Gypsy

Before there was “Toddlers and Tiaras,” there was Mama Rose. Lyric Stage opens its 19th season with Gypsy the story of Rose Hovick, the mother of all stage mothers, and her relentless pursuit of stardom for her two daughters, Louise and June.

GYPSY has been celebrated as the greatest American musical by numerous critics and writers, including Ben Brantley and Frank Rich of The New York Times. Rich called GYPSY American musical theatre's answer to King Lear.

The show, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, is loosely-based on the memoirs of legendary striptease artist, Gypsy Rose Lee. The score contains many popular standards, including "Everything’s Coming up Roses,” "Some People" and "Let Me Entertain You." The Lyric Stage production of GYPSY will be the first since the 1959 original Broadway production to be performed with a full, 39-piece orchestra playing Sid Ramin and Robert Ginzler’s original orchestrations.

Lyric Stage Founding Producer Steven Jones has reassembled the powerful creative team from last season’s critically acclaimed production of MY FAIR LADY. GYPSY will be piloted by Director/Choreographer Len Pfluger and Lyric Stage Music Director Jay Dias will conduct the 39 member Lyric Stage orchestra.

Sue Mathys, star of the original German production of SUNSET BLVD, will star as Rose. Mary McElree, last seen at Lyric Stage as Kim in BYE BYE BIRDIE, will play Louise and Sonny Franks, last seen at Lyric Stage as Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY, will play Herbie. Ashton Smalling, Baby June in the Ravinia Festival production of GYPSY that starred Patti LuPone, will play Dainty June. Caitlin Carter, of Broadway’s CHICAGO, will play Tessie Tura. Also in the cast are Shannon McGrann (Electra), Sara Shelby-Martin (Mazeppa), Michael Whitney (Tulsa), Kevin Acosta, Alex Altshuler, Brian Boyce, Luke Boyce, Mallory Brophy, Brendan Cyrus, Caitlin Darby, Michelle Foard, Gordon Fox, Katharine Gentsch, Ben Giddings, Hunter Hall, Skylar Halliday, Taylor Hennings, Logan Macaulay, Chet Monday, Bella Murphy, Stephen Raikes, Thomas Renner, Neil Rogers, Chloe Voreis, Lisa Ward, Keith Warren, James Williams and Kristen Wright.

Gypsy runs September 9-18, 2011. Performances are in the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Performance Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Tickets are available online @ www.lyricstage.org or by calling 972-252-2787. Performaces are September 9, 10, 11, 15, 16 & 17 @ 8:00 PM and September 12 & 18 @ 2:30 PM.