By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Although his career was spent working in the computer industry and as a Burger King franchisee, Marlin Reishus has more than a few world-class entertainers in his rolodex.

Over the last decade, Reishus has brought dozens of the world’s most renowned performers to his church in Marco Island, Fla., where he spends the winters with his wife Margaret. Now that the couple lives at Monarch Landing, Reishus is bringing some of that star power to his new home. As the head of the community’s entertainment committee, Reishus is planning an “Artist Series” that will include at least five topquality performers throughout this year.

Star-studded evenings
Reishus has already booked premiere comedian and ventriloquist David Pendleton, the Barbary Coast Dixieland Band, and New Odyssey, a comedic musical trio that plays more than 30 instruments. He is working on securing two more acts that will be announced later this year.

While he has no professional experience in the entertainment industry, Reishus has learned how to organize successful shows through his work at the church—and he intends to replicate that success at Monarch Landing.

“It’s more of a hobby, and just trying to give something to the community, to bring something to the community that I know I’m capable of doing,” he says. “I have contacts with a lot of these professional entertainers, and I can put these things together, where a lot of people wouldn’t know where to start.”

Monarch Landing already hosts a wide array of local entertainers and speakers, but Reishus plans to take things to a whole new level with this series.