GYPSY Opens Tonight at Novato Theater

Mama Rose, Baby June, and plain, gawky Louise (but just wait!) hit the boards as the ever-popular musical Gypsy becomes the second production of the Novato Theater Company's 2013-2014 season in its charming new theater. The Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical features songs like "Let Me Entertain You," "You Gotta Have a Gimmick," and of course, "Everything's Coming up Roses."

The NTC production is directed by Blanca Florido. Musical Director is Andrew Klein. NTC's producer is Gary Gonser. The production features Daniela Innocenti-Beem as Rose, Gillian Eichenberger as Louise, JuliAnne Thompson as June, and Pat Barr as Herbie.

Gypsy runs tonight, October 18- November 10 at the Novato Theater Company, 5420 Nave Drive in Novato. Curtain times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. There is one preview performance on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $12-25 at (415) 883-4498. www.novatotheatercompany.org, Plenty of free parking.

Set during the vaudeville era, Gypsy is about the quintessential stage mother, Rose, traveling the country with her two daughters and their manager. While June and Louise wish their mother would settle down and marry Herbie, Rose continues to pursue dreams of stardom for her girls. But June deserts the act, and Rose tries to turn shy Louise into a star. When the act is booked into a burlesque house by mistake, Louise is forced into the spotlight and Gypsy Rose Lee is born. It's a classic of American musical theater.

CAST:

Daniela Innocenti-Beem (Santa Rosa) - Rose

Gillian Eichenberger (San Francisco) - Louise

JuliAnne Thompson (San Rafael) - June

Pat Barr (San Rafael) - Herbie

Kim Bromley (San Rafael) - Miss Cratchitt
Mia Camera (Fairfax) - Gail/Dancing Boy/Kid's Mom/Hotel Guest
Dana Cherry (San Rafael) - Thelma/Dancing Boy/Hotel Guest/Kid's Mom
Shari Clover (San Rafael -) Renee/(Miss Cratchitt alt)/Dancing Boy/Leng-Leng/Cow
Tim Clover (San Rafael) - Pastey/Mr. Kringelein/Georgie/Rich Man
Ron Dailey (Novato ) - Pop/Weber/Phil/Hotel Guest
Amy Dietz (San Rafael) - Mazeppa/Kid's Mom/Hotel Guest
Natalie Ernst (Fairfax) - Marjorie May/Angie
Lisa Hart (Novato) - Electra/Diner
Burl Lampert (San Rafael) - Uncle Jocko/Cigar/Bourgeron-Cochon/Mr. Goldstone
Michael Lumb (Santa Rosa) - Tulsa
Yver Northum (Novato) - L.A.
Shelley Sanborn (Rohnert Park) - Agnes/Dancing Boy/Kid's Mom/Hotel Guest
Zane Walters (Santa Rosa) - Yonkers
Heather Werkheiser (San Anselmo) - Dolores/Dancing Boy/Hotel Guest
Paula Gianetti (Novato) - Tessie Tura/Diner

CHILDREN'S CAST:

Eva Brandis (Novato) - Balloon Girl
Alex Cupples (San Rafael) - Clarence, the Clarinet boy, Newsboy
Claire Fogarty (Greenbrae) - Baby Louise
Ally Fry (Novato) - Baby June
Kasey Hernandez (Kentfield) - Baby June
Bennett Moffett (Novato) - Newsboy
Jack Moffett (Novato) - Newsboy
Bella Nickel (San Rafael) - Baby Louise
Indigo Vieten (Sausalito) - Hawaiian Girl

CREATIVE TEAM:

Director/Choreographer - Blanca Florido
Musical Director - Andrew Klein
Producer - Gary Gonser
Lighting Designer - Frank Sarubbi
Costume Designer - John Clancy
Costumes - Janice Deneau
Stage Manager - Paul Mackinnon
Props - Bond Francisco
Wigs/Make-up - Julie Johnston Ekoue-Totou

BIOS:

Blanca Florido (Director) is a very active performer and director/choreographer in Marin. She most recently directed a musical version of AChristmas Carol, which she wrote with composer Andrew Klein, at Novato Theater Company. Blanca holds degrees in both theatre and music, and is a BATCC-nominated choreographer for several NTC productions. She has directed and/or choreographed for Yes Theater, Stapleton Theatre Company and Marin Theatre Company children's programs. As a performer, Blanca appeared in dozens of stage plays and operas in Florida and on national tours before moving to California, where she teaches jazz dance at Dance With Sherry Studio. Blanca has written a young adult fantasy novel, The Faerie Tales: Awakening, which will be published within the year.

Daniela Innocent--Beem (Rose) won the 2013 SFBATCC Award for her portrayal of Sister Robert Anne in Novato Theater Company'sNunsense. She won the 2012 BroadwayWorld San Francisco Award for Person to Watch after receiving double BATCC Award Best Female Performance nominations for her roles as Adelaide (Guys & Dolls) and Edith (Pirates of Penzance). Most recently Dani played Bad Ass Betty in 6th Street Playhouse's critically acclaimed The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Before that she stumbled along on stage as the title character in 6th Street Playhouse's The Drowsy Chaperone. Other critically acclaimed roles include Pennywise in Urinetown, Shelby in The Spitfire Grille, and Mrs. Primrose in On The Twentieth. For the last 4 years she has been co-creator and one half of "The Dynamic Duet" with her friend of 20+ years Julie Johnson Ekoue-Totou, delighting sold out audiences with their soaring harmonies, beltastic acrobatics and soft lilting melodies.

Gillian Eichenberger (Louise) is a Marin native who studied Theatre Performance at San Francisco State, where she appeared in productions like Spring Awakening, while also performing in exciting new works by her peers. Other favorite roles include Cinderella in Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and being a member of the Do it Live sketch comedy troupe in San Francisco. She is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Gypsy family as Louise, Gypsy Rose, and the Front End of a Cow.

JuliAnne Thompson (June) has recently played Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music for the 100th Mountain Play, Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (STM), Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (NTC), and Cathy Hiatt in The Last Five Years (NTC). This spring, Julianne will play Natalie Goodman in Theater-at-Large's production of Next to Normal at NTC. Julianne recently received her Master's in Education from UC Berkeley and teaches elementary school at Nicasio School.

Pat Barr (Herbie) was last seen on the NTC stage as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and the Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance. Recent roles include the Cat in Stapleton Theater's Honk! and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. He thanks his family for letting him out of the house.

Curtain Times and Tickets: Oct. 17 Preview Performance: $15. Performance dates: October 18 - Nov. 10: Thursdays: 7:30pm; Friday and Sat. 8:00pm; and Sundays: 2:00pm. General: $25. Seniors/Students: $22. Youth (Children under 12): $12.

Art in the Lobby - The Alchemia Program: Patrons will be greeted with a special treat in the theater lobby. For each show, NTC will showcase a group of area artists. During Gypsy, the NTC lobby will display the work of members of the Alchemia arts program.

Alchemia provides arts programming for adults with developmental challenges who identify as artists or who are passionate about deepening their artistic, social, and communication skills through the expressive arts. Alchemia is staffed by professional artists who are committed to the development of the artistic skills of participants in a sustained, gentle and affirmative way. Participants are from the North Bay, with three different sites located in Novato, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa. For information on the Alchemia arts program, call 707-775-3794.

Pictured: Gillian Eichenberger (Louise) and Daniela Innocenti-Beem (Rose) in the Novato Theater Company production of Gypsy.

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