Beth Leavel, who won a Tony for her performance in the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone and will be seen later this season in the new Broadway musical The Prom, plays ultimate stage mother Rose in the St. Louis Muny summer production of Gypsy.
The classic showbiz tale of a domineering mother and a wallflower who becomes the country's best-known burlesque artist plays the outdoor venue July 27–August 2 with direction by Rob Ruggiero, choreography by Ralph Perkins, and music direction by James Moore.
Leavel is joined by her offstage (and frequently onstage) partner Adam Heller as Herbie, plus Jennifer Cody, Ann Harada, and Ellen Harvey as strippers Tessie Tura, Electra, and Mazeppa. Cody also plays Miss Cratchitt (having previously played both roles at the Cape Playhouse).
The cast also includes Julia Knitel as Louise, Hayley Podschun as Dainty June, Kip Niven as Pop/Cigar/Philadelphia Announcer, Drew Redington as Tulsa, Michael James Reed as Weber/Bourgeron-Cochon/Detroit Announcer, Lara Teeter as Uncle Jocko/Phil/Minsky’s Announcer, Elise Edwards as Baby Louise, and Amelie Lock as Baby June.
The ensemble is comprised of Kevin Curtis, Meghan Faddis, Ciara Alyse Harris, Haley Holcomb, Zachary Daniel Jones, Chris Kelley, Evan Kinnane, Katie Pohlman, Jack Sippel, Gabi Stapula, Daryl Tofa, and Keaton Whittaker with the Muny Kid youth ensemble.
The production also has scenic design by Luke Cantarella, costume design by Amy Clark, lighting design by John Lasiter, sound design by John Shivers and David Patridge, video design by Nathan W. Scheuer, wig design by Leah J. Loukas, with production stage manager Shawn Pennington.“Gypsy is arguably one of the greatest musicals ever, and this amazing, brilliant cast, assembled by Megan Larche Dominick is ready to make it shine in our 100th season,” said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson in an earlier statement. “Having real-life couple of Beth Leavel and Adam Heller as Rose and Herbie will be particularly delicious.”
Gypsy features a score by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and a book by Arthur Laurents. The musical—with Ethel Merman as Rose—bowed on Broadway in May 1959 at the Broadway Theatre, playing 702 performances. Subsequent Broadway revivals have featured Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone as Rose. A 1962 film featured Rosalind Russell as Rose with Natalie Wood as Gypsy Rose Lee; a 1993 TV version cast Bette Midler in the lead role.
For more information, visit Muny.org or call (314) 361-1900.
Patti LuPone in the 2008 revival of Gypsy
