West Coast Ensemble Presents GYPSY, Opens May 13

West Coast Ensemble presents GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel. GYPSY will preview on Wednesday, May 11th and Thursday, May 12th at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 13th and continue through Sunday, July 3rd at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.

Everything's coming up roses at West Coast Ensemble this spring! Old Broadway comes to old Hollywood as the mother of all great musicals, GYPSY, hits the boards in the intimate setting of the Arena Stage. West Coast Ensemble's GYPSY will transport you to a time of tawdry glamour as a faded, ragged Vaudeville loses its reign to the seedy, titillating pleasure of the Burlesque house and a driven show biz mother stops at nothing to make her daughter a star. This is a GYPSY you don't want to miss - raw, bare and stripped.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

RICHARD ISRAEL (Director) Most recently, Richard directed the world premiere of Having It All at the NoHo Arts Center. Directing highlights include Meet Me In St. Louis for Musical Theatre West, Bell, Book and Candle for The Colony Theatre, A Christmas Carol and A Grand Night For Singing for the Norris Theatre and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for Interact Theatre Company. For the Musical Theatre Guild, he has directed One Touch of Venus, High Spirits and Violet. For The Actor's Co-Op he directed last year's Merrily We Roll Along as well as Big River and 1776 (L.A. Weekly Award Nomination for Direction and Outstanding Musical). For West Coast Ensemble Theatre, he has directed the critically acclaimed west coast premiere of Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins, the Los Angeles premiere of Big - The Musical, Assassins (L.A. Weekly Award Nomination for Direction and Outstanding Musical, LADCC Award for Musical Ensemble) and Floyd Collins (Backstage Garland Award for Direction). He is the recipient of the 2010 LADCC Milton Katselas Award for Career Achievement in Directing and is pleased to serve as the Co-Artistic Director for West Coast Ensemble Theatre.

JOHANNA KENT (Musical Director) Ms. Kent's music direction credits include: Assassins (Backstage Garland Award), 1776 (L.A. Weekly Award nomination), Floyd Collins (Backstage Garland Award), A New Brain, A Little Night Music, and Something's Afoot. Performing credits include: Big - The Musical (Mrs. Kopecki/Miss Watson/et al), Assassins (Sara Jane Moore), Into the Woods (Jack's Mother), Cinderella (Cinderella) and Those Meddling Kids Improv. Ms. Kent is a member of both ARC at ANMT and West Coast Ensemble Theatre.

John Todd (Choreographer), a native of the Carolina's, received his training at North Carolina School of the Arts and The Hungarian State Ballet, both on full scholarship. He has danced with such companies as Houston Ballet, where he received the Michael Wasmund Award for outstanding dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet and also as a soloist with Fort Worth Ballet and Hartford Ballet. Mr. Todd was in the original cast of Movin' Out on Broadway, and has performed in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway as well as the national tour. Television: "Bourbon Street" (series regular), "Days of Our Lives," "As the World Turns," "Sex and the City," "Ronna and Beverly," and "Law and Order." Film: "Jack the Giant Killer," "Gnomeo and Juliet," "Alpha and Omega," "Jackass Number Two," "A Christmas Carol," "Sironia," and "Spells" (with John Lithgow). Mr. Todd was the lead in the Sundance awarded play "The Studio," and has also been fortunate enough to perform in various venues in Europe and England including the role of "Peter Quince" in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Sadler's Wells in London and "Romeo" in Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" for German Television.

John has also choreographed numerous commercials, industrials, musicals, and has worked as associate choreographer on many television and stage shows throughout the world. Working with such greats as Agnes DeMille, Nacho Duato, Melissa Hayden, Twyla Tharp, and Robert Zemeckis has taught John a tremendous amount on being well-versed in all forms of the Arts.

GYPSY has assembled an award-winning design team. The Set Design is by Stephen Gifford. (Anita Bryant Died for your Sins, Having It All). The Lighting Design is by Lisa D. Katz (Floyd Collins, Three Tall Women). The Sound Design is by ReBecca Kessin (The All Night Strut!). The Costume Design is by Zale Morris (To Kill A Mockingbird).

ABOUT THE CAST

The cast of GYPSY features: L.J. Benet, Kelly Jean Clair, Quintan Craig, Glory Curda, Major Curda, Saylor Curda, Amy Lawrence, Larry Lederman, Michael Matthys, Dan Pacheco, Tony Pandolfo, Kaleigh Ryan, Zack Salas, Katie Scarlett, Jessica Schatz, Jan Sheldrick, Eric Allen Smith, Sara J. Stuckey, Kailey Swanson, Ann Villella, Stephanie Wall, Caitlin Williams and Petey Yarosh.

ABOUT SCHEDULE AND PRICING

GYPSY will open Friday, May 13 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, July 3 at The Theatre of Arts Arena Stage, 1625 N. Las Palmas in Hollywood. Ticket prices are $34 general, $30 student/senior/union. Opening Night Gala tickets are $50. Preview are $20. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm. For tickets, please visit www.westcoastensemble.org or tix.com or call 323-655-0108.

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