the making of GYPSY!

buy the book.


* FUN FACT*
Mary Louise Wilson & Christine Ebersole both played the role of Tessie Tura!
Mary Louise Wilson in the Lansbury revivial & Christine Ebersole in the Midler film!

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 12:44 AM

One day last week I was walking back to my apartment, and as I passed a used book stand on the street, the ALNM logo caught my eye. On the top of a pile in a crate under the table was this book. I don't know how I saw it because the logo on the sleeve is so small, but I did, and I asked how much it was. 7 dollars. Which is what I had in my wallet at the time, because I had been debating stopping by the bank, but hadn't. I took it for fate, and bought the book, figuring I was meant to read something in it, or it all wouldn't have worked out so perfectly. I'm not done with it yet, but I'm finding it to be VERY good so far. So I thought I'd share that story.

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AND Wilson understudied Lansbury!

I wholeheartedly agree about Zan Charisse. Her transformation out on the runway was a joy to behold.

I wonder what she's doing these days?

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ive only heard the cast recordings, but i ****MUCH***** prefer Charisse to Sandra Church!
Charisse's Louise is likeable, has humor & personality, which gives you tension between her & Rose...while Church's Louise just seems like a sadsack pill.

I heard the Lansbury recording first, & i couldnt understand why people didnt care for LITTLE LAMB...Charisse's version is perfectly charming!
then i heard Church's take on it & i wanted to slap her myself! when she sings "i wonder how old i am?" i want to yell "at LEAST 38!!!"

Look how far away that mic is from Merman!

Does anyone know if its been updated in recent years? I have the book but would love an updated version.

The making of GYPSY is discussed at length in the book BROADWAY
SONG & STORY, edited by Otis L. Guernsey jr., copyright 1985 by
The Dramatists Guild, Inc. The book is basically the transcripts
of seminars sponsored by the Dramatists Guild. For GYPSY, the
moderator is Terrence McNally and the 3 participants are Arthur
Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, and Jule Styne. Jerome Robbins, director and choreographer of GYPSY, was not included on this panel and has this comment to make about its discussion: "Arthur
Laurents, during the WEST SIDE STORY symposium, called our discussion 'a sort of RASHOMON WEST SIDE STORY' and he also said, 'I don't think that's the way it happened.' Those remarks
summarize perfectly my own reaction to the GYPSY symposium."
The panel discusses the making of the musical as a true
collaborative effort. It is interesting and informative and you should try to find the book. I got my copy at the Dramatists Book Store which used to be on the 2nd floor of a building near the Winter Garden. I don't know if it's still there. Maybe you could look on Ebay, or the NY Public Library.

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Geez, it took the moderators less than a few hours to deleate my "Jen Cody has a tail" thread....

And that wasn't even against copyright laws....

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