LuPone's 'Gypsy' Gets Cast Recording on Time Life

Time Life proudly announces the upcoming release of the 2008 Broadway Cast Recording of GYPSY starring Tony® and Olivier® Award-winning Patti LuPone, three-time Tony® Award-winner Boyd Gaines and Tony® Award-nominee Laura Benanti.  The critically acclaimed new production, directed by theatrical legend Arthur Laurents, had its official opening at Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street) on March 27.  The new Broadway cast recording of GYPSY is produced by multiple Grammy® nominee Robert Sher (Sugar Babies, Stephen Sondheim's Follies, The Wizard of Oz, 1776 (revival), Evil Dead The Musical and the upcoming Time Life release Annie: 30th Anniversary Cast Recording).  The recording session will take place May 5 & May 6 at Clinton Recording Studios (653 Tenth Avenue).

The brand new recording will be available on CD in August 2008.

This new and most complete GYPSY recording will feature never-before-recorded songs that were cut from the original Broadway production including "Three Wishes for Christmas," "Mama's Talkin' Soft," "Nice She Ain't," "Mother's Day," "Smile, Girls," "Who Needs Him?," and an alternate version of "Mother's Day."  Additionally, award-winning Broadway and Hollywood orchestrator Jonathan Tunick has created new orchestrations for the additional musical numbers.  Tunick, a longtime collaborator with Stephen Sondheim, is one of the few artists who has won all four major American performing awards: Tony Award®, Academy Award®, Emmy® Award and Grammy® Award.

LuPone leads the cast as the quintessential stage mother "Rose."   She is joined by Boyd Gaines (Journey's End) as "Herbie" and Laura Benanti (Into the Woods) as "Louise," the daughter who transforms into the title character of "Gypsy Rose Lee."  GYPSY also stars Leigh Ann Larkin as "Dainty June," Tony Yazbeck as "Tulsa," Marilyn Caskey as "Electra," Alison Fraser as "Tessie," Lenora Nemetz as "Mazeppa," Bill Bateman as "Mr. Goldstone," Jim Bracchitta as "Uncle Jocko," Sami Gayle as "Baby June," Bill Raymond as "Pop," Brian Reddy as "Weber" and Emma Rowley as "Baby Louise."  

The ensemble of GYPSY features Beckley Andrews, Nancy Renée Braun, Mindy Dougherty, Kyrian Friedenberg, Sarah Marie Hicks, Steve Konopelski, Matthew Lobenhofer, Nicole Mangi, Katie Micha, Matty Price, Andy Richardson, Jessica Rush, Alicia Sable, John Scacchetti, Geo Seery, Rider Quentin Stanton, Pearce Wegener, Andrew Boyer, Matt Gibson and Lisa Rohinsky.  GYPSY features musical direction by Patrick Vaccariello.

GYPSY, the musical fable suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, is written by three legendary theatrical giants.  The book is by two-time Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents, with music by two-time Tony Award winner Jule Styne and lyrics by multiple Tony Award winner Stephen Sondheim.  The 1959 blockbuster, originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, boasts a legendary score with such classic songs as "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Rose's Turn" and "Some People."

The smash hit new production of GYPSY opened to rave reviews.  Ben Brantley of the New York Times wrote "Watch out New York! This GYPSY is a wallop-packing show of raw power!" while Liz Smith of the New York Post declared the show to be the "best production of the best damned musical ever!" and David Rooney of Variety said "Patti LuPone's GYPSY is one for the history books."

With the release of GYPSY and the upcoming CDs Annie: 30th Anniversary Cast recording, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical and the 30th anniversary tour of Ain't Misbehavin with "American Idol" stars Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, Time Life proudly enters the exciting arena of Broadway recordings and original cast albums.  Says producer Robert Sher, "Time Life and Broadway make a perfect marriage.  GYPSY is a great American classic and Time Life is the great American entertainment company, and what better team to reach the incredibly broad and ever-growing audience for top-caliber musical recordings."

Tickets for GYPSY are $117.00 - $42.00 and are available through Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com or by visiting the St. James Theatre box office.  Premium seating is available.  Performances are Tuesday - Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday & Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.

Time Life and the Time Life logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies, used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc.  Headquartered in Fairfax VA, Direct Holdings Americas Inc.'s history began in 1961 as Time Life a direct marketing division of Time Incorporated specializing in music and books.  The business has been operated as a separate company since the mid-1970s when it relocated to Virginia, and has since grown to become one of the world's largest direct marketers of audio and video products throughout North America, Europe and Australia.  The Company has set the standard in the direct response industry by pioneering direct marketing techniques and building one of the most trusted and recognized brands in commerce.  The Company now also sells its products through major traditional and non-traditional retailers around the world as well as via the Internet.  The Company was sold in 2003 to private investors.