By EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
The Sterling Community Theatre Troupe will take on the musical Gypsy for the second time. The group took Gypsy to the stage in 1997 with Betsy Dutton who played Gypsy Rose Lee.
"I wanted to take a crack at it again having had children and just also understanding life and pushy people like Rose a little more," Betsy said.
Her husband, Dennis Dutton is the director of Gypsy.
"It's loosely based on Gypsy Rose Lee," Dennis said. "Historically, she was one of America's foremost Burlesque performers and she was driven by her mother Rose and her sister June went on to become the movie star June Havoc and so she wrote her memoirs. Gypsy Rose Lee and those memoirs provide the basis for the show Gypsy."
Betsy said Rose tends to be an attractive character for actresses. Rose has been portrayed by Ethel Merman among other famous names.
“It's just a juicy role and that's what you have,” Betsy said. “Recently, Audrey McDonald is going to do it this fall and so actresses are attracted to the role because not only is she comedic and gets to sing, it's also a dramatic role too."
The cast features all ages including six grade school kids, a few high school students and Sterling College students.
“We love to choose shows that we think our audience will enjoy and that we've got the people in our small community and the people in Hutchinson and such who can maybe do the roles well and so we've been fortunate in doing some really fun shows,” Dennis said. “Some that have been very classic and familiar like Gypsy but also some new ones like Disaster. Like Curtains. Like Drowsy Chaperone and so we've had a great time doing those community endeavors around the 4th of July."
Showtimes for Gypsy are July 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. and July 7 at 2 p.m. at the Betsy Dutton Theater in Sterling High School.
The final Sterling summer musical is Pete n Keely on Aug. 10-11.
Cast List:
Rose-Betsy Dutton
June-Mary Little
Louise- Ella Wellman
Herbie-Mark Clark
Tessie Tura- Amy Brownlee
Mezeppa- (Janice Brokenicky/Katelyn Mattson Levy)
Electra- (Janice Brokenicky/Katelyn Mattson Levy)
Miss Cratchitt- Amy Brownlee
Uncle Jocko- Larry Brownlee
Georgie-Stage Manager-Caleb Brownlee
Pop- (Rose's Father) - Glen Grunwald
Weber - (LA Theatre Manager) - Robbie Stansbury
Mr Goldstone - CAMEO??
Waitress-Chinese Restaurant- Reyna Sanchez
Cigar (Burlesque Theatre) - Larry Brownlee
Patsey - (Burlesque SM) - Glen Grunwald
Phil - (Louise's Press Agent) - Luke Harding
Renee- (Louise's French Maid) - Zoe Harding
Louise's Photographer - Robbie Stansbury
Newsboys/Farmers
Tulsa - Noah Svaty
L.A. - Caleb Brownlee
Yonkers - Luke Harding
Kansas/Angie - Leland Britton
Hollywood Blondes
Agnes - Bekah Parish
Marjorie May - Alley Rowland
Dolores - Zoe Harding
Thelma - Reyna Sanchez
Children
Baby June - Isabelle Sant
Baby Louise - Charlie Clawson
Newsboys - Suzy Ball, Elise Henry, Nathaniel Giorgetti, Eli Jaeger
In Opening Jocko Scene:
Balloon Girl - Elise Henry
Ventriloquist - Eli Jaeger
Violin Girl - Suzy Ball
Clarinet Boy - Nathaniel Giorgetti