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| A scene from the 2015 Gang Show. / Contributed photo |
DERBY - Housatonic BSA Cub Scout Pack 3, Boy Scout Troop 3, and Venture Crew 33 Scouts are preparing for their 92nd Annual Scout Gang Show.
It will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 6 and 7 at Derby Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of Fifth and Elizabeth Streets.
The show is part old-time minstrel, part variety show and part Gang Show, in the English Scouting tradition.
First performed in 1922, and annually except for two years during World War II, the Derby Scout Gang Show not only has been performed on the same stage all those years, but has the distinction of being the longest running show of its kind in the world.
The late local Scouting pioneer and Derby Hall of Fame member Edmund D. Strang, had several friends involved in English Scout Gang Shows and he would attend the shows when visiting there. He eventually merged the minstrel and Gang Show concepts into an unique version of the Scout Gang Show, and the rest as they say, is history.
Derby’s Scout Gang Show has been written up in Yankee and Scouting Magazines and in 1999, it was also featured on National Public Radio’s “Lost and Found Sounds” program. When honoring Strang and the longevity of the show in 1985, President Ronald Reagan referred to the Gang Show as “Connecticut’s finest example of controlled chaos.”
The term Gang Show goes back to 1932 when Ralph Reader was directing a scout show in London as a way to raise money for the local scout camp swimming pool. According to Reader, “One night during rehearsals word was brought to me that the title of the show had to be decided that evening so that posters could be got ready for the initial announcements to the public. We had just broken for coffee. Then I told one of the boys to call the cast back to continue rehearsals.
As they all crowded back into the room I said to the youngster, "Are they all back?" He looked at me and in a Cockney voice said, "Aye, aye, Skip; the gang's all here." I stood rooted to the spot. "The gang's all here!" "THE GANG'S ALL HERE!' That's it! That was the title we had been looking for. We were a Gang and the Gang was all here. Yes sir, I thought, that's it.”
Gang Shows immediately took off all over the United Kingdom, and Australia and some even in the United States. Although shows are still performed by Scouts throughout the United Kingdom and former British colonies, the Derby Scout Gang Show is the only show of its kind still being performed in the U.S.
Strang was the Gang Show director, Interlocutor and driving force for 70 years. Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter has been directing the show for the past 22 years.
Ritter said, “The annual show allows our Cub Pack, Scout Troop, and Venturer Crew to work together towards a common goal, the scouts gain self-confidence performing while learning traditional songs and we raise funds to support our Scouting activities.”
“We also hope to leave those who attend with a song in their heart and a smile on their face," Ritter said.
Avon resident Youngju Lee, will be accompanying the Scout soloists and chorus as pianist and Troop 3 Assistant Scoutmaster Matthew Moran will serve as Chorus Director. The "endmen" or fun men who will be telling jokes for the show are: Michael McMahon, Michael Shea, Billy Kowarik, Joseph Szewczyk, Ben Grasso, James Chopak, Jason Edwards and Naveen Madivala.
More than 100 Scouts, leaders and parents will perform William V. McDonnell Jr, will direct the "stooges" who perform one-line run on gags.
McDonnell will be taking over for the late Rodman Kneen Sr., who worked with the stooges for more than 60 years. Stooges in this year’s show include Scouts Matthew Cafaro, Michael Flora Jr, Brandon Kling, Julian Gilloren and Matthew Kish.
It is the Stooges who will perform an ongoing gag bringing up an ever-growing tree sapling throughout the show, searching for its owner, “Mrs. Jones.”
The theme for the show is "Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie Melody" and will feature the hit songs of the legendary performer Al Jolson.
Highlights include Matthew Moran and Ryan Cafaro performing “Together Wherever We Go,” Cub Scout Jack Midgley’s rendition of “I’m Sitting on Top of the World,” and Venture Scout Michael Shea singing “Shout."
In addition, the Scouts will be performing traditional Al Jolson classics such as “Sheik of Araby," “I’m Alabamy Bound” and “Swanee." Special guests include former Derby Mayor and current Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo and vocalist Sarah Beth Widomski.
In addition to Garofalo, Center Stage director Gary Scarpa, the late Ansonia Mayor Bill Menna and Shelton Aldermanic President John Anglace all performed in the show as youths. The show's most famous alumnus is TV, stage and movie actor Brian Dennehy, who performed "Be A Good Scout" on the same Derby Methodist Church stage in the 1948 show.
Tickets are $10 and are available from any Pack 3, Troop 3 or Crew 33 Scout or by calling 203-732-0343.
A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds from the show help send Scouts to summer camp at Ed Strang Scout Reservation, Cub Scout Day camp and Venture Crew 33’s upcoming Caribbean sailing adventure.
92nd Scout Gang Show “Endmen,” or joke tellers are, front row from left: Michael McMahon, James Chopak,
Interlocutor Randy Ritter, Naveen Madivala, and Jason Edwards.
Back row: Joe Szewczyk, Ben Grasso, Michael Shea, and Billy Kowarik. / Contributed photo
