GILLIGAN’S ISLAND: THE MUSICAL
Area Premiere
June 8 – 24, 2012 – Illusion Theater
August 6 – 12, 2012 – Theatre L’Homme Dieu, Alexandria, MN (click here for more information)
Music and Lyrics – Hope and Laurence Juber
Book – Sherwood Schwartz and Lloyd Schwartz
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale…” Get ready Twin Cities – Gilligan’s Island: The Musical is docking at a desert island near you, and the hilarity found in America’s most cherished sitcom is in full effect in this larger-than-life musical! Bringing back all those well-known and beloved characters, this fun-filled musical comedy is sure to please audiences of all ages. Will they finally get off the island? Hurricanes, quicksand and even an encounter with an alien all plot against them, but never give up on these seven determined castaways. You’ll be singing in the aisles as you set off on a nostalgic musical adventure you’ll never forget!
Director – Steven Meerdink
Musical Director – Lori Maxwell
Scenic Designer – Darren Hensel
Light Designer – Grant Merges
Sound Designer – Lucas Melchior
Costume Designer – Suzie Lorenz
Prop Designer – Valerie Larche
Rehearsal Accompanist – Matthew Bear
Stage Manager -Megan Fae Dougherty
Cast
Gilligan – Ryan Levin
Skipper – Ryan Grimes
Ginger – Angela Fox
Mr. Howell – Marlin Rothe
Mrs. Howell – Joyce Norman
Professor – Joe Hendren
Mary Ann – Rebecca Gebhart
Alien – Andrew Newman
Reviews and Quotes
Star Tribune: “Just sit right back for a delightful Gilligan’s Island…No one does camp better than Minneapolis Musical Theatre, and camp is what we expect from a show titled Gilligan’s Island: The Musical. MMT artistic director Steven Meerdink does a nice job with this delightful trifle…Meerdink creates an endless series of increasingly outrageous and clever slapstick bits…The cast make an accomplished vocal ensemble…This is a piece of fluff, light summer escapist entertainment that captures the spirit of the original series.”
Pioneer Press: “A silly, fun two-hour tour…If you are looking for a distraction – and perhaps a wistful reminder of why the deeply dippy 1960s television show was so entertaining – this might be the summertime show for you…Director Steven Meerdink knows this material is nothing to be taken seriously, and sets sail on a blithe two-hour tour. The actors universally opt for imitation of their television predecessors (which is fine – who wants to see a deconstructed Gilligan?).”