Grand Theatre to Present GYPSY, 10/24-11/9

While stage mothers are more popular than ever thanks to television reality shows like "Dance Moms" and "Toddlers and Tiaras," they cannot compare to the ultimate stage mother from a century ago. She was Rose ElizaBeth Thompson Hovick, mother of two famous performing daughters: burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee and actress June Havoc. Their lives were brought to life in one of musical theater's crowning achievements, Gypsy, which first premiered on Broadway in 1959. Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, this gripping and entertaining, Tony Award-winning musical, featuring a score of classics, including "Let Me Entertain You," and "Everything's Coming Up Roses," now makes its way to the stage of the Grand Theatre located at 405 S. Main Street, Williamstown, NJ, October 24 - November 9 (Thursdays at 7pm; Friday and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm). Tickets, ranging from $22 - $25, are available at www.roadcompany.com or 856-728-2120.

The story of Gypsy starts in Seattle with stage mother, Rose, pushing her two daughters into "Uncle Jocko's Kiddie Show." June, her mother feels, is the most likely to become a star. Louise is plainer and quieter; she stands meekly in her sister's shadow. A new act called "Baby June and her Newsboys" is conceived by Rose, and the family is off to the 'big time' in Los Angeles. The act steeped in star spangled banners, dancing horses and screaming newsboys moves to Dallas, Akron, New York, Buffalo and Omaha. Along the way Rose meets Herbie, a theatrical agent, and hires him as manager. Rose scrimps as she schemes and scrambles for bookings and billings to maintain their hand to mouth existence. The girls begin to grow up and the act becomes "Dainty June and her Newsboys." Unfortunately, its quality does not improve, bookings are cancelled and the act moves on. Louise wishes that Momma would marry so they could settle down and Herbie proposes but is rejected. June elopes with Tulsa, one of the boys in the act, and Rose sets out to make Louise into the star. Finally the troupe reaches the bottom, a burlesque house in Wichita. Louise realizes there is no vaudeville left except for burlesque. Here she clumsily shoots into stardom by becoming something different: a ladylike stripper. At last Louise breaks away from her mother and goes out on her own as Gypsy Rose Lee. Rose bursts into the "Rose's Turn" in which she sings of her suppressed talents that she has sacrificed to further the careers of her unappreciative daughters.