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Cast List
| Baby June -- Chelsea Snyder Rose Louise -- Ali Gribi Ballon Girl -- Mariah Mulcahy Baton Twirler -- Allix Geiger Accordian Girl -- Brianna George Clarence -- Thomas De Ponio Newsboy -- Tim Cobiac Newsboy -- Anderson Nunnelly Newsboy -- Madison Ford |
Mama Rose -- Nancy Sundstrum Uncle Jocko -- Al Lein George/Phil -- Ed Mulcahy Pop -- Larry Hains Weber -- Phil Callighan Herbie -- Fred Szczepanski Gypsy -- Kristie George June -- Ashley Moeggenberg Tulsa -- Brett Nichols |
Yonkers -- Dan Robinson LA -- Marcus Martinez Angie -- TBA Kringleing -- Hedges MacDonald Goldstone -- Steve Peterson Cratchitt -- Dale George Cogar -- Bill Floto Pastey -- Robert Van Collie Tessie Tura -- Diana DiMarco Morgan Mazeppa -- Chandra Dongvillo-Demars |
| Electra -- Ann Davis Agnes -- Karaline Griffen Marjorie May -- Amanda Baltrip Thelma -- Maggie Racich Delores -- Laura DePonio |
PRODUCTION STAFF......
Director ................................................. Phil Murphy
Musical Director .................................... Joe Rice
Vocal Director ....................................... Tom Stokes
Choreographer ....................................... Tamara Hunter
Producer ................................................ Margaret Schaal
Set & Light Design...................................Ron Murden
Costume Design ..................................... Camille Garber
Art Director ........................................... William Floto
Sound Design...........................................Gary Bolton
Stage Manager........................................Denni Don Hunting
Assistant Director ................................... Michelle Perez
Assistant Producer .................................. Denyse Everett
Assistant Stage Manager ......................... Karen Haspas
Dance Captain ........................................ Kristie George
House Managers.......................................George Beeby, Jeannie Cole
Production Staff ...................................... Deb Bowman, Nancy Bowman, Phil Callighan,
Dick Cieslik, Tim Conley, Rick Csapo, Dick Dawson,
Bill Floto, Larry Hains, Michael T. Holland,
Wendy Kalush, Don Kuehlhom, Al Lien,
Dann McCarthy, Kerri Moses, Ed Mulcahy,
Ann Norris, Tom Pritchard, Margaret Ann Slawson,
Robert Van Coillie, Suzanne Weiler
Costume Seamstresses............................ Nancy Albrecht, Donna Hood, Ellie Stevens,
Kathy Verstraete, Sue Warner
Costume ................................................ Dale George, Pinkie Hoffmann, Margaret Schaal,
JoanneThomas
Set Construction & Painting..................... Jordan Byington, Phil Callighan, Mike Carney,
Dick Cieslik, Sam Clark, Rick Csapo, John Dow,
Ed Girrbach, Phyllis Girrbach, Bill Floto, Alex Gillett,
Bernadette Gropposo, Karen Haspas,
Michael T. Holland, Denni Don Hunting,
Kasey Kilpatrick, Jeff Kroeger, Al Lien,
Maureen McCarthy, Brett Nichols, Hannah Pritchard,
Tom Pritchard, Joe Rice, Sarna Salzman,
Claire Shipstead, George Spelvin, Laura Staubes,
Nancy Sundstrom, Joe Whall
Spotlights ............................................... Cinder Conlon, Jeanine Easterday,
Margaret "Mugs" Mulcahy, Sarna Salzman, Deb Murden
Hair ....................................................... Michelle Josza
Make-Up .............................................. Molly Shugart
Poster & Photography ........................... Steve Morse
OTP'S 'Gypsy' shows audiences a real good time
by Rick Gould
Special to the Record-Eagle
TRAVERSE CITY "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" is the song that veteran strippers sing to a
struggling pair of vaudevillians in the famed Broadway musical "Gypsy."
But the "Gypsy" that opened Friday at Old Town Playhouse doesn't need gimmicks. With
melodies by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a story based on the book by Arthur
Laurent, "Gypsy" can stand on its own.
Based on the memoirs of burlesque legend Gypsy Rose Lee, "Gypsy" tells the story of Momma
Rose, an overbearing stage mother who is determined to break into the big time by pushing the
vaudeville career of her younger daughter "Baby" June. Unwilling to tolerate her mother's
manipulations, June elopes with a dancer as a young teenager.
Rose then turns her formidable focus on her older and less talented daughter Louise. Eventually
Rose's dreams bloom when she successfully transforms Louise into a famous burlesque stripper
known as Gypsy Rose Lee. However, Rose suffers a breakdown when she realizes she is no
longer needed in her daughter's career.
In Old Town Playhouse's rendition, the audience sees one red-hot Momma Rose in Nancy
Sundstrom. She gives it everything she's got as the biggest stage mother of them all, belting out
classic showstoppers like "Some People" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses" while snapping
out orders and one-liners with gusto.
But Sundstrom is just as effective in the quieter scenes with another Playhouse veteran, Fred
Szczepanski. He appears a the hapless Herbie, Rose's agent and lover.
Both actors have longed to play these roles and they are well-cast; Sundstrom's a diminutive
person with an outsized personality, and Szczepanski is a figurative and literal tower of gentle
strength. Both shine together when they gracefully sing the ballad "Small World."
The rest of the large cast ranges from good to great. Highlights include Brett Nichols, who as
one of the "boys," shines in his "All I Need is the Girl" song and dance number. "You Gotta Get
a Gimmick," an audience favorite, gets extra oomph from Diana DiMarco Morgan as the gum-
snapping Tessie Tura.
Kristie George, much like the title character she plays, gains confidence as she makes the
transition from shy Louise to slinky "Gypsy." George's gradually more sophisticated renditions
of "Let Me Entertain You" comes off smoothly.
This is a big show and director Phil Murphy deserves kudos for putting "Gypsy" across with
energy and style while bring out the story's depth as well.
The faults with this version of "Gypsy" are few. The pacing with the show's many scene
changes was slow on opening night. Word has it this had already improved by Saturday's
performance and is sure to tighten as the show's run continues. I felt a few of the refrains,
though well-done, could have been trimmed, particularly "You Gotta Get a Gimmick," which
comes late in the show and the evening.
Conversely, I felt that the clever scene with the young cast performing in a silent movie-like
flickering light gradually making way for their older selves was blunted by ending too soon to
make the point that years later, the characters were still performing the same songs in the same
costumes.
"Gypsy" is a genuine musical treat and Old Town Playhouse audiences should have real good
time.
"Gypsy" will be performed November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m., with matinees
November 17 and 24 at 3 p.m. For tickets or more information, call Old Town Playhouse at 947-
2443.
