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Gypsy 1959 - Articles Page 3

Opened: May 21, 1959

Gypsy - 1959 Broadway History , Info & More

Gypsy: A Musical Fable is a classic American musical known for its powerful characters and exploration of ambition, fame, and the complexities of family.



Loosely based on the memoirs of burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, the musical delves deeper into the story of her ambitious stage mother, Rose. The project came about in the late 1950s when producer David Merrick secured the rights to Lee's memoirs and sought a creative team. Arthur Laurents penned the book, Jule Styne composed the music, and Stephen Sondheim delivered the iconic lyrics.



Debuting on Broadway in 1959, Gypsy became an instant hit, particularly due to Ethel Merman's powerhouse performance as Rose. It has enjoyed numerous successful revivals on Broadway and internationally, featuring legendary actresses like Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Patti LuPone and Bernadette Peters.



The show centers around Rose Hovick, a domineering stage mother who pushes her daughters, Louise and June, into the world of vaudeville. Obsessed with achieving stardom for her children, particularly Louise, Rose's relentless pursuit takes a toll on their personal lives and her own sanity. As Louise struggles to find her own voice and path, the story explores themes of sacrifice, manipulation, and the dark side of ambition.



Gypsy is known for its unforgettable songs like "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Let Me Entertain You," and "Rose's Turn," a showstopping ballad that lays bare Rose's vulnerabilities and desperation.



If you're looking for a musical that's both entertaining and thought-provoking, Gypsy is a must-see. It's a captivating story about the lengths people go to for fame and the enduring power of family bonds.


Gypsy - 1959 - Broadway Cast

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Gypsy - 1959 - Broadway Articles Page 3

The 101 Greatest Musical Theatre Characters (1940-2020)
by Peter Nason - Apr 30, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

DRIVING MISS DAISY, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE and More Announced in Third Avenue Playhouse 2020 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 6, 2020


The Third Avenue Playhouse, located in historic downtown Sturgeon Bay, announces its lineup of six plays for the upcoming 2020 season. The plays include an early career work from playwright David Mamet, a 1964 musical by the legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, a multi-award winning classic about the unlikely friendship between an elderly lady and her driver, the story of an unconventional advice columnist, and a farcical take on the making of Gone With The Wind.

VIDEO: On This Day, September 15 - Henry Miller's Theater Renamed For Stephen Sondheim
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 15, 2019


The renaming of the theatre was dedicated to Stephen Sondheim, the greatest and best known artist in American musical theatre on his 80th birthday. 

Sid Ramin, Broadway Composer, Arranger, and Orchestrator, Dies at 100
by Stephi Wild - Jul 6, 2019


BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that composer and orchestrator Sid Ramin, best known for his work on West Side Story, has died, according to The New York Times. Ramin was 100 years old.

Wake Up With BWW 3/22: HADESTOWN Begins Previews, and More!
by Stephi Wild - Mar 22, 2019


Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Happy Friday! Finish off your week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!

Craig Jessup Brings SONDHEIM TONIGHT To Feinstein's At The Nikko
by Julie Musbach - Aug 6, 2018


One of the Bay Area's best entertainers celebrates the work of one of our greatest composers. Craig Jessup's Sondheim Tonight! brings together more than a dozen Sondheim gems from some of his earliest shows as a composer/lyricist (Saturday Night, Anyone Can Whistle) to some of his most beloved (Company, Follies, Merrily We Roll Along). And the show marks Jessup's debut at Feinstein's at the Nikko.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Comes to San Francisco Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 26, 2018


San Francisco Playhouse (Artistic Director Bill English; Producing Director Susi Damilano) announced casting for the final show of its 2017-18 Mainstage Season--Sunday in the Park with George, the quintessential Stephen Sondheim musical about the art of creation and the creation of art. Bill English will direct the 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical.

New York City Ballet Announces 2018/2019 Season; Tribute To Jerome Robbins And More!
by Alan Henry - Apr 16, 2018


New York City Ballet's 2018 Spring Season opens on Tuesday, April 24 and will continue for six weeks through June 3. The centerpiece of the Spring Season will be Robbins 100, a celebration of Jerome Robbins, NYCB's co-founding choreographer, whose remarkable contributions to the worlds of ballet and Broadway musical theater have made an indelible impression on both art forms. The three-week celebration will run from May 3 to May 20, featuring 20 works created by Robbins over the course of 40years, as well as two world premiere ballets in tribute to Robbins. Robbins 100 will open on Thursday, May 3 with a Spring Gala performance featuring Robbins'

Liz Rubino Will Return To The New York Cabaret Stage
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 6, 2018


Singer/Actress, Liz Rubino, will return to the NY cabaret stage at the well known CABARET, Don't Tell Mama with two different shows;

Astoria Performing Arts Center Announces Cast & Creative Team For FOLLIES
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 4, 2018


Award-winning and critically-acclaimed Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC - Jesse Marchese, Executive Director; Dev Bondarin, Artistic Director) concludes its 17th mainstage season with a production of the legendary musical Follies by James Goldman (Book) and Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics), directed by APAC artistic director, Dev Bondarin (New York Innovative Theatre Awards nominee for Best Director for APAC's 2017 production of Raisin) and choreographed by Sara Brians (Resident Choreographer, Matilda, Broadway). Follies runs from May 3 - 26, 2018 at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St. (at 30th Road), Astoria, NY 11102.

Craig Jessup to Celebrate Career of Stephen Sondheim
by Julie Musbach - Jan 10, 2018


One of the Bay Area's best entertainers celebrates the work of one of our greatest composers. Craig Jessup's Sondheim Tonight! brings together more than a dozen Sondheim gems from some of his earliest shows as a composer/lyricist (Saturday Night, Anyone Can Whistle) to some of his most beloved (Company, Follies, Merrily We Roll Along).

Jerome Robbins Centennial Celebration to Bring Performances, Screenings, Talks and More Across NYC
by BWW News Desk - Nov 21, 2017


Jerome Robbins, world renowned for his work as a choreographer and director of ballet and theater, film and television, would have been 100 years old on October 11, 2018. In honor of his life and legacy, The Jerome Robbins Foundation, partnering with other institutions across the country and around the world, will celebrate his centennial year through Spring 2019.

Genius x2: Lin-Manuel Miranda Chats with Stephen Sondheim About Inspiration, Collaboration & More!
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 16, 2017


In a recent interview with T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Lin-Manuel Miranda meets with Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim to chat about their work.

Warren Carlyle to Choreograph Jerome Robbins Tribute Ballet for NYCB
by BWW News Desk - Oct 4, 2017


This spring New York City Ballet will present a World Premiere ballet by Tony Award-winning choreographer and director Warren Carlyle that pays tribute to the legendary Broadway career of NYCB's co-founding choreographer Jerome Robbins.

Matthew Morrison Withdraws from SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM at The Hollywood Bowl
by BWW News Desk - Jul 18, 2017


Due to a professional scheduling conflict, Matthew Morrison has withdrawn from the previously announced performance of Sondheim on Sondheim on Sunday, July 23, at 7.30 pm at the Hollywood Bowl.

Jonathan Groff Signs on for SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM at The Hollywood Bowl; Cast Complete!
by BWW News Desk - Jul 10, 2017


The Hollywood Bowl has announced that Sarah Uriarte Berry, Philip Boykin, and Jonathan Groff will complete the cast for a benefit performance of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived and directed on Broadway by James Lapine.

Carmen Cusack, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Matthew Morrison, Vanessa Williams, Solea Pfeiffer and More Set for SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM at The Hollywood Bowl
by BWW News Desk - Jun 19, 2017


The Hollywood Bowl has announced the cast and creative team for a benefit performance of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived and directed on Broadway by James Lapine.

BWW Review: The Fugard's FUNNY GIRL - with Ashleigh Harvey as a Powerhouse Fanny Brice - a Valentine to Gentler and Jollier Times
by David Fick - Apr 29, 2017


The Fugard's first new musical production of 2017 puts FUNNY GIRL on South African stages, and the results are delightful - with a powerhouse performance from Ashleigh Harvey as Fanny Brice, the stage, radio and film personality around whom everyone and everything in the show revolves.

Douglas Morrisson Theatre Season 2016-2017 Concludes With Musical Revue: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM
by Julie Musbach - Mar 12, 2017


The Douglas Morrisson Theatre 2016-2017 37th Season concludes with a musical revue featuring songs of the incomparable Stephen Sondheim: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM: A Musical Entertainment, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers and Jule Styne.

Michael Matus and George Rae are Hopping into the West End to Star in Stephen Sondheim's THE FROGS
by BWW News Desk - Jan 30, 2017


Michael Matus & George Rae will play Dionysos and Xanthias in the UK premiere of the latest Broadway version of the rarely performed musical, an hilarious send up of Greek comedy and satire, with a book revised and expanded by Nathan Lane.

Stephen Sondheim's THE FROGS is Hopping into the West End!
by BWW News Desk - Dec 2, 2016


The latest Broadway version of the rarely performed Stephen Sondheim musical The Frogs, an hilarious send up of Greek comedy and satire, with a book revised and expanded by Nathan Lane, is to get its UK premiere in 2017 at Jermyn Street Theatre.

Lyric Stage Announces Cast, Creative Team for COMPANY
by BWW News Desk - Sep 2, 2016


The Lyric Stage Company of Boston announces the cast & creative team for COMPANY, with Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM and Book by GEORGE FURTH. Directed by Spiro Veloudos with music director Catherine Stornetta and choreography & musical staging by Rachel Bertone, COMPANY will run September 2 - October 9, 2016.

Lyric Stage Announces Cast, Creative Team for COMPANY
by BWW News Desk - Aug 15, 2016


The Lyric Stage Company of Boston announces the cast & creative team for COMPANY, with Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM and Book by GEORGE FURTH. Directed by Spiro Veloudos with music director Catherine Stornetta and choreography & musical staging by Rachel Bertone, COMPANY will run September 2 - October 9, 2016.

Writers Theatre Extends Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY
by Tyler Peterson - Jul 6, 2016


Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces a one-week extension to Company, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production is directed by William Brown. Company features original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, Orchestral Reductions by Ian Weinberger, music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and choreography by Brock Clawson. The show, originally slated to run through July 31, 2016, will add an additional week, through August 7, in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

Amy Herzog & Sarah Ruhl World Premieres, ASSASSINS and More Set for Yale Rep's 50th Anniversary Season
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 11, 2016


YALE REPERTORY THEATRE announces its 50th Anniversary Season, which will include three world premieres commissioned by Yale Rep and two contemporary masterpieces.

Gypsy History

Other Productions of Gypsy

1959   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1961   US Tour 1st National Tour
US Tour
1961   US Tour 2nd National Tour
US Tour
1973   West End London Revival
West End
1974   Broadway Broadway Production
Broadway
1976   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
1989   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1998   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
2003   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
2006   St. Louis, MO (Regional) St. Louis MUNY Production
St. Louis, MO (Regional)
2006   Regional Concert
2007   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
2008   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
2014   Regional (US) Connecticut Rep Production
Regional (US)
2015   West End West End Revival Production
West End
2018   St. Louis, MO (Regional) The Muny Revival
St. Louis, MO (Regional)
2024   Broadway Broadway Revival Production
Broadway

Gypsy - 1959 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1975 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Director - Musical Arthur Laurents

Videos