Gary Gilson

For more than 40 years, Gary Gilson has worn just about every hat a journalist could: Reporter, professor, news director, producer, writing coach.

Now he's trying his hand at a different kind of storytelling.

The long-time president of the now defunct watchdog group, Minnesota News Council, has put together a one-man show entitled "You Don't Have to Be Jewish...But It Couldn't Hurt!"

Gilson describes the show as a combination of memoir and humor. Peter Moore is directing and musicians Phil Aaron and Dale Mendenhall will back him up as he tells stories about his colorful life.

His performance this Sunday at the Jewish Humor Festival at the Sabes JCC in St. Louis Park is sold out, but Gilson hopes to take the show to other local theaters, synagogues and Jewish community centers, with the ultimate goal of taking it on the road.