Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at GYPSY at Maine State Music Theatre

Everything's coming up roses July 17, as Maine State Music Theatre continues its 55th season of professional musical theater at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin campus in Brunswick, Maine with the smash musical fable, Gypsy. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Mama Rose and Gypsy Rose Lee!

Loosely based on the memoirs of striptease artist, Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy follows the dreams and disappointments of Mama Rose and her fight to raise her two daughters, Dainty June, based on actress, June Havoc, and Louise, in the world of 1920's show business, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born.

Gypsy opened on Broadway in 1959 and starred Ethel Merman and Jack Klugman. A 1962 film adaptation starred Rosalind Russell, Karl Malden and Natalie Wood. Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone have also played the role of Rose on the Broadway stage.

Maine State Music Theatre favorite, Charis Leos, returns to the Maine State Music Theatre stage as "the ultimate show business mother", Rose, in what has been referred to as the greatest American musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents.

Ms. Leos celebrates her 8th season with Maine State Music Theatre, having appeared as Sr. Hubert, Nunsense II; Georgie, Full Monty; Mayor, All Shook Up; Mdm. Thenardier, Les Miserables; Chaperone, Drowsy Chaperone; Jolene, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Louise, Always, Patsy Cline; Mama Morton, Chicago; Mrs. Pearce, My Fair Lady; Melpomone, Xanadu; Ms. Hannigan, Annie; Paulette, Legally Blonde; and Maggie, in last season's 42nd Street.

Guest Director for Gypsy, Dominic Missimi, comes to Maine State Music Theatre having directed 36 productions at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Il. including award winning productions of Les Miserables, 1776 and Gypsy. Mr. Missimi has been nominated for the Best Direction Jeff Award 16 times, including his recent production of Pirates of Penzance. Mr. Missimi directed the National Tour of Mary Yeston's Phantom and the 20th Anniversary production of Hair, Vic Theatre, Chicago. Opera Productions include Chicago Opera Theatre, Michigan Opera Theatre, Sarasota Opera, Orlando Opera. Mr. Missimi is the founder of the Northwestern University Music Theatre Program and American Music Theatre Project.

Longtime Maine State Music Theatre performer, Ray Dumont, choreographs Gypsy. Mr. Dumont has been in 27 shows at Maine State Music Theatre since 1993 including Mike, A Chorus Line; Andy Lee/Bert Barry, 42nd Street; Gangster, Drowsy Chaperone; Carmen Ghia, The Producers; also Anything Goes, Chicago, Lucky Guy, Cabaret, and Blood Brothers. Mr. Dumont was Intern Director for four seasons, and Managing Director for four years at Maine State Music Theatre.

Making his Maine State Music Theatre debut, Aaron McAllister, Musical Director and Gypsy conductor, is the resident Musical Director and Conductor at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, PA and has musically directed and conducted more than 60 musicals at theaters around the country.

The cast of Gypsy includes professional performers from Broadway, New York City and all over the country, including the return of David Girolmo as Herbie and Tyler Hanes as Tulsa. Making their Maine State Music Theatre debuts are Missy Dowse as Louise and Cary Miller as June.

Familiar show-stopping songs that became popular standards include Some People, Small World, Everything's Coming Up Roses, Together, Wherever We Go, All I Need Is The Girl and Let Me Entertain You. Gypsy is frequently considered one of the crowning achievements of the mid-20th century's conventional musical theatre art form, often called the "book musical".

Tickets to see Gypsy are now on sale. Contact the MSMT box office at (207) 725-8769, visit the box office at The Pickard Theater or select and purchase your seats online at www.msmt.org. The show opens on July 17th and runs until August 3rd. Matinees are at 2 p.m. and evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. For specific dates and availability, contact the box office or visit the website. The Pickard Theater is located at 1 Bath Road in Brunswick, on the campus of Bowdoin College.

Photo Credit: Audra Hatch Photography

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