Audition Dates:
- Friday, February 14 – CHILDREN AGE 9-12 ONLY! – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Saturday, February 15 – 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm
- Sunday, February 16 – 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm
- Saturday, February 22 – 10:00 am – 12:15 pm
- Sunday, February 23 – Callbacks as needed
*Please note that the 2/14/25 Children audition date is preferred, but can attend one of the other dates if you are not able to attend.
Performance Dates:
- August 8-10; 14-17, 2025
About the Show:
Regarded by many theatre professionals as the finest musical ever created, Gypsy is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success – while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920s and 30s, when vaudeville was dying, and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents’ landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication.
Directing Staff:
- Director – Troy Stark
- Assistant Director – Jen Sondgeroth
- Music Director – Mark Swessinger
- Assistant Music Director – Mary Ellen Carroll
- Stage Manager – Matt Stoefen
- Choreographer – Harper Clark
- Set Designer – Aaron Deneckere
- Assistant Set Director – Robert Crist
- Costume Designer – Cathy Marsoun
- Lighting Designer – Luke Vermiere
- Sound Designer – Kayla Sierra Lee
- Props – Matt Swanson
- Makeup – Sue Cates
- Producer – Sheri Brown Olson
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: Rehearsals will begin June 16, 2025, and run
Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 9:00. They may run longer in the last two
weeks before the show.
REHEARSAL CONFLICTS: Gypsy is going to be a really fun experience, but it is
also a commitment. Please be thorough in listing your conflicts within the
rehearsal period. If we know beforehand, we can be fairly accommodating
with conflicts. However, no new conflicts will be accepted after the rehearsal
schedule is made. Additional conflicts not disclosed may result in removal
from scenes/the production.
Audition Information:
-Please prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre-style song with
accompaniment that best highlights your range and skill. A pianist will be
provided. (No recorded accompaniments, please.)
-There will be a dance component. Please dress to move. If you tap, please bring shoes if you have them. Not everyone will be asked to tap. If you want to learn the dance that will be taught at auditions, you can start learning it now; Click here to see Gypsy Choreographer teach the Dance Audition.
Auditions will also consist of cold readings from the script.
ROLES AVAILABLE for ADULTS Ages 16+ at time of auditions:
Momma Rose (age 35 – 50); Vocal Range F3-C5 – The ultimate stage mother.
She lives vicariously through her two daughters, whom she’s put into show
business. She is loud, brash, pushy and single-minded, but sometimes can be
doting and charming. She is holding down demons of her own that she is
afraid to face. Her voice is the ultimate powerful Broadway belt. Minimal
dance, but must move well. Comic timing is a must. Strong Mezzo/Alto with
good low notes and belt.
Herbie (about 45); Vocal Range C3-D4 – agent for Rose’s children and Rose’s
boyfriend and a possible husband number 4. He has a heart of gold but also
has the power to defend the people he loves with strength. Minimal dancing
skills are required. A Baritone who sings in one group number, two duets, and
a trio with Rose and Louise. Strong acting role.
Dainty June (17-24); Vocal Range 3-F5 – Baby June as a young teenager. The
older she gets, the less she enjoys being her mother’s trained pet. Strong Alto must belt a song and have decent dancing skills. The ability to do the splits
and twirl a baton is a big plus but not a requirement. Must dance very well,
taps, strong Broadway teen singer, close harmony skills preferred.
Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee (18 – 25); Vocal Range G3-E5 – Baby Louise as a
teenager who grows up to be Gypsy Rose Lee. Rose still pushes her aside in
favor of June until she becomes her mother’s new pet project. Should be able
to move well. Minimum actual dance but very strong movement skills and
acting skills are needed. Must be able to portray both the awkward teen and
the sophisticated woman we know now as Gypsy Rose Lee. Must dance
inside a dancing cow costume, must be comfortable with the character’s
profession – stripping. The character is very scantily clad but never actually
appears in the nude. Mezzo (needs light sound for “Little Lamb” and belt for
“Let Me Entertain You.”
Dressy Tessie Tura (20s-40s); Vocal Range B3-D5 – a stripper just past her
prime. Big Broadway voice (Mezzo Belt), strong movement/dance, and ballet
training are helpful. A burlesque dancer who shares her dressing room with
Louise. She was once a ballerina and still has some of the moves. A course
broad who’s been around the block. Very funny.
Mazeppa (20s-40s); Vocal Range G3-D5 – a stripper just past her prime. Big
Broadway voice (Alto Belt), strong movement/dance, powerful character. A
burlesque dancer who’s tough and physically intimidating. Trumpet playing
skills would be outstanding but not required.
Electra (20s-40s); Vocal Range B3-D5 – a stripper just past her prime. Big
Broadway voice (Mezzo Belt), strong movement/dance. Quieter than her
counterparts, but her costume is wired with lights, allowing her to “shine”
without working up a sweat. Ditzy and sweet.
Tulsa (age 17 – 20); Vocal Range C3-G5 -Boy-next-door type. Strives to break
out of the troupe with an act of his own. Sings and dances “All I Need Is the
Girl.” Extremely strong dancer in all styles of show dance, including tap. Good
singer, charming, very athletic, and handsome young man. High Baritone.
Chowsie is a small dog with a good temperament. Please do not bring dogs
to audition.
Featured Roles/Ensemble:
Multiple opportunities exist for featured/solo singing, dance, and dialogue
moments for strong singers, dancers, and actors. We are looking for 3-5 males
and 3-5 females to round out our ensemble. The director intends to
substantially utilize the ensemble for this production by potentially
combining the below characters into multiple roles, including backup
dancers, strippers, showgirls and boys, business roles, stagehands, etc., for
ensemble actors.
Agnes (20-30) is one of the women’s dancing chorus, and strong comic skills
are required.
Miss Cratchitt (any age over 20) is the Grantzinger Theater, N.Y.C. production
assistant. The comedic role.
Kringelin (adult male character over 35) is the put upon manager of a hotel.
Mr. Goldstone (any age over 30) is the Booking agent for the Orpheum
Theater Circuit.
Cigar (adult male, age 30-50) is the rather aggressive owner of a burlesque
theatre, Classic character part.
Pastey (any age) is Cigar’s stage manager.
Uncle Jocko (adult male, age 30-50) is the Alcoholic MC of a weekly kiddie
talent show.
Weber (adult male, age 40-50) is the surly theatre manager in Los Angeles
Pop (50+) is the gruff, unsupportive father of Rose.
Young Women’s Ensemble (ages 20 – 30) singer/dancers who act as both the
backup dancers for Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee and perform in the large
burlesque numbers in the second act. Strong dancers. Some comedic skills
are very helpful. Very minimal singing. A few have minor expanded roles.
(Marjorie May, Dolores, Thelma, Gail)
Young Men’s Ensemble (ages 17 -20) Six young men sing and dance backup
for teenage June, plus join in the number “Have an Eggroll, Mr. Goldstone.”
Should be strong singers and dancers. Will double as small parts in Act I and
Act II, plus some backup dancing in Gypsy’s strip routine. Must be very strong
dancers and singers. Some comedic skills are very helpful.
ROLES AVAILABLE for YOUTH Ages 9-12 at time of auditions:
Baby June is a Shirley Temple-like up-and-coming vaudeville star, and
Madam Rose’s youngest daughter. Her onstage demeanor is sugary-sweet,
cute, precocious, and adorable to the nth degree. An adorable character –
Mama Rose’s shining star. Strong child singer, strong dancer and taps.
Young Louise should look a couple of years older than Baby June. She is
Madam Rose’s brow-beaten oldest daughter and has always played second
fiddle to her baby sister. She is shy, awkward, a little sad, and subdued; she
doesn’t have her sister’s confidence. Strong acting skills are needed. The
character always dances slightly out of step but the actress playing this part
must be able to dance.
Children’s Ensemble will be two or three young children. Baby June’s backup
dancers and singers. The ability of one child to play accordion or clarinet is a
plus. Must sing and dance.