VIDEO: Ethel Merman, David Merrick & More in Rare Footage from Original GYPSY Rehearsal
By: Caryn Robbins Jul. 13, 2015
GYPSY - 1959. Pro-shot photo-call reel as rehearsals were starting. It seems that all of the creative geniuses were on hand except for David Merrick and maybe Leland Hayward, who I wouldn't recognize.. Merman, Robbins, Klugman, Sondheim, Styne (at keyboard), Church, Laurents . . . Jacqueline Mayro, Gerald Freedman, various performers and stage managers and even Gypsy Rose Lee. Klugman looks great, and the rapport between he and Merman is evident.For a soundtrack - audio working-tapes of Ethel Merman and pianist, including many lyrics that were deleted or changed during rehearsals and tryouts. At the finish is a smattering of amateur color film of the original production out of town, including a glimpse of the "Christmas" number that was cut before the NY opening.This is all just film snippets, apparently in no particular order. I'm sorry the camera fidelity isn't better - as you see, the original source is spotty to begin with. A good friend in the legal profession has assured me that this film is now in the 'public domain'.Some parts of the audio were apparently added separately and volume levels may have to be adjusted while you listen.
Posted by Stephen B. Crowley on Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Professional writer, playwright and lyricist, Stephen B. Crowley has shared on Facebook astounding footage of the original 1959 production of GYPSY in rehearsal. Check it out below!
The show featured music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents, and opened on May 21, 1959 at The Broadway Theatre, transferred to the Imperial Theatre, and closed on March 25, 1961 after 702 performances and two previews. GYPSY was produced by David Merrick and directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Ethel Merman starred as Rose, alongside Jack Klugman as Herbie and Sandra Church as Louise.
Crowley explains the rare footage in his post:
"Pro-shot photo-call reel as rehearsals were starting. It seems that all of the creative geniuses were on hand except for David Merrick and maybe Leland Hayward, who I wouldn't recognize. Merman, Robbins, Klugman, Sondheim, Styne (at keyboard), Church, Laurents . . . Jacqueline Mayro, Gerald Freedman, various performers and stage managers and even Gypsy Rose Lee. Klugman looks great, and the rapport between he and Merman is evident...At the finish is a smattering of amateur color film of the original production out of town, including a glimpse of the "Christmas" number that was cut before the NY opening."
Source: Facebook
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