Live baseball concert benefits DREAM Adaptive

It can be an intriguing and sometimes bizarre conversation when Whitefish musician Wayo Hogan describes his vision for a screenplay about the legendary Gashouse Gang baseball team.

Hogan becomes animated as he describes the characters and plot. The story revolves around baseball in the 1930s, but delves into deeper conversations about “playing the game” and its parallel with life. Mickey Mantle, Lenin, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Rockefeller and the Dalia Lama all make appearances in his movie.

“Life is not about the stadium,” Hogan said. “It’s about the field. Babe Ruth was a star on the field, but he never would have been a star in the stadium — he was too fat.”

“There’s really big potential for this. It’s made for Broadway.”

But before the production makes its way to Hollywood or even Broadway, it will make its debut in Whitefish on May 15 at the O’Shaughnessy Center.

Hogan has teamed up with cellist Lee Zimmerman to create “The Gashouse Gang in Concert,” a multimedia production of song, story and visuals.

The Gashouse Gang is a nickname given to the 1937 St. Louis Cardinals, a team known for its fun style of play, aggressive attitude and often dirty uniforms.

“They were like the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball,” Hogan said.

The concert will feature Americana, blues and boogie sounds accompanied by visuals projected in the background to help tell Hogan’s story.

The show is a benefit for DREAM Adaptive, a local nonprofit that helps children and adults with disabilities participate in outdoor activities. The group is well known for its adaptive skiing program at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

DREAM president Richard Cohen said he’s happy to team up with his friends Cohen and Zimmerman for the fundraiser.

Cohen says the concert is almost like an opera in the way it tells the story of the early days of baseball.

“Baseball is really all about performance on the field and dealing with the social issues of the time. It was the heartbeat of the country back then. It was a time when players played for the joy of the game.”

“It will be a fun show for a good cause and people will learn more about DREAM.”

The concert is set for Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center. Tickets are $10. Call Cohen at 253-0732.