Southwestern University to Stage GYPSY, 3/26-30

Southwestern University is proud to present Gypsy, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, March 26-30, 2014. Gypsy is directed by Rick Roemer. Performances will run at 7:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Alma Thomas Theater. Tickets are $10-20.

The spectacular American musical Gypsy, loosely based on the memoirs of the famous striptease artist of the 1930's, Gypsy Rose Lee, opened on Broadway in 1959, starring the irrepressible Ethel Merman. It tells the story of Rose, the original ruthless stage mother, who pushes her children into careers on the vaudeville stage. When her dreams of stardom for her youngest daughter June are dashed, Rose redirects her ambitions on her less talented daughter Louise, who becomes the famous 1930's striptease artist, Gypsy Rose Lee!

The musical contains many popular songs, including "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Together (Wherever We Go)," "Small World," "Some People," "Let Me Entertain You," "All I Need Is the Girl," and "Rose's Turn."

Gypsy is recognized by many critics as the greatest American musical of all time. The original production received 8 Tony Award nominations.

Meredith McCall plays the role of Rose. She has appeared at Zach Theatre in White Christmas, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, Next To Normal, Ragtime, Fiction, The Drowsy Chaperone, Caroline, or Change, 365 Days/365 Plays, Present Laughter, Urinetown: The Musical, Cabaret, Side Man, The Pavilion, The Laramie Project, Little Shop of Horrors, Jouét, Pride's Crossing, The Rocky Horror Show (1999 & 2006), The Santaland Diaries, Tommy, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, The Taffetas, Jack and Jill, Ruthless! The Musical, Rockin' Christmas Party, Das Barbecü, Born Yesterday, Avenue X, Beehive and Falsettos.

Regional Theatre credits include Down The Drain (Imagine That), Celebrity Autobiography (The Long Center); House of Several Stories (Imagine That); Jouét (Actors Theatre of Louisville); Guys and Dolls (Zilker Summer Musicals); She Loves Me and Pump Boys and Dinettes (Live Oak Theatre).

Awards include Austin Critics' Table Award for "Outstanding Acting in a Supporting Role" (Drowsy Chaperone), Austin Critics' Table Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical" (Urinetown), Austin Critics' Table Award "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical" and B. Iden Payne Nomination "Best Lead Actress in a Musical" (Jouét), Austin Critics' Table Award for "Featured Actress" (Angels in America), B. Iden Payne Award for "Best Actress in a Drama" (The Pavilion), "Best Actress in a Comedy" (Born Yesterday), "Best Actress in a Musical" (Falsettos). Meredith has a Masters of Art in Theatre from Northwestern University. Her CD, "The Joy in Your Heart," is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/meredithmccall.

Scotty Roberts plays the role of Herbie. He has been involved in local theatre for thirty years. At Zach Theatre. he has appeared in Harvey (E.J.Lofgren), Hairspray (Wilbur Turnblad), The Drowsy Chaperone (Feldzieg), Our Town (Professor Willard/Constable Warren), Porgy and Bess (White Gentleman & Policeman), Urinetown: The Musical (Senator Fipp), Cabaret (Herr Schulz), bee luther-hatchee (Brian Clark/Robert Leonard), Little Shop Of Horrors (Mr. Mushnick), Abundance (Will Curtis), Falsettos (Mendel), and A Streetcar Named Desire (Harold Mitchell).

At Austin Playhouse, he has been in Trip to Bountiful (Sheriff), Frost/Nixon (Swifty Lazar). The Off Center: In On It (This One). Austin Musical Theatre: Sweet Charity (Mr. Phelps), The Music Man (Marcellus Washburn). Live Oak Theatre: Lend Me a Tenor (Tito Morelli), She Loves Me (Sipos), Sweeney Todd (Beadle Bamford), 110 in the Shade (Noah), Anything Goes (Moonface Martin). The State Theatre: Sonny's Last Shot (Harry Morton). Scotty has performed for ten wonderful years on the hillside at Zilker Park in roles ranging from chorus to romantic lead.

Lara Wright plays the role of Tessie Tura. At Zach Theatre she has appeared in A Christmas Story (Miss Shields, etc.), White Christmas (Rita), Xanadu (Calliope), Rent (Mark's Mom, Alexi Darling), The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty) and The Rocky Horror Show. Austin Playhouse: Man Of La Mancha, Triumph Of Love, My Fair Lady. Regional: Grease (Rizzo), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) and Wait Until Dark (Suzy). Other Theatre: The Margo Lee Show at the Velveeta Room in Austin, The Seagull (Nina), Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean (Edna), Wild Honey (Sofya) and The Dining Room. Directing Credits: T.I.C., Les Miserables (Asst. Director) at McCallum Fine Arts Academy. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in New York City.

For tickets call the Box Office at 512.863.1378 or purchase online at www.southwestern.tix.com

Southwestern University is a selective, nationally recognized undergraduate liberal arts college with an enrollment of 1,500 students. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in Texas. For more information on Southwestern, visit www.southwestern.edu.

Photo Credit: Anne Bannister

Don't Miss a Austin News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...