Broadway's upcoming revival of Gypsy, set to star six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald as legendary stage mother Rose, has revealed perhaps its most exciting casting of all, the dogs who will be playing Chowsie. Typically included in Rose's bag in her iconic entrance scene at rehearsals for Uncle Jocko's Kiddie Show, Chowsie will be played by Tana June, with Indy serving as the role's understudy.
June will make her Broadway debut in the role following a stage debut as Toto in a community theatre Wizard of Oz. Indy seems to be wholly new to the stage, but press notes share that production animal director William Berloni "was impressed by Tana June and Indy's resumes, headshots, and tail-shots, bringing them across the country to make their Broadway debuts in Gypsy." Both are rescues from Homeward Bound in Elkhart, Indiana.
The production, directed by Tony winner George C. Wolfe, will begin performances November 21 ahead of a December 19 opening night at the newly renovated Majestic Theatre. The box office will open October 10.
Along with McDonald, the human cast is being led by Tony winner Danny Burstein as Herbie, and The Notebook co-stars Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson as Louise and June, respectively.
The company will also include Lesli Margherita as Tessie Tura, Lili Thomas as Miss Mazeppa, Mylinda Hull as Miss Electra, Jacob Ming-Trent as Uncle Jocko, Kyleigh Denae Vickers as Baby Louise, Marley Lianne Gomes and Jade Smith as Baby June, and Kevin Csolak as Tulsa. The ensemble will feature Shanel Bailey, Jace Bently, Brandon Burks, Hunter Capellán, Tony d’Alelio, Summer Rae Daney, Kellie Jean Hoagland, Aliah James, Brittney Johnson, Zachary Daniel Jones, Ethan Joseph, Andrew Kober, Krystal Mackie, James McMenamin, Cole Newburg, Majo Rivero, Sally Shaw, Brendan Sheehan, Thomas Silcott, Jayden Theophile, and Jordan Wynn. Additional standby and understudy casting is to be announced.
Wolfe is directing the new revival of the Arthur Laurents-Stephen Sondheim-Jule Styne musical, which will feature choreography by Camille A. Brown. The creative team will also include music director and supervisor Andy Einhorn, scenic designer Santo Loquasto, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound designer Scott Lehrer, hair and wig designer Mia Neal, and makeup designer Michael Clifton. The production will also feature additional orchestrations and arrangements by Daryl Waters. Rick Steiger will be production stage manager.
Gypsy, based on the mostly fictional memoir of famed burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, is one of Broadway's favorites to revive. Since premiering in 1959 with Ethel Merman, the show has returned to Broadway in 1974, starring Angela Lansbury; 1989, starring Tyne Daly; 2003, starring Bernadette Peters; and 2008, starring Patti LuPone. The work has been filmed three times: a 1962 feature film starring Rosalind Russell, a 1993 TV film starring Bette Midler, and a filmed stage performance of a 2015 London revival starring Imelda Staunton.
Tickets are available at Telecharge.com. Visit GypsyBway.com.
