Photo Flash: GYPSY Opens at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's professional award-winning theatre company, will open its 30th Anniversary Season with a revamped production of "Gypsy." The season-opener will run September 9-25. Staged in a cozy 110-seat theatre, this production of "Gypsy" offers audience members the intimacy of a local theatre with the professionalism of Broadway -- an experience only MTC MainStage can provide.

"We couldn't be more excited to open our 30th Anniversary Season with one of the greatest American musicals of all time," says "Gypsy" Director Kevin Connors. "We are re-imagining the production in the style of our previous critically-acclaimed musicals, 'Cabaret' and 'Evita.' And with no seat more than four rows from the stage, our audiences will experience this legendary classic unlike ever before."

"Gypsy" is a musical fable inspired by the memoirs of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, with a book by Arthur Laurents ("West Side Story"), music by Jule Styne ("Funny Girl") and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ("Into the Woods"). The ultimate backstage musical, "Gypsy" tells the story of an ambitious stage mother, Rose, and her dreams to skyrocket her two daughters, June and Louise, into fame. A provocative portrait of the last days of Vaudeville, "Gypsy" features an unforgettable score including, "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Together (Wherever We Go)," "Small World," "Some People" and "Let Me Entertain You."

Leading the "Gypsy" cast as Rose is Kirsti Carnahan, who starred in the original cast of Broadway's "The Kiss of the Spider Woman" and in other Broadway productions including "King David," "Baby," "The Three Musketeers," "Les Miserables," "Cats" and "Annie." Her regional credits include: "Mamma Mia!," "Driving Miss Daisy," "Sweeney Todd," "Doubt," "Hello, Dolly!" and "Mame." Paul Binotto plays Herbie, and his Broadway credits include the original company of "Dreamgirls," "Starlight Express" and the first revival of "Hair." He appeared with The New York City Opera in "Sweeney Todd" and "Candide," and Off-Broadway credits include: "Enter Laughing" and Forever Plaid." Kate Simone plays Louise, and has appeared in Broadway's Roundabout Theatre Company's workshop of "Sunset Boulevard," with regional credits including, "South Pacific" at The MUNY and "Camelot" at Sacramento Music Circus. Rounding out the cast are Brittany Cattaruzza ("42nd Street"), Joe Grandy ("Irving Berlin's White Christmas" National Tour), Jeri Kansas ("Sugar Babies" on Broadway), Marca Leigh ("The Taming of the Shrew"), Carissa Massaro ("Jane Eyre: The Musical" on Broadway), Peter McClung ("Baby" Off-Broadway), Chris McNiff ("Memphis" National Tour), Abigail Root ("Peter Pan") and Jodi Stevens ("Urban Cowboy" on Broadway). The cast also features four young actors: Abby Sarah Dahan, Jonah Frimmer, Charlie Pelletier and Natalie Steele.

"Gypsy" is directed by MTC Co-Founder and Executive Artistic Director Kevin Connors. The design team includes set design by Carl Tallent, lighting by Michael Blagys, costumes by Diane Vanderkroef, choreography by Becky Timms and musical direction by Thomas Martin Conroy. The production is stage managed by Jim Schilling.

The MTC MainStage 30th Anniversary Season will continue with "Sleuth" (November 4-20), "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" (December 9-18), "I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers" (February 24-March 12, 2017) and "The End of the Rainbow" (April 7-23, 2017). Season subscriptions to see all five productions, including "Gypsy," are still available starting at $120.

The MTC MainStage 30th Anniversary Season is generously sponsored in part by The State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and The Hour/Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Photos by Heather Hayes

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