Back in 1955, a group of students, led by Wheeling College professor Rev. Edward Gannon, S.J. decided that staging a musical show might just be the perfect way to end the school year. The name Gambol was chosen, because it expresses the sense of frolic and fun that was the inspiration in the early years.
From 1956 – 1970, Wheeling Jesuit’s Gambol was a variety show, with singing, dancing, skits and parodies. After 1970, it became a musical, with students performing in major productions like Camelot, The Music Man, Carousel, West Side Story, South Pacific and Grease.
This October, Wheeling Jesuit University Theater Guild, in cooperation with student government and the Wheeling Jesuit alumni office will be sponsoring a Hurricane Katrina Relief Gambol Reunion at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 in Troy Theater. The performance will feature Wheeling Jesuit alumni along with current students in a musical tribute to past Gambol productions. Local performer and alumna Vera Barton-Caro, class of 1982, will serve as master of ceremonies as she welcomes back some of WJU’s most talented alumni.
“I am pleased that so many of our alumni are returning to campus to perform once again. Alumni lending their talents to help the victims of this disaster embodies our University mission to be men and women of service,” said Kelly Klubert, director of alumni relations. “Many thanks to Vera, Dave and all our alumni performers for giving of their time and talents.”
“We hope to pack the house,” said Barton-Caro, as she planned the line-up. Barton-Caro has been very busy contacting the more than 600 alumni who have been involved in the annual Gambol productions at Wheeling Jesuit over the past 50 years. She is assisted by Dave Henderson, who is Wheeling Jesuit’s coordinator of perfoming arts and technical director for Troy Theater.
“This Gambol benefit show replaces our originally scheduled student showcase performances, planned for Oct. 6, 7 and 8. We are happy to focus on assisting the survivors of the national disaster and our students and alumni want to make a difference,” Henderson noted.
Featured in the ensembled cast of this performance for a cause will be alumni Jeff Abraham, Barton-Caro, Sean Decker, Nancy Galligan Fulton, Mike Hooper (friend of WJU), Chip Potts, Roseann Rosnick, Ryan Sears, Rick Terry, Tom and Donna Vierheller. Featured student performers will be: Lauren Blazer, Charles Graytok, Jamie Jordan, and Andrew Nelson. Broadway favorites in the form of solos, duets, and group numbers will be performed from blockbuster shows that played Broadway and toured the nation.
Under the direction of Bob Troeger, the WJU 1969 Chamber Singers will round out the evening of beautiful Broadway music, as they perform showtunes and standards that all ages will enjoy. Bryan Sable will be the accompanist, on piano.
The alumni office will sponsor a light reception to follow the concert and WJU Student Government will coordinate donations and additional fundraising activities.
The suggested minimum donation is $10 per person and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to hurricane relief, through the American Red Cross. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 243-2000 Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The suggested minimum donation for WJU students is $5.
American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Donations enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. As of Monday, Sept. 19, the American Red Cross has spent and distributed more than $521 million to meet the emergency needs of Hurricane Katrina survivors and estimates that relief efforts will exceed $2 billion, meeting the urgent needs of nearly one million families in three key areas: food and shelter — $744 million, emergency financial assistance to disaster survivors — $1.4 billion and physical and mental health services — $78 million, according to the Red Cross webpage facts.
