Gypsy
Louise
Gold featured, as Mazeppa, at The Chichester Festival
Theatre from 6 October to 8 November 2014, and at The Savoy Theatre in London
opening on 15 April 2015 (with previews from 28 March 2015), scheduled to run
to 18 July 2015, then extended to be scheduled to run to 28 November 2015 .
Cast
Chichester
Uncle Jacko – Jimmy Chisholm
Georgie – Damien Poole
Baby June – Elise Blake / Georgia Pemberton
Baby Louise – Ruby Bridle / Holly Hazelton
Momma Rose – Imelda Staunton
Chowsie – Molly
Pop – Harry Dickman
Weber – Tom Hodgkins
Herbie – Kevin Whately
Louise – Lara Pulver
June – Gemma Sutton
Tulsa – Dan Burton
Yorkers – Kieran Jae
L.A. – Roger Dipper
Kansas – Damien Poole
Little Rock – Jack North
Mr Goldstone- Jack Chissick
Miss Crachit – Julie LeGrand
Agnes – Natalie Woods
Cigar – Jimmy Chisholm
Marjorie May – Clare Halse
Geraldine – Danielle Morris
Pastey – Kieran Jay
Tessie Tura – Anita Louise Combe
Mazeppa – Louise Gold
Electra – Julie LeGrand
Dolores – Lauren Varnham
Renee – Danielle Morris
Jaynee – Jane McMurtrie
Phil – Jack North
Boucheron – Tom Hodgkins
Children’s Ensemble -
Lisa Bird, Millie Cooter, Pollyanna
Gailer, Daisy-May Hanvey, Yasmin Lowe, Jessie Popkiewicz-Smith, Dominic
Bryant, Kai Cooper, Alexander Evans, Alexander Fyfe, Alfie Jukes,
Patrick Lee, Jonah Mitchell, Max Newitt,
Harvey Pearce, Owen Pennington, and, George
Waller
The Savoy Theatre, London
Uncle Jacko/Cigar – Billy Hartman
Georgie/Kansas – Damien Poole
Baby June – Isla Huggins-Barr / Scarlet Roche
Baby Louise – Holly Hazelton / Lara Wollington
Momma Rose – Imelda Staunton
Pop – Harry Dickman
Mr Webe/ Boucheronr – Tom Hodgkins
Herbie – Peter Davison
Louise – Lara Pulver
June – Gemma Sutton
Tulsa – Dan Burton
Yorkers / Pastey – Kieran Jae
L.A. – Roger Dipper
Little Rock – Luke Street
Mr Goldstone / Rich Man- Jack Chissick
Miss Crachit / Electra – Julie LeGrand
Agnes / Toreadorable – Natalie Woods
Marjorie May / Toreadorable – Clare
Halse
Geraldine / Toreadorable – Danielle Morris
Tessie Tura – Anita Louise Combe
Mazeppa – Louise Gold
Dolores / Waitress / Toreadorable – Lauren Hall
Mother/ Stripper / Showgirl – Lucinda Shaw
Swing – Liz Ewing
Swing – Lauren Ingram
Swing – Tom Murphy
Swing – Phillip Catchpole
Children’s Ensemble
Flower Girl (Cover Baby June) – Lauren Henson, Katie Mann
Flower Girl (Cover Baby Louise) – Caitlin Garcia, Lara Wass
Balloon Girl – Lucy Billington, Molly Mae Gibson
Boys – Joesph Adams, Henry Austin, Dominic Bryant, Ewan Hawkings, Patrick Lee, Jonah Mitchell, Harvey Pearce, Owen Pennington, Max Robson, and, Alexander Stuckley
Understudies
Momma Rose – Louise
Gold, Liz Ewing
Louise – Lauren
Hall, Lauren Ingram
Herbie – Tom Hodgkins, Tom
Murphy
June – Clare Halse, Lauren
Hall
Tulsa – Kieran
Jae, Phillip Catchpole
Electra – Liz
Ewing, Lucinda Shaw
Tessie Tura – Lucinda
Shaw, Liz Ewing
Mazeppa – Liz Ewing,
Lucinda Shaw
Production Team
Book by - Arthur Laurents
Music by – Jule Styne
Lyrics by – Stephen Sondheim
Suggested by the memoirs of - Gypsy Rose Lee
First Original Performance – The Broadway Theatre, 21 May 1959, with Faith Dane (aka Faith Crannitch) as Mazeppa (Note Jane Romano was Merman’s understudy)
First Performance of This Production – Chichester Festival Theatre, 6 October 2014
Director – Jonathan Kent
Choreographer – Stephen Mear
Designer – Anthony Ward
Choreography (You Gotta Get A Gimmick and Time Lapse Transition) – Jerome Robbins
Musical Director/Orchestrator – Nicholas Skilbeck
Lighting Designer – Mark Henderson
Sound Designer – Paul Groothus
Video Designer – Ian William Galloway
Casting Director – Pippa Ailion
Associate Director – Lloyd Wood
Associate Choreographer – Nikki Woollaston
Hair, Wigs and Make-up – Campbell Young Associates
Voice and Dialect Coach – Penny Dyer
Chichester
Assistant Director – Jake Smith
Assistant Choreographer – Jane McMurtrie
Associate Orchestrator – Tom Kelly
Assistant Musical Director – Peter White
Associate Video Designer – Leo Flint
Costume Supervisor – Yvonne Milnes
Costume Assistant – Fiona Parker
Props Supervisor – Marcus Hall Props
Children’s Administrator - Jo Hawes CDG
Production Manager – Andrew Quick
Assistant Production Manager – Andy Hunt
Company Stage Manager – John Caswell
Deputy Stage Manager – Claire Rundle
Assistant Stage Managers – George Cook, and, Andrew Reed
Baby Louise/Baby June Chaperones – Caron Ireland and Misha Rowley
Children’s Ensemble Chaperones – Jenny Beadle, Julie Bird, Jacqueline Hepworth (Head Chaperone), Janette McAlpine, Lesley McGovern, Lyana Peniston, and, Nikki Popkiewicz-Smith
Orchestra
Musical Director – Nicholas SkilBeck
Keyboard/Assistant Musical Director – Peter White
Harp/Keyboard – Carys Hughes
Drums – Matt Skelton
Double Bass – Laurence Ungless
Trumpets – Owain Harries, Nick Briggs,
and, Dave Hopkin
Tronbones – Jon Stokes, and, Chris Traves
French Horn – Ruth O’Reilly
Alto Saxophone, Fluete, Piccolo, and, Clarinet – Rupert Widdows
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, and, Flute – Steve Pierce
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, and, Oboe – Mike Davis
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass
Clarinet, and, Bassoon – Jay Craig
Orchestral Management – Andy Barnwell, and, Pete Harrison for Musical Co-ordination Services Ltd
Scenery – Bowerwood Production Services
Scenic Artist – Luca Crestani
Stage Engineering – Weld-fab Stage Engineering ltd
Automation – Stage Technologies Ltd
Video Equipment – Stage Sound Services
Sound – Autograph Sound
Production Sound Engineer – Stephen Owen
Lighting Equipment – White Light Ltd
Set Electrics – Junctioninc
Lighting Programmer – Andi Davis
Automation Operators – Adam Morely, and, Jenny Wheeler
Design Assistants – Ben Davies, Isabel Munoz Newsome, and, Tim Mcquillen Wright
Production Carpenters – Stuart Ralph, Martin Gelder, Nick Campbell, and, Simon Black
Props made by – Alex Goacher, Flux Metal, and, Marcus Hall Props
Upholstery by – Paul Harding & Son
Costume Hires – Cosprop, Angels, Academy Costumes
Hat Makers – Mark Wheeler, and, Simon Dawes
Costume Makers – Academy Costumes, Amanda Brothwell, Amanda Barrow, David Plunkett, Anne Nichols, Sue Pearl, Sue Long, Robbie Gordon, Kim Jones, Elsa Threadgold, and, Jane Temple
Shoes – Lewis Jones
Dyeing – Gilly Thompson, and, Jenny Smith
Baton Twirling Tutor – Jade Samways
Transport – Paul Matthew Transport
Rehearsal Pianist – Andy Rapps
Cast Skincare – Dermalogical
Thank You to – Kelly Harris, Lizzie Fordham, Adam Hoskins, Alex Parker, Laura Doye, and, Kirsten Gaze
The Savoy Theatre, London
Orchestra
Musical Director – Nichalas Silbeck
Keyboard/Assistant Musical Director – Tom Kelly
Harp/Keyboard – Carys Hughes
Drums – Matt Skelton
Double Bass – Laurence Ungless
Trumpets – Owain Harries, Nick Briggs, and, Dave Hopkin
Trombones – Jon Stokes, and, Chris Traves
French Horn – Ruth O’Reilly
Alto Saxophone, Flute Piccolo, and, Clarinet – Rupert Widdows
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, and, Flute – Steve Pierce
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, and, Oboe – Mike Davis
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and, Bassoon – Jay Craig
Orchestra Management – Andy Barnwell and Pete Harrison for Musical Co-ordination Services Ltd
Resident Production Team
Company Manager – Eamonn Byne
Associate Director – Lloyd Wood
Resident Choreographer & Children’s Director – Jane McMurtrie
Stage Manager – John Caswell
Deputy Stage Manager – Claire Rundle
Assistant Stage Managers – Andrew Reed, Kay Sinclair, and, Josh Chalk
Technical ASM – George Cook
Head of Automation – Adam Morely
Automation Deputy – Tom King
Tech Swing – David Evans
Production Number One Sound – Mary Stone
Sound Operator No. 1 – Becky Stockting
Sound Operator No. 2 – Katie Weatherley
Wardrobe Mistresss – Faye Michel Jary
Wardrobe Deputy – Hannah Gibbs
Wardrobe Assistant – Clare Jay
Dressers – Joy Foster, Tanya Aanderaa, Marianne Adams, Sophie Brunskill Martin, and, Keshini Ransinghe
Wigs Mistress – Dianne St James
Wigs Deputy – Lorna Stimson
Wigs Assistant – Henrik Torp
Wigs Dresser – Valentina Nesti
Chaperones – Misha Rowley, Katy Taylor, Kathy Outen, and, Janet O’Connor
Chowsie the Dog – Nessie & Scampi appear courtesy of A1 Animals
Savoy Theatre
Area General Manager – Claire Dixon
Theatre Manager – Glenn Cottenen
Deputy Theatre Manager – Michael Anthony Bird
Front of House Manager – Chelsea Williams
Senior Assistants – Rob Coughlan, Alice Mowett, and, Stacey Stone
Ticketing Sales Manager – Mark Armstrong
Box Office Assistants – James Fell, and, Ash Umanee
Master Carpenter – Laurence Smith
Deputy Master Carpenter – James Day
Stage Chargehand – Emma Moore
Chief Electrician – Chris Keniger
Deputy Chief Electrician – Oli Matthews
LX Chargehand – Tamsyn Ross
Boiler & Pluming Supervisor – Simon Warner
Stage Door Keepers – Lea Haslam, and, Kim Hope
Cellar Person – Kel Enders
Housekeeper – Ama Correla
Fire & Security Marshall – Arthur Majloud
For
this website’s Review of
Gypsy at Chichester please click here.
For this website’s Review
of Gypsy At The Savoy please
click here.
At
the evening performance on Saturday 29th August 2015, Imelda Staunton was off-sick, so as her
understudy Louise Gold played Mamma
Rose for that performance.
Louise Gold received
two nominations in the Broadway World
West End Awards: http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/vote2015region.cfm
for her performances in Gypsy. In particular she was been nominated for ‘’Understudy
of The Year Female: http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/liveupdate2015region.cfm?btype=4338®ion=UK%20/%20West%20End#sthash.2TIlL8gx.dpbs (for her performance as Momma Rose!)
Louise Gold, Anita
Louise Coombe, and, Julie Legrand,
along with Lara Pulver
represented Gypsy at West End Live 2015, with an excerpt from the
show.
Louise Gold had previously appeared at The Chichester Festival Theatre in Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It, The Cherry Orchard, The Gondoliers, The
Waterbabies, and, Christmas Concerts 2003. She also
appeared in Chichester’s Minvera Theatre and bar in: Final Chic Cabaret 2003, and, Curtain Up.
Jimmy Chisholm and Louise Gold had previously appeared together in Our Country’s Good, and, The Caucasian Chalk Circle.
Imelda Staunton had previously appeared on television
in Up The Garden Path.
Imelda Staunton and Louise Gold both appeared in the film Crush
(although not in the same scene).
Kevin Whatley appeared on television in ITV’s 50 Greatest Shows.
Louise Gold and Jane McMurtrie had previously appeared
together in Mary Poppins, for which Stephen Mear
was Co-Choreographer
Louise Gold and Jane McMurtrie also appeared in a late
night gala The Company Of Mary Poppins, which included a few Sondheim songs.
Louise Gold and Billy Hartman have previously appeared together in New Girl In Town.
Philip Catchpole, and, Louise Gold
have previously appeared together in Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang, on
which Anthony Ward, and, Mark Henderson also worked.
Philip Catchpole and Louise Gold had previously appeared together in Oliver!
on which Anthony
Ward, Paul Groothius,
Andrew Reed, Steve Pierce, and, Kay
Sinclair also worked..
Philip Catchpole and Louise Gold’s recording credits include Oliver! (Recording), on which Paul Groothius
also worked
Jule
Styne
also wrote the score for Gentleman Prefer Blondes, and,
Darling Of The Day.
Stephen Sondheim’s musicals include Merrily We Roll Along (Stage Production),
Merrily We Role
Along (Recording), Assassins,
Side By Side By Sondheim, and, Follies.
Anthony Ward previously did designs for the Original
London production of Assassins.
Stephen Sondheim’s work turns up in numerous compilation
shows and galas including: Chicago &
Company, Broadway To
Brighton, Sondheim At The Barbican.,
Side By Side By Sondheim 25th
Anniversary Gala, Curtain Up!, Happily Ever After, Side By Side By Sondheim 30th
Anniversary Gala, Sondheim Women, and, Candide In Concert.
Louise Gold previously sang Mazeppa’s
role in You Gotta Get A
Gimmick in Side By Side By
Sondheim, she also sang Rose’s Turn in Sondheim Women.
Paul Groothius also worked on Comedy Tonight.
Pippa Aillion also appeared in A Week In The West
End.
Carys
Hughes’s recording
credits include Defiant Dames.
Stage Sound Services also provided services for A Love Letter To Dan.
Autograph Sound also worked on: Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Touring Production),
Anything Goes (Stage Show), A Time To Start
Living, Follies, and, Candide
In Concert.
It
is not known whether costume maker Robbie
Gordon is the same person as the Wardrobe Consultant Robert Gordon on Chicago &
Company.
Danielle Morris, and, Louise Gold
went on to appear in Candide In Concert.
In
real life the actress June Havoc (on
whom the character “Baby June”/”June”) is based on, amongst other things went
on to originate the role of Montana in Mexican Heyride. She also originated the title role in Sadie
Thompson (after Ethel Merman
turned that down), and played a character called Gladys Bumps in the Rogers & Hart musical Pal
Joey. In the show a reporter called Melba Snyder (originally played by Elaine Stritch)
sings a song called Zip about interviewing Gypsy
Rose Lee. In one subsequent revival (in 2008) of that musical the song was
reallocated to Gladys!
In
the musical Something For The Boys,
(the last of the quintet of musicals that Cole
Porter wrote for Merman) Blossom Hart, originally played by Ethel Merman (and memorably portrayed
in the 1995 Lost Musicals performance by Louise Gold) sang a song called The Leader Of The Big Time Band,
which included the lyric “When Cugat comes to tea, with Gypsy Rose, she gets so het up she
puts on her clothes…”. In the fourth
musical in that quintet, Panama Hattie,
Merman’s character Hattie Maloney, sang a song called I’ve Still Got My Health,
which included a lyric about Minsky’s.
Critics Comments
“It has been cast in strength throughout,…, and the best trio of
strippers in Julie Legrand, Louise Gold and Anita Louise Coombe I think I’ve
ever seen” Mark Shenton, London Theatre UK, 16 April 2015
“There are so many intoxicating touches…
Louise Gold’s spectacular entrance as Mazepp”… “Gold
is an unstoppable force of sheer sexual charisma as Mazeppa).”
Stephen Collins, 16 April 2015, British Theatre.com
“While Louise Gold, Julie
Legrand and Anita Louise Coombe are a comic treat as the hard bitten strippers
showcasing their gimmicks.” Sarah
Hemming, The Financial Times, 17 April 2015.
“I still think the three burlesque strippers
are grotesque caricatures but a quick look at the movie revealed that they are
modelled closely on the originals so what do I know” The Daily Express, April 2015
“Other show highlights include a moonlit
dance to All I Need Is A Girl and You Gotta Get A Gimmick performed by a hilarious burlesque
trio” Sophia Shlugler, Londonist,
19 April 2015
“…and there is assured support from Scarlet
Roche as a cartwheeling Baby June and Louise Gold, Julie Legrand and Anita
Louise Combe as a trio of hardened ecdysiasts.” Michael Billington,
The Guardian, Thursday 16 April 2015
“whilst Julie
Legrand, Anita Louise Combe and Louise Gold bring the house down in ‘You Gotta Get A Gimmick’.” J.M, So So Gay,
17 April 2015
“An ecdysiast is a shedder of skin, a
definition wittily built into the Laurents script, as
are so many details of performance and process. Even the seedy strippers in
Wichita get in on the act, laying down a handbook for the art form ("If
you wanna bump it, bump it with a trumpet"
declares Louise Gold's Wagnerian half-clad horn-blower),” Michael Covaney, Whats On
Stage, 16 April 2015
“But neither is this a one-woman show here –
she (Staunton) has been surrounded by a stunning ensemble, including beautiful,
fragile performances from Lara Pulver and Gemma
Sutton as her daughters, Peter Davison as the patiently devoted Herbie, and a
magnificent trio of jaded, down-at-heel strippers played by Julie Legrand,
Louise Gold and Anita Louise Combe.” Mark Shenton, The
Stage, 15 April 2015
“As the three old hands with good lines in
Gimmicks, the stripper trio of Anita Louise Combe, Louise Gold and Julie
Legrand are phenomenal. They completely convince as reluctant friends, all
doomed to the same grubby Burlesque life, but delighting in finding ways to
make each other happy and miserable. It’s a tremendous team effort from three
astute actresses who can belt, shimmy, and grind with the best of them. They
don’t fight each other, but work seamlessly together in Gotta
Have A Gimmick, a riotous display of Tits And Arse
which, quite rightly, brings the house down.” Stephen Collins, British
Theatre Com, 16 April 2015
Links about Gypsy
Gypsy The
Musical’s Official
Website: http://gypsythemusical.uk/
and the page with the cast biographies: http://gypsythemusical.uk/whos-who/cast/
The Chichester Festival Theatre’s Website Entry for the show: http://www.cft.org.uk/gypsy and for Louise Gold: http://www.cft.org.uk/louisegold
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