Arden Theatre Company presents GYPSY

By Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Terrence J. Nolen
On the F. Otto Haas Stage
May 18 – June 18, 2017

(Philadelphia, PA) Arden Theatre Company closes its 29th Season with the musical GYPSY by Arthur Laurents with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, running May 18 through June 18, 2017, on the Arden’s F. Otto Haas Stage at 40 N. 2nd Street in Philadelphia. Terrence J. Nolen directs.

Set in the fading days of the vaudeville circuit, GYPSY features a legendary score that includes “Let Me Entertain You,” “Together, Wherever We Go,” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Mary Martello, one of Philadelphia’s leading actresses and a five time Barrymore Award winner, will light up the Arden stage as she tackles the iconic role of the indomitable Mama Rose.

GYPSY was hailed by Ben Brantley of the New York Times as “the greatest of all American musicals,” and Frank Rich wrote that GYPSY is “Broadway’s own brassy, unlikely answer to KING LEAR.”

Director Terrence J. Nolen says, “The Arden is committed to producing work that challenges and celebrates Philadelphia’s extraordinary acting community, and we sometimes choose work to feature artists with whom we have significant ongoing relationships. I chose GYPSY so that Mary Martello can play Mama Rose. This role has been referred to as the Broadway musical’s answer to King Lear and I, for one, want to see Mary Martello’s Lear.”

GYPSY is stacked with an all-star cast – helmed by Martello – that includes Anthony Heald as Herbie, Caroline Dooner as Louise, Rachel Camp as June, Joilet Harris as Mazeppa, Monica Horan as Tessie Tura, Dave Bardeen as Jocko and others. Heald has worked extensively on Broadway and was nominated for two Tony Awards. Audiences may know him as Dr. Chilton in the movie The Silence of the Lambs. Monica Horan has roots in Delaware County, but is now a Los Angeles-based actress best known for her role as Amy in the hit TV series Everybody Loves Raymond.

Single ticket prices are $36-$52, with discounts available for groups of 15 or more, seniors, students, military, and educators. $15 to 10am student performances are also available. Call the Arden Box Office at 215.922.1122, visit www.ardentheatre.org or visit the box office at 40 N. 2nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.

SPECIAL EVENTS and PERFORMANCES
A Pay-What-You-Can final dress performance will be held on Wednesday, May 17 at 8pm and benefits the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA.) In GYPSY, the role of “Chowsie” is played by “Andy” Murphy Nolen, a dog owned by Arden co-founders Amy Murphy Nolen and Terry Nolen. Andy was rescued by the Nolen’s last year.

Previews for GYPSY begin Thursday, May 18 and continue through Tuesday, May 23, 2017. Opening Night is Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 7pm. The Opening Night sponsor is Harmelin Media; reception sponsors include Lagunitas Brewing Company and Wines ‘Til Sold Out. Special thanks to JPM Catering.

Post-show discussions will be held following performances on Thursday, June 1 at 8pm, Sunday, June 4 at 2pm, Wednesday, June 7 at 6:30pm, Sunday, June 11 at 2pm and Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30pm.

The Arden is wheelchair accessible and provides assisted listening devices and large-print programs at every performance. Open Captioned and Audio Described performances will take place on Friday, June 9 at 8pm and Saturday, June 10 at 2pm. Reservations are required for accessible seating and may be made by calling the Arden’s Box Office at 215.922.1122.

ABOUT
Founded in 1988, Arden Theatre Company is dedicated to bringing to life great stories by great storytellers–on the stage, in the classroom, and in the community. Five productions are staged each season as part of the Mainstage series and two productions through Arden Children’s Theatre, the city’s first resident professional children’s theatre program. New work is produced through the Independence Foundation New Play Showcase. The Arden’s Education Department includes: Arden for All (AFA), a theatre access and education program for underserved young people; Arden Drama School, the after-school, Saturday, and summer camp classes for students in grades pre-K-12; Teen Arden, an immersive after-school access program for Philadelphia-area based teenagers; and the Arden Professional Apprentice Program, a nationally renowned comprehensive theatre management training program. The Hamilton Family Arts Center is the new facility dedicated to education programs and new play development.

The Arden has received numerous honors including 65 awards and 334 nominations from the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. The Arden is a winner of four “Theatre Company of the Year” designations (Philadelphia Inquirer), six Philadelphia Magazine “Best of Philly” awards and three “Best of Philly Kids” awards, the City Paper’s Reader’s Choice Award and the prestigious “Great Friend to Kids Award” from the Please Touch Museum for Arden Children’s Theatre work. For accessibility efforts, the Arden was named a “Keystone of Accessibility” by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Arden Theatre Company is a professional, nonprofit 501(c)(3) theatre company and a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the League of Resident Theatres, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Old City Arts Association. The Arden also participates in The Barrymore Awards, a program of Theatre Philadelphia.

QUICK INFO:

WHAT:            
GYPSY
By Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

SUMMARY:
Set in the fading days of the vaudeville circuit, GYPSY features a legendary score that includes “Let Me Entertain You,” “Together, Wherever We Go,” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Mary Martello, one of Philadelphia’s greatest actresses and a five time Barrymore Award winner, will light up the Arden stage as she tackles the iconic role of the indomitable Mama Rose.

WHERE:
Arden Theatre Company
40 N. 2nd Street, Old City Philadelphia 19106
F. Otto Haas Stage

WHEN:            
May 18 – June 18, 2017
Press Opening: Wednesday, May 24, 2017

TICKETS:
Call the Box Office at 215.922.1122 or visit www.ardentheatre.org or walk-up at the box office, 40 N. 2nd Street
$36-$52 for adults depending on the performance chosen
Group discounts available for 15+
Student Rush tickets at the door 30 minutes before curtain for $10 cash, pending availability (must present valid student ID)

CAST:

Rose – Mary Martello
Herbie – Anthony Heald
Louise – Caroline Dooner
June – Rachel Camp
Tulsa – Malik Akil
LA – Zack Aguilar
Yonkers – Andrew Betz
Angie – Jordan Dobson
Waitress/Mazeppa – Joilet Harris
Tessie Tura/Miss Crachitt – Monica Horan
Electra/Renee – Meghan Strange
Agnes – Emily Kleimo
Marjorie Mae – Paige Smallwood
Pop/Mr. Goldstone/Cigar – H. Michael Walls
Jocko/Pastey/Weber – David Bardeen
Baby June – Alexa Hunt
Baby Louise – Veronica Nardo
Child 1/Ballet Boy – Ethan Jih-cook
Child 2/Clarence – Avery Hannon
Child 3/Balloon Girl – Abigail Brown
Chowsie the dog – “Andy” Murphy Nolen

ARTISTIC TEAM:
Director
Terrence J. Nolen

Music Director
Ryan Touhey

Choreographer
Jenn Rose

Scenic Designer
James Kronzer

Lighting Designer
Thom Weaver

Costume Designer
Richard St. Clair

Sound Designer
Jorge Cousineau

Stage Manager
Alec Ferrell