Gypsy

Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
(Suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee)

Performed
June 22-25, 28-30, July 1-2, 5-9, 2005
at
The Boal Barn Playhouse

Production Staff

Director	Brian Williamson
Music Director	Ryan Skiles
Scenic Designer	Laurencio Carlos Ruiz
Costume Designer	Laura Kaplan
Technical Director	Alfred Gehn
Choreographer	Brian Williamson
Lighting Designer	Laurencio Carlos Ruiz
Stage Manager	Jerry Henry
Apprentice Coordinator	Elaine Meder-Wilgus

About the Show

The story goes that Ethel Merman, the star of Gypsy, nixed Stephen Sondheim as composer. Mama Rose was to be her most challenging role (no sweet Charity or singing nun here) and, as it turns out, her greatest one and she did not want a neophyte composer. So Broadway veteran Jule Styne stepped in and Sondheim stayed on as lyricist. It is tempting to think what a Sondheim Gypsy would sound like-think Follies-but Styne’s score is one of Broadway’s treasures. There is no weak number: from the simple “Little Lamb” to the show-off “All I Need Is the Girl” to the characterizing “Some People” to the raucous “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”, sung by a trio of “has-been” strippers to the show-stopping, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”, each and every song is a winner. Consider Gypsy’s opening and closing numbers. When we first hear “Let Me Entertain You”, it is a simple melody with simple words, appropriate for the children who sing it. But as Gypsy’s strip number, the melodic line is drawn out and sinuous, and the simple lyrics become very suggestive. “Rose’s Turn” makes use of bits and pieces from other songs in the score as well as the show’s running motif, “I Had a Dream”. It is now Rose’s turn to perform. Given the chance, she could have been a bigger star than either Baby June or Gypsy Rose Lee. But the driving music and lyrics reveal that this domineering woman, who pushes off all who would love her, is an insecure woman who wants to be noticed.

Richard B. Gidez

The Cast

(in order of appearance)

Uncle Jacko	Charlie Wilson
Georgie	Ethan Gwynn
Balloon Girl	Miranda Auhl
Janice	Janice Rabian
Sarah	Zoe Sophia Mauner
Renee	Meredith Tillotson
Baby Louise	Ashley Lope
Baby June	Suzie Shoffner
Rose	Janet Donahue
Chowsie	Rocco Petey
Poppa	George Baumer
Newsboys	Chris Barksdale Luke Edmondson Ben Moser Evan Sarnow Tristan Wilson
Weber	Jack Holtz
Herbie	Mark Comly
Louise	Regina M. Brannen
June	Kelsey Lope
Tulsa	Mike Hill
Yonkers	Lance Baird
Angie	Ben Thomas
L.A.	Will Mills
Detroit	Jonathan Bojan
Kringelain	Charles Wilson
Gladys	Jane Auhl
Mr. Goldstone	George Baumer
Farm Boys	Lance Baird Jonathan Bojan Ethan Gwynn Mike Hill Will Mills Ben Thomas
Waitresses	Jane Auhl Leah Mueller
Miss Cratchitt	Courtney Kaufman
Cow	Regina M. Brannen Leah Mueller
Hollywood Blondes	Genavieve Shingle as Agnes Maggie Lee as Marjorie May Courtney Kaufman as Dolores Courtney Lope as Thelme Katie Martin as Edna Leah Mueller as Gail Amberlee Weber as Betty Lou
Pastey	George Baumer
Tessie Tura	Robin Wachsberger
Mazeppa	Liza Poor
Electra	Jennifer Williams
Cigar	Charlie Wilson
Renee	Jane Auhl
Phil	Lance Baird
Bourgeron-Cochon	Jack Holtz