Gypsy, Starring Patti LuPone, Firms Up Broadway Run

It's official: The classic musical Gypsy, starring Patti LuPone as Rose and directed by Arthur Laurents, will begin performances at Broadway's St. James Theatre on March 3, 2008, and open on March 27. The production, which began life with a three-week run presented by the New York City Center Encores! series in July, will reunite LuPone with co-stars Boyd Gaines Herbie and Laura Benanti Louise. Further casting will be announced shortly.

In this musical fable suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, LuPone plays the quintessential stage mother, joined by Gaines as her loyal manager/companion and Benanti as the daughter who transforms into the title character. The book is by Laurents, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The 1959 blockbuster, originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, boasts a score with such classic songs as "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Rose's Turn" and "Some People." The show was last performed on Broadway in 2003 with a cast led by Bernadette Peters.

A Tony winner for playing the title role in Evita, LuPone most recently appeared on the New York stage in the hit revival of Sweeney Todd, Passion for Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series and the New York Philharmonic's productions of Candide and Sweeney Todd. Her Broadway credits include Noises Off, The Old Neighhorbood and Master Class. She has headlined concerts around the country including Broadway and Carnegie Hall and starred in Encores! productions of Can Can and Pal Joey. She made her debut with the LA Opera in a new production of Mahagonny and appeared in Jake Heggie's new opera To Hell and Back last season, having previously starred in Marc Blitzstein's Regina at the Kennedy Center.

Gaines most recently appeared in Roundabout's Broadway revival of Pygmalion and received a Tony nomination for Journey's End. A Tony winner for his performances in The Heidi Chronicles, She Loves Me and Contact, his Broadway credits also include Twelve Angry Men, The Show Off, Cabaret and Company. Off-Broadway credits include Bach at Lepzig, Major Barbara, The Shawl, Comedy of Errors, The Extra Man, The Maderati, Winter's Tale, Barbarians and A Month in the Country.

Benanti received Tony nominations for Into the Woods and Swing and appeared on Broadway in The Wedding Singer, Nine, Into the Woods and The Sound of Music. Off-Broadway credits include Time and Again, Wonderful Town for City Center's Encores!, A Little Night Music and the Williamstown Theatre Festival's production of The Winter's Tale.

Gypsy will feature scenic designs by James Youmans, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting by Howell Binkley, hair by Paul Huntley and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier. The show is being produced by Roger Berlind, The Routh/ Frankel/ Baruch/Viertel Group, Roy Furman, Debra Black, Ted Hartley, Roger Horchow, David Ian, Scott Rudin and Jack Viertel oducers Roger Berlind, The Routh o Frankel o Baruch o Viertel Group, Roy Furman, Debra Black, Ted Hartley, Roger Horchow, David Ian, Scott Rudin and Jack Viertel.