Black Hills Community Theatre continues its 50th season with the musical Gypsy. Considered by many to be the greatest American musical, Gypsy focuses on Rose, the most infamous stage mother to ever live, and her daughter Louise, who would become the most famous burlesque performer ever, Gypsy Rose Lee. The musical is packed with show stopping songs, including “Let Me Entertain You” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”
Gypsy is directed by BHCT Artistic Director Zach Curtis. Since joining BHCT in March 2017, Curtis has directed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Fezziwig’s Feast and Love Letters and has appeared onstage in Annie, Fezziwig’s Feast and Rabbit Hole. The cast of 15 members from the community includes Michelle Martinson as Rose, Kory Yamada as Louise, Justin Speck as Herbie, Holly Perli as June/Electra, and Lukas Ptacek as Tulsa. The cast is rounded out by Ria Gualano, Diana Koehn, Barry Longden, Sarah Morrison, Taylar Perez, Audrey Perli, Olivia Perli, Jacob Ranum, Chris Schilling, and David Thoreson in a variety of roles.
Gypsy, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 1960 for it’s original Broadway production, which featured Ethel Merman. Since then, Gypsy, has seen many reincarnations, including four Broadway revivals, a movie in 1962 and a made-for-TV movie in 1003 that starred Bette Midler. This production contains mild adult themes.
