Lakewood Theatre Company's GYPSY Runs 7/16-8/22

From the first trumpet blast of its legendary overture to the last white hot spotlight, GYPSY is considered by many to be "the best musical ever." Lakewood Theatre Company is proud to present this classic musical as its summer production in the 2010-11 season.

GYPSY opens Friday, July 16 at Lakewood Theatre Company and continues until August 22 with the following performance schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 7:00 PM on July 18, 25 & Aug 1 and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM on July 25, August 1, 8, 15 & 22. The theatre is located at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego. Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $28 for students and seniors and are available through the Lakewood Theatre Box Office at (503) 635-3901 or order online at www.lakewood-center.org.

Based on the real-life account of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY is really the story of her mother Rose and her unflappable desire to see her daughters become stars. Fueled by regrets of her own dreams lost to motherhood and fate, Rose's destructive obsession eventually drives all the people who love her away, including the one man willing to accept her for who she really is. This epic musical covers more than 15 years in the life of Rose, her two daughters Louise and June and the gripping mania that drives them to tour the country seeking fame and fortune. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, GYPSY features a brassy, toe-tapping score that includes "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Together," "Wherever We Go" and "Let Me Entertain You." GYPSY is one of Broadway's best stories about the world of show business!

In Lakewood's production, Emily Beleele stars as Rose, the scheming ambitious stage mother who drives her two unwilling daughters up the rugged road to success. Kylie Clark Johnson (Louise) and Kimberly McFerron (June) appear as Gypsy Rose Lee and her sister June Havoc in their teens, and Caroline Haroldson (Baby Louise) and Hayley Rousselle (Baby June) as the same sisters in their childhood days. Todd Hermanson (Herbie) portrays the vaudeville act's loyal agent and admirer of Rose.

Among the featured players appearing in the large company are SheriDan Stevens as Tulsa, TAna Miller as Tessie, Rebecca Frost Mayer as Electra and LisaMarie Harrison as Mazeppa.

Other featured players include Joan Freed, Dylan Earhart, Bryce Earhart, SamUel Wade, Josh Murray, Jeff George, Matthew Spady, Tom Young, Brock Bivens, Annie Leonard, Monica Rodrigues, Katie Mitchels, Ellie Simitt, Don Stewart Burns and Jay Horenstein. GYPSY is directed by Jim Crino who has previously guided Lakewood productions of Oliver!, You Can't Take It With You and Italian American Reconciliation. Musical direction is by Matt Insley and choreography is by Lisa Zandy. Stage design is by Rod Langdahl, lighting design is by Kurt Herman, wig design is by Jane Holmes, properties are by Jim Crino and sound design is by Dan Hallberg. The stage manager is Heather Petzold and the show is produced by Kay Vega.