With "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday," Hammond Community Theatre director Andrea Creasbaum hopes to give area theatergoers an alternative to what she sees as usual fare.

"I like doing stage shows that haven't been done, and I don't remember anyone doing this show recently," she said.

"It's nice to see the same old things over and over again, but it turns into the same old things over and over again, and I like to see it when people bring new things out."

Opening today and running through May 31 at The Theatre at Calumet College in Whiting, "Gillian" tells the tale of David, who is trying to come to terms with the death of his wife, who was killed in a boating accident two years prior.

Additionally, friends and family are concerned for his well being, as he converses with an otherworldly version of his wife on a regular basis.

The play was penned by American playwright Michael Brady and made its off Broadway debut in the early '80s, netting Brady an Oppenheimer award for his script.

More than a dozen years later it was brought to the big screen, starring Michelle Pfeiffer as the title character and Peter Gallagher as the grieving widower.

"It's a real sweet story," she said.

"It's sad, it's funny, it's cute, it's romantic, it has a little bit for everybody."

Starring as David in Hammond Community Theatre's production of "Gillian" is Greg Miller from Highland; Jennifer Stevens from Portage plays Gillian.

They are joined onstage by Erin Haney from Crown Point, who plays their daughter, Rachel, and Theresa Abney from Highland as Kevin, a possible new love interest to David.

"I have a very, very wonderful cast who is always ready to go and who have made it very, very easy to direct this show," said Creasbaum, who lives in Highland.

"They have to convey those deep feelings of missing your wife or missing your mother or missing your sister that, luckily, none of my actors have had to deal with. And they portray (those emotions) wonderfully.

"With this show, I want people to realize what they have in their lives, because time is so fleeting. And you can't dwell on (your losses), because other things get left behind."

Next up for Hammond Community Theatre is a production of "Just Say Yes!" which is scheduled to open July 18 at Beatniks on Conkey, 418 Conkey St., Hammond.

"To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday" is running at the Theatre at Calumet College at 8 p.m. today, Saturday, May 30 and 31.