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
(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 |