`Gaylord’s autobiographical show is really a musical ‘Famiglia’ affair`

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

The musical “Famiglia” is semi-autobiographical, reflecting writer Ron Gaylord’s feeling of having one foot in the old country and one foot in the new.

Gaylord, of the singing group the Gaylords, depicts three generations of an Italian-American family in “Famiglia,” which will be staged Saturday and Sunday at the Youngstown Playhouse. “I grew up in that environment, my mother, my grandmother, the things they would say,” he said, calling from his home in Las Vegas, which he shares with his parents.

While the show, suitable for all ages, usually draws an Italian-American audience, it appeals to anyone with a strong ethnic background, he said.

Gaylord, who called the musical “uplifting,” plays the middle generation character, with his son, Tony Fredianelli, using the real family name, playing his son in the show, and his Gaylords partner, Burt Holiday, whose real last name is Bonaldi, playing his father. Gaylord’s wife, Terry, and son, Ron Jr., also appear in the production.

“In some places I have all of them involved,” Gaylord said of the four of his five children in show business.

Tony is better known as a guitarist from the heavy metal band Apocrypha and the Las Vegas cover band Loveshack.

He also recorded the solo metal album “Breakneck Speed” and has another on the way. Regional actors will be performing smaller roles to round out the 30-member cast.

The music runs through pop, show tunes, rock, Italian music and a polka. Songs in the musical include “I Will Never Pass This Way Again,” which was a hit for Glen Campbell, and “Amore Mio,” which is played on radio stations with “Music of Your Life,” “Music and Memories” or Italian formats, Gaylord said.

Gaylord, who next year marks his 50th year with Holiday, said he stages “Famiglia” only three or four times a year.

“We don’t do it all the time because we’re busy with our act,” he said. “But we’ve done it coast to coast, from California to New York to Florida.”

“Famiglia” will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets and information: (330) 755-1891.

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Updated July 22, 1998
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