Cabaret” – and share memories of their late colleague.
The program starts at 7 p.m. June 26 in Cain Park’s Alma Theater, 14591 Superior Road.
Call (216) 371-3000 or visit www.cainpark.com for more information.
See more Cleveland Heights news at cleveland.com/cleveland-heights.
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