STAGE TUBE: Highlights from Chicago Shakespeare's GYPSY with Louise Pitre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST) presents Gypsy at CST's Courtyard Theater, running now through March 23), directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin and starring Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre as Rose. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

With book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy was inspired by the memoirs of famed burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. The musical fable is a vibrant look at larger-than-life stage mother Rose, performed by Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre, who thrusts her ambitions for show business stardom onto her daughters: June, performed by Erin Burniston, and Louise, performed by Jessica Rush. Criss-crossing the country on the fading vaudeville circuit, the mother and daughters are accompanied by Rose's patient boyfriend Herbie, performed by Keith Kupferer. Family relationships are put to the test, culminating in Louise's surprising transformation into "Gypsy Rose Lee." This jewel of American musical theater boasts one show-stopping song after another-including "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Let Me Entertain You"-which will be performed by a fourteen-piece orchestra onstage.

The cast of Gypsy includes: Molly Callinan (Mazeppa), Barbara E. Robertson (Tessie Tura), Rengin Altay(Electra/Miss Cratchitt), Rhett Guter (Tulsa), Caroline Heffernan (Young Louise), Emily Leahy (Baby June), Joseph Sammour (Yonkers), Adam Fane (Angie), Brandon Haagenson (LA), Landree Fleming (Agnes), Dana Parker(Dolores), Betsy Farrar (Marjorie May), Matt DeCaro (Weber/Kringelein/Pastey), Marc Grapey(Jocko/Cigar/Phil) andJohn Reeger (Pop/Goldstone/Bourgeron-Cochon). The ensemble consists of Kelly Anne Krauter, Lauren Roesner, Alex Grace Paul, Maddie DePorter, Jared Rein, Cullen J. Rogers, Nate Becker, Killian Hughes and Benedict Santos Schwegel. The creative team includes Music Director Rick Fox, Choreographer Mitzi Hamilton, Scenic DesignerKevin Depinet, Costume Designer Virgil C. Johnson, Lighting Designer Philip S. Rosenberg, Sound Designers Ray Nardelli and Dan Mead and CST's resident Wig and Make-up Designer Melissa Veal.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Gypsy runs now through March 23 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Tickets are on sale now for $40-$78 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more, as well as CST for $20 tickets available for patrons under 35. All patrons receive a 40% discount on guaranteed parking in Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets or a season subscription, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

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