The producers of the musical, which features direction by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, had announced Feb. 2 that the acclaimed revival would close after the Feb. 28 performance if business did not improve. However, the box-office gross for the week of Feb. 2-8, 2004, showed an increase of 14% from the previous week.
Producer Robert Fox said in a statement, "The outpouring of support for Gypsy has been remarkable. I am very proud of this production and I believe it should not close while there is an audience eager to see the extraordinary performances of Bernadette Peters and the entire company in Sam Mendes' exceptional staging."
Producer Ron Kastner added, "Everyone connected with the Gypsy company and the Shubert Organization immediately volunteered to help us get through this tough winter period. No one in the Broadway community expected this traditionally challenging season to be so rough."
Gypsy began previews at the Shubert March 31, 2003, and officially opened May 1, 2003. Gypsy received four 2003 Tony Award nominations, including those for star Peters (Best Actress in a Musical), co stars John Dossett and Tammy Blanchard (Best Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical) and Best Revival of a Musical.
The cast recording of the musical — Angel Records — recently won a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. *
Produced by Robert Fox, Ron Kastner, Roger Marino, Michael Watt, Harvey Weinstein and WWLC, the Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical features original choreography by Jerome Robbins and additional choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Jodi Moccia is the associate choreographer and Peter Lawrence the associate director.
Peters is joined onstage by Emmy winner Tammy Blanchard (Louise), John Dossett (Herbie), Kate Reinders (Dainty June), David Burtka (Tulsa), Heather Tepe (Baby June), Addison Timlin (Baby Louise), Heather Lee (Tessie Tura), Gayton Scott (Miss Cratchit/Electra), Kate Buddeke (Mazeppa), Brooks Ashmanskas (Mr. Goldstone/Pastey), Michael McCormick (Uncle Jocko/Cigar) and William Parry (Pop/Mr. Kringelein).
The creative team includes Anthony Ward (scenic-costume design), Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer (lighting design), Acme Sound Partners (sound design) and David Brian Brown (hair design). With orchestrations by Sid Ramin and Robert Ginzler and dance arrangements by John Kander, Gypsy features musical supervision by Patrick Vacariello and musical direction by Marvin Laird, the latter Peters' longtime musical director.
Gypsy plays Monday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM with matinees on Wednesday and Saturdays at 2 PM. Tickets, priced between $60 and $100, are available at the Shubert Theatre box office (225 West 44th Street).
