Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The quintessential story of a stage mother's dreams for herself and her daughters--and a daughter who dared live her own dream--will be retold in Mississippi State's next Lyceum Series event.
One of the great Broadway musicals, "Gypsy" will be performed Nov. 15 in Lee Hall auditorium. This second feature of the 2007-08 Lyceum season begins at 7:30 p.m.
Available at the door, tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for senior citizens (65 and over by request); and $8 for children ages 3-12. All seats purchased at the door are general admission, while individual reserved tickets are available in advance at www.ticketweb.com.
Mississippi State students are admitted free with university identification.
Set against the freewheeling days of vaudeville and burlesque, "Gypsy" tells the story of Rose, an overbearing stage mother who is determined to make something of her two girls. She overwhelmingly favors younger daughter June, who headlines the act, while sister Louise is relegated to the chorus.
Based on the memoirs of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee (1911?-70), the play introduced some of the biggest songs in Broadway history, among them "Everything's Coming up Roses" and "Together, Wherever We Go." An instant hit at its 1959 Broadway theater opening, the play spawned subsequent revivals and garnered a total of three Tony awards.
Written by three virtuosos of American musical theater--Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), the original production was directed by Jerome Robbins and starred Ethel Merman as Mama Rose.
The Phoenix Entertainment-produced show coming to MSU is directed by Sam Viverito, with musical direction by Michael Borth. The creative team also includes Michael Hotopp, scenic design; Charlie Morrison, lighting design; and Craig Cassidy, sound design.
Now in its ninth year, Maryland-based Phoenix is an international theatrical company founded by longtime colleagues Stephen Kane and Michael McFadden. The enterprise has coordinated thousands of performances of more than 70 live productions on four continents.
For more information on this MSU Lyceum Series program, telephone 662-325-4201 or visit www.msstate.edu/dept/lyceum or www.phoenix-ent.com.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.