Melissa Gilbert Musical Gains National Exposure

When Emily Cardin, star of "1WGMelissa Gilbert, An Unauthorized Play", turned 36 last year, she made a list of things that she wanted to do in her life. One of the items on her "wish" list was to star in a play. Having never acted before,her dreamed seemed far fetched. That is when her husband Todd picked up a legal pad, pen and guitar and wrote the one woman musical based on Gilbert's life.

Writing the play was easy. Putting the play on was a little more difficult. Todd had to find a theater, form a theater group, get insurance, build a website, print programs and get an audience in the building.

"This was supposed to be a one time thing, just to say we did it." stated Cardin. The audiences had a different idea. The buzz generated by the musical landed "1WG" in this fall's Philly Fringe Festival.

The buzz has extended far beyond the Philadelphia. "We have been getting calls and emails from people all over the world. It is extremely exciting." said Cardin, amazed that people from all over the globe have even heard about his little theater group in suburban Pennsylvania. "1WG" has also given the Cardin's instant credibility, opening the doors for another original musical. Todd wrote, and directed "Amish Chicks" to also be performed this summer in Ambler, PA.

Critics called the play "A breath of fresh air" and "The most fun I've had in the theater in a long time". Cardin felt the key ingredient in the success of the play was the subject matter. "Everybody loves Melissa Gilbert", Todd said, "Sometimes you forget just how much, and this play reminds you." After the play it seemed as if everyone came to us with a story of how much Melissa had touched their life." People conveyed stories of how they went out and purchased the "Little House" DVDs and shared them with their own children. And every time that Gilbert appears in a TV movie, the Cardin phone rings off the hook with people reminding them to tune in.

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