Gypsy
Book by Arthur Laurents | Music by Jule Styne | Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
An Up In One Production produced by Diana di Grandi
Director/Choreographer: Nicole Tarcza
Assistant Director/Assist. Choreographer: Jordan Stroly
Music Director: Lynne Czajka
Stage Manager: Randi Kiersnowski
SYNOPSIS
First introduced on Broadway in 1959, Gypsy has had seven Revivals, most recently this year starring Audra McDonald. It has won multiple Tony Awards including Best Musical and has starred Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Imelda Staunton and Audra McDonald.
It is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with the ultimate show business stage mother.
Regarded by many theater professionals as the finest musical ever created, Gypsy is set across America in the 1920s and 30s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born. Arthur Laurents' landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart and sophistication. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including Everything’s Coming Up Roses, Small World, Together (Wherever We Go), You Gotta Get a Gimmick and Let Me Entertain You.
AUDITION INFORMATION:
Adults/Teens: (ages 16 – 60) Please prepare a standard Broadway song (no more than 32 bars) in the correct key for your voice (Bring your sheet music for our accompanist). Songs from the show are welcome. You may also bring tracks.
Kids Call: ( ages 9 – 15) All kids will be seen as a group at 6:00 pm On Saturday, March 22nd. Kids will learn either Broadway, Broadway or Let Me Entertain You from the show with the music director. Some will be asked to stay for a dance call. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for dancing.
Readings: Please select a reading from the audition packet which most closely resembles the character for which you wish to audition .
Packet Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1H3dQ8Cgbx0M71EVTPCB83K6YTzY1FNa7?usp=sharing
All Auditionees must be prepared to list schedule conflicts.
No appointments necessary.
AUDITION DATES:
Saturday, March 22nd: 6:00– 7:30 pm – Kids’ Call; 7:30 pm Adults & Teens
Sunday, March 23rd – 6:00 pm – Adults & Teens
Tuesday, March 25 – 7:00pm – Callbacks (by invitation only)
REHEARSAL DATES: Rehearsals will begin May 3rd. (see general rehearsal schedule in our Audition packet)
PERFORMANCE DATES: July 18 -August 10, 2025 (see schedule in our Audition Packet)
LOCATION: The CENTER for Performing Arts, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
ROLES AVAILABLE for ADULTS Ages 16+ at time of auditions:
Mama Rose (age 35 – 55); Vocal Range F3-C5 – The ultimate stage mother. Lives vicariously through her two daughters, whom she has put into show business. Loud, brash, pushy and single-minded, but can be doting and charming. Her voice is the ultimate powerful Broadway belt. Minimal dance, but must move well. Comic timing is a must. Strong Mezzo/Alto with good low notes and belt.
Herbie (40 - 55); Vocal Range C3-D4 – agent for Rose’s children and Rose’s boyfriend. He has a heart of gold but also the power to defend the people he loves with strength. Minimal dancing skills are required. A Baritone who sings in one group number, two duets, and a trio with Rose and Louise. Strong acting role.
Dainty June (17-24); Vocal Range 3-F5 – Baby June as a young teen. The older she gets, the less she enjoys being her mother’s trained pet. Strong Alto must belt a song and have strong dancing skills. The ability to do splits and twirl a baton is a big plus but not a requirement. Must tap dance, strong Broadway teen singer, close harmony skills preferred.
Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee (18 – 25); Vocal Range G3-E5 – Baby Louise as a teen who grows up to be Gypsy Rose Lee. Minimum actual dance but very strong movement skills and acting skills are needed. Must be able to portray both the awkward teen and the sophisticated woman we know now as Gypsy Rose Lee. Must dance inside a dancing cow costume, and be comfortable with the character’s profession – stripping. The character is very scantily clad but never actually appears in the nude. Mezzo (needs light sound for “Little Lamb” and belt for “Let Me Entertain You.”
Dressy Tessie Tura (30s-50s); Vocal Range B3-D5 – a stripper just past her prime. Big Broadway voice (Mezzo Belt), strong movement/dance, and ballet training are helpful. A burlesque dancer who shares her dressing room withLouise. Once a ballerina and still has some of the moves. A course broad who’s been around the block. Comedic.
Mazeppa (30s-50s); Vocal Range G3-D5 – a stripper just past her prime. Big Broadway voice (Alto Belt), strong movement/dance, powerful character. A burlesque dancer who’s tough and physically intimidating. Trumpet playing skills would be outstanding but not required.
Electra (30s-50s); Vocal Range B3-D5 – a stripper just past her prime. Big Broadway voice (Mezzo Belt), strong movement/dance. Quieter than her counterparts, but her costume is wired with lights, allowing her to “shine” without working up a sweat. Ditzy and sweet.
Tulsa (age 17 – 25); Vocal Range C3-G5 -Boy-next-door type. Strives to break out of the troupe with an act of his own. Sings and dances “All I Need Is the Girl.” Extremely strong dancer in all styles of show dance, including tap. Good singer, charming, very athletic, and handsome. High Baritone.
Featured Roles/Ensemble: Multiple opportunities exist for featured/solo singing, dance, and dialogue moments for strong singers, dancers, and actors. We are looking for 3-5 males and 3-5 females to round out our ensemble. The director intends to substantially utilize the ensemble for this production by potentially combining the below characters into multiple roles, including backup dancers, strippers, showgirls and boys, business roles, stagehands, etc., for ensemble actors.
Agnes (20-30) is one of the women’s dancing chorus, and strong comic skills are required.
Miss Cratchitt (any age over 20) is the Grantzinger Theater, N.Y.C. production assistant. Comedic role.
Kringelin (adult male character over 35) is the put upon manager of a hotel.
Mr. Goldstone (any age over 30), Booking agent for the Orpheum Theater Circuit.
Cigar (adult male, age 30-50), rather aggressive owner of a burlesque theatre. Classic character part.
Pastey (any age) is Cigar’s stage manager.
Uncle Jocko (male 30-50), alcoholic MC of a weekly kiddie talent show.
Weber (male, age 40-50) surly theatre manager in Los Angeles
Pop (50+) Rose’s father, gruff, unsupportive of Rose’s theater ambitions..
Young Women’s Ensemble (ages 20 – 30) singer/dancers, act as both backup dancers for Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee and perform in the large burlesque numbers in Act II. Strong dancers, comedic skills helpful. Very minimal singing. A few have minor expanded roles. (Marjorie May, Dolores, Thelma, Gail)
Young Men’s Ensemble (ages 16 -25) Six young men sing and dance backup for teenage June, plus join in the number “Have an Eggroll, Mr. Goldstone,” double in small parts in Act I and Act II, and backup dancing in Gypsy’s strip routine. Must be strong dancers and singers. Some comedic skills are helpful.
ROLES AVAILABLE for YOUTH Ages 9-12 at time of auditions:
Baby June is a Shirley Temple-like up-and-coming vaudeville star, and Mama Rose’s youngest daughter. Onstage demeanor is sugary-sweet, cute, precocious, and adorable to the nth degree. An adorable character – Mama Rose’s shining star. Strong child singer, strong dancer and taps.
Young Louise Mama Rose’s oldest daughter, has always played second fiddle to her baby sister. Shy, awkward, a little sad, and subdued; she doesn’t have her sister’s confidence. Strong acting skills needed. Always dances slightly out of step but the actress playing this part must be able to dance.
Children’s Ensemble will be two or three young children. Baby June’s backup dancers and singers. The ability of one child to play accordion or clarinet is a plus. Must sing and dance.
Up In One In One Productions provides a supportive, inclusive, and welcoming environment. Auditioning, participating, and casting is open to all. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. We are committed to providing a safe and creative environment for artistic expression.
Questions: upinoneprod@gmail.com