A spokesperson for the actor told Playbill.com that Gaines is currently "in negotiations" to play the role of Herbie opposite LuPone's Rose in the forthcoming production of the Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne musical.

The July 9-29 run is part of the new Encores! Summer Stars series at the Manhattan venue. As previously announced, Laurents, who wrote the book to what is considered one of the finest American musicals, will direct the fully-staged production, which is scheduled to officially open July 12.

LuPone previously played the stage mother of all stage mothers at Ravinia, Aug. 11-13, 2006. Directed by Lonny Price, her co-stars included Jack Willis as Herbie and Jessica Boevers in the title role. Other than LuPone, no other casting has been officially announced for the summer City Center production.

Gypsy features a score by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and a book by Arthur Laurents. The musical bowed on Broadway in May 1959 at the Broadway Theatre, playing 702 performances before closing at the Imperial Theatre, where it later transferred, on March 25, 1961. Ethel Merman starred as Rose in the original production; subsequent Broadway Roses include Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly and Bernadette Peters.

Boyd Gaines, now on Broadway in Journey's End, won Tony Awards for his performances in The Heidi Chronicles, She Loves Me and Contact. His other Broadway credits include Twelve Angry Men, Cabaret, Company and The Show Off.

Tickets for Gypsy are available at the City Center box office (West 55th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). Tickets, priced $25-$110, are also available by calling (212) 581-1212 or by visiting www.nycitycenter.org.