Full cast announced for GYPSY at The Mill at Sonning
The full cast is today announced for ‘Gypsy’ at The Mill at Sonning Theatre, running from 24 May – 15 July, 2023.
Joining the previously announced Rebecca Thornhill as Mama Rose and Evelyn Hoskins as her daughter Louise are: Daniel Crowder (as Herbie), Samuel How (LA), Buna McCreary-Njie (Kansas), Tim Maxwell-Clarke (Pop), Peter Nash (Tulsa), Seren Sandham-Davies (Agnes), Marina Tavolieri (June), Laura Tyra (Tessie), Susannah van den Berg (Mazeppa), Joseph Vella (Yonkers), Natalie Winsor (Electra).
The children are played by
Baby June: Daisy Jeffcoate, Mia Burton, Isla Jones
Baby Louise: Sophie Bidgood, Aimee Brain, Sophie Lloyd
Newsboy: Avi Kruijt, Sacha Yarwood, Samuel Logan, George Clarke, Joshua Rowe, Harley Coles
Musicians: Joe Atkin-Reeves Woodwind, Callum White Drums and Percussion, Alexia Barbera Double Bass
‘Gypsy’, the story of burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee and her ultimate showbiz mother, Rose boasts a fabulous score by Jules Style and lyrics from Stephen Sondheim, including the memorable songs ‘Let Me Entertain You’, ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’, ‘You Gotta Have a Gimmick’, ‘Some People’ and ‘All You Need Is The Girl’. This eagerly awaited production will be created by director Joseph Pitcher, musical arranger & musical director Francis Goodhand, design by Jason Denvir, costume design Natalie Titchener, lighting Design Nic Farman, Sound Design Chris Whybrow, casting Pearson Casting.
24 May – 15 July, 2023
Rebecca Thornhill recently finished playing Mrs Burke in ’Girl from the North Country’ on the first UK tour. Her extensive West End career includes Mrs Wormwood in ‘Matilda’, Karen Holmes in ‘From Here to Eternity’, Mrs Banks in ‘Mary Poppins’, Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’, Evelyn Nesbit in ‘Ragtime’, Vicki Nichols in ‘The Full Monty’ and Sukie Rougemont in ‘The Witches of Eastwick’.
Evelyn Hoskins played Dawn in ‘Waitress’ and Thea in ‘Spring Awakening’ in the West End, Bonnie in ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ at The Other Palace and Carrie in the musical ‘Carrie’ at Southwark Playhouse.
Creative team:
Joseph Pitcher Director & Choreographer
Jason Denvir Set Designer
Francis Goodhand Musical Arrangements/Musical Director
Natalie Titchener Costume Designer
Nic Farman Lighting Designer
Chris Whybrow Sound Designer
Casting by Pearson Casting CDG
Associate Choreographer Alex Christian
Children’s casting Amber Edlin
Children’s Administrator Jo Hawes
Arthur Laurents (Book)
Arthur Laurents (1917-2011) was the author of musical plays such as ‘West Side Story’, ‘Gypsy’, ‘Anyone Can Whistle’, ‘Do I Hear A Waltz?’, ‘Hallelujah Baby!’ (1967 Tony Award For Best Musical) and ‘Nick & Nora’; and the screenplays ‘The Snake Pit’, ‘Rope’, ‘Caught’, ‘Anastasia’, ‘Bonjour Tristesse’, ‘The Way We Were’, and ‘The Turning Point’ (Golden Globe Award, Screenwriters Guild Award, Writers Guild of America Award, National Board of Review Best Picture Award).
Jule Styne (Music)
Jule Styne (1905-1994) made Broadway sing for 50 years with shows including ‘High Button Shoes’; ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’; ‘Hazel Flagg’; ‘Gypsy’; ‘Peter Pan’; ‘Bells Are Ringing’; ‘Do Re Mi’; ‘Subways Are For Sleeping’; ‘Funny Girl’; ‘Fade Out-Fade In’; ‘Hallelujah, Baby!’; ‘The Red Shoes’; and ‘Darling of the Day’. His film work includes ‘Anchors Aweigh’ and the Oscar-winning title song for ‘Three Coins in the Fountain’. His songbook includes “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” “Just in Time,” “People,” “Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” “Make Someone Happy,” “Small World” and “Time After Time.” Mr. Styne was a 1990 Kennedy Center Honoree and was the recipient of an Oscar, a Tony, two Grammys, an Emmy, a Donaldson Award and a Drama Critics Award.
Stephen Sondheim (Lyrics)
Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) wrote the music and lyrics for ‘Saturday Night’ (1954), ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ (1962), ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ (1964), ‘Company’ (1970), ‘Follies’ (1971), ‘A Little Night Music’ (1973), ‘The Frogs’ (1974), ‘Pacific Overtures’ (1976), ‘Sweeney Todd’ (1979), ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ (1981), ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ (1984), ‘Into the Woods’ (1987), ‘Assassins’ (1991), ‘Passion’ (1994) and ‘Road Show’ (2008) as well as lyrics for ‘West Side Story’ (1957), ‘Gypsy’ (1959) and ‘Do I Hear A Waltz?’ (1965) and additional lyrics for ‘Candide’ (1973). Anthologies of his work include ‘Side by Side by Sondheim’ (1976),’ Marry Me A Little’ (1981), ‘You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow’ (1983), ‘Putting It Together’ (1993/99) and ‘Sondheim on Sondheim’ (2010).
GYPSY
A Musical Fable, Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee
Directed by Joseph Pitcher
The Mill at Sonning Theatre
Sonning Eye Reading RG4 6TY
www.millatsonning.com
24 May – 15 July
Evening Shows Wed – Sat
Sat Matinees Every Week
Sun Matinees from 4 June
Thurs Matinees from 15 June
Original Production by
David Merrick and Leland Hayward
Entire production originally directed and
choreographed by Jerome Robbins
Gypsy is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd