Californian Heather Lee will play the "demure" stripper in the revival of the Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical, which stars two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters as "Mama" Rose. Lee will join Julie Halston's Electra and Kate Buddeke's Mazeppa for the second-act show stopper "You Gotta Have a Gimmick." Lee was seen in the Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls and has also appeared in several concerts for the L.A. Reprise! series.

Rehearsals began Jan. 27 for Gypsy, which begins previews at the Shubert Theatre March 31 prior to an official opening May 1. As previously announced, others in the cast include John Dossett as Herbie, Tammy Blanchard as Louise, Kate Reinders as Dainty June, David Burtka as Tulsa, Heather Tepe as Baby June, Addison Timlin as Baby Louise, Julie Halston as both Miss Cratchit and Electra, Kate Buddeke as Mazeppa, Brooks Ashmanskas as Mr. Goldstone and Pastey, William Parry as Pop and Kringelein and Michael McCormick as Uncle Jocko and Cigar.

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Though already available to American Express Gold Card members, tickets to Gypsy will go on sale to everyone else Feb. 2. Interested theatregoers will be able to purchase tickets by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by logging on-line to www.telecharge.com. The Telecharge website lists ticket prices as follows: orchestra and front mezzanine $100, rear mezzanine $85, front balcony $75 and rear balcony $65; Wednesday matinees have a $95 top ticket for orchestra and front mezzanine with rear mezzanine $80, front balcony $70 and rear balcony $60. The Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street) box office will open for business Feb. 24.

Gypsy features a score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Academy Award winner Sam Mendes will helm the production, which features original choreography by the late Jerome Robbins and new choreography by Hairspray's Jerry Mitchell. The last Broadway mounting of the famed musical cast "Cagney & Lacey" star Tyne Daly in the role created by Ethel Merman. The 1989 Daly revival won a Tony for Best Revival of a Musical as well as one for its leading lady.