Broadway Blog - Savannah Rafferty to Star in 85th Anniversary Broadway Production of Gypsy

That is, if I have anything to do with it.

Who is Savannah Rafferty?  Well, my dear readers may remember 2-year-old Savannah singing "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" in my year-end column, "2008's Ten Memorable Theatre Moments You May Have Missed."

Now take a look at her, at age 4, belting out "Some People."  Her mom, Samantha, tells me she was actually busting capillaries in her face from singing so big.

Now 13, Savannah has already had an eventful life for someone so young.  At 8 she got sick with an autoimmune disease and with doctor appointments, medications and therapies she had to take a break from singing and doing children's theatre.  But now she feels ready to hit the stage and start singing again.

Says the Staten Island teen, "Growing up with Broadway has definitely changed me as a person.  If it weren't for my mom, who played musicals my whole life, I probably wouldn't be into singing all the scores.  I feel so lucky to live so close to Broadway.  I just wish we could afford to go more than once in a while.  LOL"  (Why do you think some of us become theatre critics, Savannah?  LOL)

Savannah was a special guest at the 2007 Broadway Sings The Phone Book benefit concert at Studio 54, where, as the face of the New York City Make A Wish Foundation, she mingled, charmed and helped collect contributions.

"If I could bring back any play, it would definitely be Evita," says Savannah, "because I would love to bring back Patti LuPone as Eva.  If I could be in any play, I'd love to play Elphaba in Wicked.  That's a great role."

I don't think it'll be very long before audiences will be cheering on Savannah Rafferty as she defies gravity.