PROFILE: GALE SHAW -- local theatre whiz
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from May 1976.
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Gale's dynamism and love for the theater have led her to stir those around her to tackle ambitious productions that might stymie a courageous director or producer in the heart of Broadway.
The boards are literally in Gale's blood and she hails from New York-the theatre capital. Undaunted, and summoning the largest group of people ever involved in a local production short of opera, (a cast of 29, total of 62 involved) Gale is at the helm of what represents the first musical comedy ever attempted here. It is her first attempt at directing. She has pulled the show together in only eight instead of the usual ten weeks.
"The Boyfriend" is also the first family musical ever to be presented in Cayman. The production includes the first actual orchestra pit (which, by the way, will hold a five-piece orchestra) in Cayman.
Possibly the most exciting first for theatre buffs is the capability to change sets for the three scenes during the play. Thrust into the unlikely position of stage manager, Bill Bazelman rose to the challenge designing three brilliant sets that swivel and revolve on an axis.
Gale, president of the Cayman Drama Society, says proudly, "It's a grand success. It's been a fantastic team effort and very rewarding for me."
Besides her long lists of credits in the theatre and drama field in the US, Gale produced a previous CDS play, "The Long and the Short and the Tall." She is also the vice president of the Cayman National Theatre Building Committee.
Gale wants to express special appreciation to the "boyfriends and girlfriends" who are really the backbone of the show. "The success of the show relies heavily on their devotion to it, which has been 100 per cent," she said. "I look forward to the day when we can do more of this sort of family entertainment--"The Boyfriend" is really a fairy tale--and to having a real theatre building on the Island.
"The Boyfriend" is running six nights: Thursday, Friday and Saturday May 20, 21,22, 27,28, and 29. Many of the cast members were due for leave June 1st which caused the unusually short eight-week deadline for production.
Everyone is encouraged to book their tickets as early as possible as tickets are selling fast. Children will be welcomed at this production, too. Gale's two children, Gillian, 7, and Adrienne, 5, love the show, she said.
