Gypsy, Starring Patti LuPone, to Close in January
The Broadway revival of Gypsy, which had originally announced a March 1 closing date, will now shutter on January 11. Producer Roger Berlind blamed “uncertain financial times” for the “difficult decision” to close early. The production, headlined by Tony winner Patti LuPone, was directed by the show’s author, Arthur Laurents. At the time of its closing, Gypsy will have played 27 previews and 332 performances at the St. James Theatre.
Gypsy received seven nominations at the 2008 Tony Awards, winning one each for LuPone and her co-stars, Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti. It also received six Outer Critics Circle Awards including LuPone and Benanti, four Drama Desk Awards including LuPone, Gaines and Benanti and three Drama League Awards, including the Distinguished Performance Award for LuPone.
Led by LuPone as Rose, the tyrannical stage mother, Gypsy features Gaines as the good-hearted Herbie and Benanti as Louise, the introvert who transforms herself into infamous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. Also featured are Leigh Ann Larkin Dainty June, Tony Yazbeck Tulsa, Marilyn Caskey Electra, Alison Fraser Tessie, Lenora Nemetz Mazeppa, Bill Bateman Mr. Goldstone, Jim Bracchitta Uncle Jocko, Sami Gayle Baby June, Katie Micha Baby Louise, Bill Raymond Pop and Brian Reddy Weber.
Rounding out the ensemble are Beckley Andrews, Andrew Boyer, Nancy Renée Braun, Jacob Clemente, Kyrian Friedenberg, Matt Gibson, Sarah Marie Hicks, Steve Konopelski, Matthew Lobenhofer, Nicole Mangi, Matty Price, Lisa Rohinsky, Jaclyn Taylor Ruggiero, Jessica Rush, Alicia Sable, John Scacchetti, Geo Seery, Rider Quentin Stanton, Dorothy Stanley, Pearce Wegener and Emma Zaks.
The new production of Gypsy was based on the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production, which enjoyed a three-week run in July of 2007. It began previews on Broadway on March 3 and officially opened on March 27. Originally staged on Broadway in 1959, the show features a book by Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, as well as now-classic songs such as “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Rose’s Turn” and “Some People.”
