Gypsy: A Musical Fable by Arthur Laurents is one of the great masterpieces of musical theatre. Soaring with Jule Styne’s melodies and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, GYPSY is based on the memoirs of the famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. The musical tells the story of Rose, the ultimate stage mother, and her dream to raise her daughters Louise and June to become stars on the vaudeville circuit and ultimately the legitimate stage. Through their success Rose will gain fulfillment for her own failed venture into show business. In real life, Louise became Gypsy Rose Lee and Baby June, movie star June Havoc. Mama Rose has become arguably the greatest female role in musical theatre due to its emotion, complexity and powerful songs.
“GYPSY with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents not only set the standard for the 20th century book musical but introduced the most complex character to emerge in a musical up to that point, Mama Rose the archetypal show-business mother. Based loosely on Gypsy Rose Lee’s memoir, the character of Mama Rose has challenged the greatest stars of our time to match her fierce desires, epic disappointments and heartbreaking dreams,” said Cardinal.
Leslie Uggams, a Tony and Emmy Award-winning star of the stage and screen for six decades, is perhaps best known for her stirring portrayal of Kizzy in the landmark TV mini-series Alex Haley’s Roots (Critics Choice Award and Emmy and Golden Globe nominations). Ms. Uggams recently starred in the Broadway-bound world premiere of Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Story (Ovation nomination) at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. On Broadway, Ms. Uggams made her musical theatre debut starring in Hallelujah, Baby! earning both Tony and Theatre World awards. Her Broadway credits include Blues in the Night, Jerry’s Girls, Anything Goes, King Headley II (Tony Award nomination), Thoroughly Modern Millie and On Golden Pond opposite James Earl Jones.
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The cast includes Michael James Leslie of Broadway’s The Wiz and Little Shop of Horrors, as Pop, Scott Ripley as Herbie, Alanna Saunders (Dianna in CRT’s recent A Chorus Line) as June, Amandina Altomare (Judy in A Chorus Line, Philia in Funny thing…Forum) as Louise, Luke Hamilton as Tulsa, and features Ariana Shore as Tessie Tura, Dale AJ Rose as Mr. Goldstone/Cigar and Steve Hayes as
Uncle Jocko/Kringelien.
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Additional cast members include Brandon Beaver, Johnny Brantly III, Thomas Brazzle, Madison Coppola, Kristin Devine, Conor Donnally, Cassandra Dupler, Julia Estrada, Mackenzie Leigh Freidmann, Khetanya Henderson, James Jelkin, Sean Jones, Rebecca Mack, Coles Prince, Maria Sheehan, Kyle Schoeplein, Courtney Schoeplein, Annie Tolis, Gianna Yanelli and Madison Young.
The production is directed by CRT’s Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal, with scenic design by Tim Brown, costume design by Lisa Loen, lighting design by Greg Purnell, sound design by Michael Skinner and stage manager Alyssa K. Howard.
GYPSY: A Musical Fable runs at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT from July 10-20, 2014. GYPSY is the third show of the 2014 Summer Nutmeg Series, which also includes A CHORUS LINE (June 5-14) and THE SUNSHINE BOYS (June 19-29) starring Jerry Adler, Richard Kline and Tina Fabrique.
PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION
Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Matinee performances start at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Subscription package options range from $30 to $93. Single ticket prices range from $10 to 43.
Please call 860.486.2113 for tickets and additional information. Please call the box office or visit www.crt.uconn.edu for specific show dates and times because performance schedules vary and are subject to change.
