Let ‘Gypsy’ entertain you
Rebecca Devereaux|蘑菇视频
During rehearsal Nicole Sarro, playing the role of Rose in the musical Gypsy on stage with Kayla Grimm, playing 鈥淟ouise鈥� and Toby Maykuth playing 鈥淗erbie鈥� at The State Theatre in Uniontown.
Toni Rose, playing the role of Baby June, sings "Let me Entertain You" in act one of the musical Gypsy, coming soon to The State Theatre in Uniontown.
Cast members in the upcoming production of Gypsy practice a scene during rehearsal.
Nicole Sarro, playing the role of Rose in the upcoming musical Gypsy, hands off Bette Davis playing Chowsie 聽during rehearsal at The State Theatre.
Cast members in the upcoming musical "Gypsy" practice a scene during rehearsal inside The State Theatre in Uniontown.
Be entertained.
Return to the glory days and fading embers of vaudeville when the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown presents 鈥淕ypsy鈥� July 22-24.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 great that we鈥檙e presenting a production that deals with vaudeville and performing and a theatrical family through the 1920s and 鈥�30s in the State Theatre which was built in the early 1920s,鈥� said Director John Wagner. 鈥淲e get to perform this on an actual stage that premiered during the exact same time period as the musical is set. So we鈥檙e bringing vaudeville back to the State Theatre.鈥�
The 1959 musical, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artists and her mother Mama Rose, who was the original overbearing stage mother.
鈥淕ypsy鈥� follows the dreams and efforts of Mama Rose to raise two daughters, Louise and June, to perform onstage, while offering a poignant look at the hardships of show business life. The character of Louise is based on Gypsy Rose Lee, and the character of June is based on Lee蘑菇视频 sister, the actress June Havoc.
鈥淭he musical shows how Mama Rose developed this act, took it on the vaudeville circuit and tried to make it grow,鈥� said Wagner.
Rose and her two daughters, Baby June and Louise, play the vaudeville circuit around the United States in the early 1920s. Rose, is aggressive and domineering, pushing her children to perform. While June is an extroverted, talented child star, the older girl, Louise, is shy. As the girls grow and vaudeville蘑菇视频 lights fade, the three women are forced to confront the changes that lay before them including marriage for a young June, loss of long-time love for Mama Rose, and an ever-changing entertainment industry that introduces Louise and her mother to burlesque.
鈥淰audeville is dying so that蘑菇视频 where the struggle comes in and then we go into the Great Depression, where everything just collapsed. But Mama Rose kept persevering and that蘑菇视频 basically how Gypsy (Louise) ended up in burlesque because they were left with no alternative,鈥� explained Wagner.
Appearing courtesy of Actor蘑菇视频 Equity Nicole Sarro will star as Mama Rose and Kayla Grimm as Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee. Also featured in the production are Toby Maykuth as Herbie, Lexie Rohlf as June, Alex Robba as Tulsa, Toni Rose as Baby June, Makayla Oplinger as Baby Louise, Carrie Attaway as Tessie Tura, Rachael Szabo as Mazeppa and Emily Urbaniak as Electra.
In addition there will be an 鈥渉onorable鈥� special guest appearance in 鈥淕ypsy鈥� by Fayette County President Judge John Wagner Jr., who will be celebrated gem Mr. Goldstone.
Judge Wagner蘑菇视频 son is happy to have his father as part of the production and is thrilled to again serve as director of a summer production at the theater.
鈥淕ypsy鈥� marks Wagner蘑菇视频 third production as the artistic director for Summer at the State. Originally from Connellsville, he currently resides in New York City. John holds his Masters in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah University.
His directing and choreography credits include: 鈥淢ary Poppins,鈥� 鈥淗airspray,鈥� 鈥淭he Producers,鈥� 鈥�42nd Street,鈥� 鈥淭he Nutcracker,鈥� 鈥淐ats,鈥� 鈥淪weet Charity,鈥� 鈥淏eauty and the Beast,鈥� and 鈥淟egally Blonde.鈥�
Wagner is member of the Actors鈥� Equity Association and has been seen onstage all across the country. His performing credits include: 鈥淪pamalot,鈥� 鈥淟a Cage Aux Folles,鈥� 鈥淕ypsy,鈥� 鈥淎ll Shook Up,鈥� 鈥淎 Chorus Line,鈥� 鈥淎nything Goes,鈥� 鈥淐hicago,鈥� 鈥�42nd Street,鈥� and 鈥淔ootloose.鈥�
As an educator, Wagner is a faculty member at the Class Act Performing Arts Studio in New Jersey. He has served as the choreographer for Geibel Catholic High School for over ten years and is also the co-founder of Larger Than Life Shows, a NYC based production and entertainment company.
Wagner feels 鈥淕ypsy鈥� delivers a timeless message.
鈥淲hat蘑菇视频 dynamic is, and I think this is something everyone can relate to, Mama Rose and Gypsy (Louise), and Herbie and June they are a show biz family, but what they鈥檙e looking for is the American dream. They鈥檙e just trying to make it in life and especially Mama Rose. I mean she蘑菇视频 really fighting for that dream. She brings up the dream all throughout the show. Mama Rose just wants to provide for her family and she鈥檒l do whatever she can to make sure that happens,鈥� he said.
The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 鈥淓verything蘑菇视频 Coming up Roses鈥�, 鈥淭ogether (Wherever We Go)鈥�, 鈥淪mall World鈥�, 鈥淪ome People鈥�, 鈥淟et Me Entertain You鈥�, 鈥淵ou Gotta Get a Gimmick鈥�, 鈥淎ll I Need Is the Girl鈥�, and 鈥淩ose蘑菇视频 Turn鈥�.
鈥淭he music is great. When people ask me what songs are in the show and I list all the popular titles, people say I had no idea all those songs were in 鈥楪ypsy鈥�,鈥� laughed Wagner.
With limited backstage space, the production crew had to take a unique approach in designing the 鈥淕ypsy鈥� set for the State Theatre.
鈥淲e鈥檙e staging it in a way that really fits our space. We鈥檙e going to be using a turntable, which is giving us a little more storage space on stage and because it蘑菇视频 a classic musical it蘑菇视频 a bit longer so it will keep the show moving,鈥� Wagner said.
Numerous critics have referred to 鈥淕ypsy鈥� one of American musical theater蘑菇视频 greatest works for it蘑菇视频 detailed narrative and complex character development. Among the mid-20th century蘑菇视频 conventional theater art form also called the 鈥渂ook musical鈥�, or a musical play where songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-developed story with serious dramatic and emotional goals, 鈥淕ypsy鈥� evokes genuine emotion from laughter to tears.
鈥淚 think the audience will love watching Mama Rose,鈥� said Wagner. 鈥淭he actress we brought in from New York is fantastic. She brought such life to the character. She蘑菇视频 bringing a different approach to the characters. She making Mama Rose not just a monster, she蘑菇视频 a real person with real struggles, who is fighting to provide for her family and make the most of life,鈥� said Wagner.
Details:
鈥滸测辫蝉测鈥�
When: 8 p.m. July 22-23; 2 p.m. July 24
Where: State Theatre Center for the Arts, Uniontown
Admission: $12
Tickets: 724-439-1360 or statetheatre.info