Beth Leavel To Lead The Muny's Production of GYPSY

Tony Award-winning actress Beth Leavel will star as Rose in The Muny's 2018 production of Gypsy, July 27 - August 2. The Muny's production of Gypsy is directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins with music direction by James Moore.

"At the opening night party of Bandstand on Broadway, I asked Beth to give me a gift and to play Mama Rose at The Muny for our epic 100th season," said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. "If memory serves, the reply was 'Yes, please.' Beth is a miraculous musical theatre artist, and beloved by The Muny audience for her many great performances on this stage. Can't wait."

Beth Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Other Broadway: Florence Greenberg in Baby It's You! (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC nominations); Bandstand, Elf, Mamma Mia!; Young Frankenstein, 42nd Street (original & revival), Crazy for You, The Civil War, Show Boat. She recently starred in the world premiere of Prom at Alliance Theatre, slated for Broadway in the fall of 2018. Numerous credits off-Broadway, regional theatre, commercials and television including the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Bandstand. MFA from University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Beth's Muny credits include: inaugural Muny Magic featured artist (2015), Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! (2015); Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly! (2014); Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense: Muny Style! (2013); Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2012), Miss Hannigan in Annie (2009), Vera Charles in Mame (2005), Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (2004), Betty Rizzo in Grease (1988) and served as an understudy for some of the greatest leading ladies in 1983: Judy Kaye in Can-Can; Lucie Arnaz in I Do! I Do!; Lynn Redgrave in The King and I and Susan Powell in Promises, Promises

Regarded by many theater professionals as the greatest musical ever created, GYPSY is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters' success... while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920's, 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 celebrated score, by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim (book by Arthur Laurents), boasts one glorious hit after another, including: "Let Me Entertain You," "Some People," "You'll Never Get Away from Me," "If Momma Was Married," "All I Need Is the Girl," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "You Gotta Get A Gimmick," "Small World" and "Together Wherever We Go.".

The 2018 Muny season schedule includes: Jerome Robbins' Broadway (June 11 - 17), The Wiz (June 19 - 25), Singin' in the Rain (June 27 - July 3), Jersey Boys (July 9 - 16), Annie (July 18 - 25), Gypsy (July 27 - August 2) and Meet Me In St. Louis (August 4 - 12).

The Muny's mission is to enrich lives by producing exceptional musical theatre, accessible to all, while continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park. As the nation's largest outdoor musical theatre, we produce seven world-class musicals each year and welcome over 350,000 theatregoers over our nine-week season. Now celebrating 100 seasons in St. Louis, The Muny remains one of the premier institutions in musical theatre. For more information about The Muny, visit muny.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos