60th Anniversary Celebration is Oct. 12

Sixty years, and 240-plus productions. Three different stages, and numerous awards. Hundreds of actors and actresses, and thousands of audience members.

Impressive numbers - made all the more remarkable by the fact that they are just a few of the statistics of central Ohio's longest continuously running communtiy theater.

All of this, plus a whole lot more, will be celebrated on Oct. 12 when Gallery Players commemorates its 60 seasons with "A Tribute to the First 60 Years." The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the JCC's Roth-Resler Theater.

"There is a lot of excitement in the community and beyond about the event," said Rena Vesler, who is co-chairing the event with Pam Scheer. "We are hearing from Gallery participants from near and far who are planning to attend."

When those guests arrive, there will be a lot of theater memorabilia to greet them. Vesler and the 60th Celebration Committee, along with the Columbus Jewish Historical Society, have been busy installing an exhibit of Gallery Players photos, placards, playbills, props and costumes in the JCC's lobby.

"We're going to have mega photos and auto visuals with which guests can step back in time," said Vesler. "I'm personally loving the collaborations among Gallery folks past and present, along with the Columbus Jewish Historical Society. We're all working together to present a wonderful and memorable event."

Vesler said the evening's entertainment will be a musical tribute, including several Gallery veterans reprising their roles from past Gallery shows. "We just had a rehearsal with several Gallery Players veterans who will be participating in the musical tribute to Gallery in the theater - Lenny Schottenstein, Irene Braverman and Lil Strouss. Irene has appeared in more Gallery shows than anyone else, beginning in 1954 in the play, 'Years Ago'," she said.

"And, although Bea Roth - one of Gallery's founding members who appeared in many productions, including the the very first, 'Hay Fever' in 1950 - will not be able to attend, several members of her family will be coming, including her local and out-of-state children grandchildren," said Vesler.

One of the highlights of the event will be a specially recorded message to the Gallery Players from pianist and singer Michael Feinstein.

A ceremony naming the Gallery Players' stage in honor of its director emeritus, Harold Eisenstein, (z"l), also will be a part of the event. This particular stage has seen at least 100 theatrical productions in the 25 years of its existence in the new JCC building - many of which were directed by Eisenstein himself.

Sadly, Eisenstein passed away last month. "Harold was so instrumental over the years in making sure that Gallery Players would thrive, that naming the stage in his honor is really more of an honor for us," said Jared Saltman, JCC Cultural Arts director.

The celebration's grand finale will be a theatrical tribute to some of Gallery Players' greatest moments so far, said Vesler.

Tickets for the celebration are $25 and may be purchased in advance by calling (614) 231-2731. Donations may be made to Gallery Players in memory of Eisenstein, or the HM Eisenstein Fund at the JCC.