Gypsy (musical)
| Musical dates | |
|---|---|
| Original title: | Gypsy |
| Original language: | English |
| Music: | Jule Styne |
| Book: | Arthur Laurents |
| Lyrics: | Stephen Sondheim |
| Literary source: | Gypsy Rose Lee , Gypsy: A Memoir |
| Premiere: | May 21, 1959 |
| Place of premiere: | New York, Broadway |
| Playing time: | approx ... hours |
| Place and time of the action: | several cities in the US, 1920s and 30s |
| Roles / people | |
& Ensemble |
|
Gypsy is the title of a musical that was first performed on Broadway in 1959 . Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics , the music Jule Styne , the book Arthur Laurent , based on the autobiography Gypsy: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee . The show was produced by David Merrick and Leland Hayward , with Jerome Robbins directing and choreographing it. Originally, Sondheim should also have written the music, but this failed because of the objection of the leading actress Ethel Merman , who wanted a more experienced composer. The musical was very successful and, in addition to numerous revivals, also saw two film adaptations and received numerous theater awards. The role of Mama Rose is seen as a challenge for Broadway singers, both vocally and as an actor.
action
The plot is based on the life of the burlesque dancer and stripper Gypsy Rose Lee (Rose Louise Hovick, 1914–1970), but focused on her mother and her relationship to fame in order to provide Broadway star Ethel Merman with a suitable role and show business. The scene begins in the 1920s: Rose tries to make her daughters June and Louise stars in various vaudeville shows. When June, the more promising of the two girls, freed herself from the tutelage of the dominant mother after years and went her own way, Rose concentrated more and more on Louise. However, with the days of vaudeville shows over, they end up in a shabby burlesque theater, where Louise eventually begins her career as a stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. The musical ends with a mother and daughter debate in which Rose admits she used her daughters to make herself feel like a star.
Music track
1st act
- Overture - orchestra
- May We Entertain You? - Baby June and Baby Louise
- Some People - Rose
- Some People (Reprise) - Rose
- Small World - Rose and Herbie
- Baby June and Her Newsboys - Baby June and Newsboys
- Mr. Goldstone, I Love You - Rose, Herbie, Ensemble
- Little Lamb - Louise
- You'll Never Get Away From Me - Rose and Herbie
- Dainty June and Her Farmboys - June and Farmboys
- Broadway - June and Farmboys
- If Momma Was Married - June and Louise
- All I Need is the Girl - Tulsa and Louise
- Everything's Coming up Roses - Rose
2nd act
- Entr'acte - orchestra
- Madame Rose's Toreadorables - Louise, Rose and the Hollywood Blondes
- Together, Wherever We Go - Rose, Herbie and Louise
- You Gotta Get a Gimmick - Mazeppa, Electra and Tessie Tura
- Small World (Reprise) - Rose
- Let Me Entertain You - Louise
- Rose's Turn - Rose
Performances
- May 21, 1959 - March 25, 1961: Broadway Theater, later Imperial Theater , Broadway, New York City (with Ethel Merman as Rose)
- May 29, 1973 - March 2, 1974: Piccadilly Theater, West End, London (with Angela Lansbury as Rose)
- Sept. 23, 1974 - January 4, 1975: Winter Garden Theater , Broadway, New York City (with Angela Lansbury as Rose)
- November 16, 1989 - July 28, 1991: St. James Theater (from April 18, 1991 Marquis Theater), Broadway, New York City (with Tyne Daly as Rose)
- May 1, 2003 (previews March 31, 2003) - May 30, 2004: Shubert Theater , Broadway, New York City (with Bernadette Peters as Rose)
- Mar 27, 2008 - January 11, 2009: St. James Theater, Broadway, New York City (with Patti LuPone as Rose)
- April 15, 2015 - November 28, 2015: Savoy Theater , London (with Imelda Staunton as Rose and Lara Pulver as Louise)
Further performances
- 1979: German premiere in the Munster Municipal Theaters, in a version by Frank Thannhäuser and Iris Schumacher
Film adaptations
- 1962 with Rosalind Russell , Natalie Wood and Karl Malden .
- 1993 TV adaptation with Bette Midler , Cynthia Gibb and Peter Riegert .
Sound carrier
Recordings have been released for all Broadway performances, the London production and both film adaptations.
Web links
- Gypsy in the Internet Broadway Database (IBDb)
- Gypsy in the Guide to Musical Theater
- Gypsy on Musical Heaven
- Gypsy at felix-bloch-orben.de (publisher for stage, film and funk)