FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (6/04)
Contact: Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, 318-869-5242, or
Lynn Stewart, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120

Centenary's Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Announces Cast of Gypsy, Set to Run July 8-11 and 15-17

SHREVEPORT, LA — Peggy Byers and Katie Smith are cast in the leading roles of Rose and her daughter, Gypsy Rose Lee, in the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Summer Musical, Gypsy, opening July 8 on the campus of Centenary College.

Gypsy is the ultimate backstage story, which covers the rise of the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee from an overlooked wallflower, to one of the world’s best known burlesque performers. The classic conflict between mother and daughter receives a glitzy and gritty examination as the musical follows Rose’s determined journey through the fading vaudeville circuit to her eventual arrival in the darker world of burlesque.

Gypsy is considered to be one of the greatest musicals that the American theatre has produced. The score, by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, is a classic, containing such well known favorites as “Everything’s Coming Up
Roses,” “Small World,” “You’ll Never Get Away From Me,” “Some People,” “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” and “Let Me Entertain You.”

Byers will play the role of Rose, the prototype for monstrous stage mothers who are determined to see their children become stars. She has previously
appeared in MLP’s Nine, The Cripple of Inishmaan and Mame, winning the Memory Award as the season’s Best Supporting Actress for her comic turn as Vera Charles. Additionally, she has been seen in Moon Over Buffalo, Zorba and The Foreigner. Byers toured nationally in the role of Dotsey Mae in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, directed by Tommy Tune.

Smith has numerous credits to her name which include, Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Claudia in Nine, Gussie in Merrily, We Roll Along, Flaemmchen in Grand Hotel (Times Drama Award for Best Supporting Actress), Alexa in As Bees in Honey Drown (Times Award for Best Actress), Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Chloe in Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Times Award for Best Actress).

Additional principal roles will be played by Patrick Maxey as Herbie, an ex-theatre agent who becomes Rose’s suitor; Sarah Smith as Dainty June, Rose’s grownup child, who had been the star of their vaudeville act; Caroline Boley as Baby June, the younger version of Rose’s daughter; Catherine Barbaree as Baby Louise, the younger version of Louise before she becomes Gypsy Rose Lee; Bonnie Gillen as Tessie Tura, Kim Price as Mazeppa and Christy Bickham as Electra, all three strippers in a burlesque club; Trey Jackson as Tulsa, one
of the young men in Rose’s vaudeville act, who has bigger dreams; John Michael Strange as Uncle Jocko, the host of a kiddie show; and Charlton Lyons as Rose’s father.

Appearing as performers in Rose’s travelling act are: Josh Porter, Tim Broderick Jr., Josh Gutierrez, James Willet and Patrick Kelly. The Hollywood Blondes, girls who later become Rose’s last ditch effort to make it, will be played by Laura Beth Sentell, Jennifer Smith, Sarah Perkins, Jenny Mayo, Jessica Maxey and Hope Gutierrez.

Tyler Krieg, Benjamin Maxey, Clyde Knox, Michael Nasser, and Kelsey Malone appear as children who are auditioning for Uncle Jocko’s kiddie show and as
performers in Rose’s vaudeville act.

Show girls who appear in Gypsy Rose Lee’s act are: Jessie Smith, Renee Nolan, Katie Dupont and Rachel Buchanan.

Other roles as theatre managers, photographers and hotel guests will be played by Scott Green, Sloan Folmer and Patty Krieg.

Gypsy will be directed by Patric McWilliams with musical direction by Kermit Poling, set and light design by Don Hooper, costume design by McWilliams and choreography by Laura Beth Sentell. The assistant director/stage manager is Ashley Beckham.

Gypsy opens Thursday, July 8 at 8 p.m. and has additional performances July 9, 10, 15,16,and 17, all at 8 p.m. There will be a matinee on Sunday, July 11 at 2 p.m. A special preview performance will be Wednesday, July 7 at 7 p.m.

The box office opens June 28 and will be open daily from noon to 4 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 318-869-5242. Prior to that date, mail orders are being accepted by sending an order to: Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, 2911 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport, Louisiana, 71134-1188, Attention Box Office. For additional information about pre-sales call 318-869-5242 during business hours.

Ticket prices are $25 for adults/seniors and $20 for students and children. The preview performance tickets are priced at $15 for all seats.

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