It's official: After much speculation and unconfirmed reports, it appears that Tammy Blanchard — who received raves for her portrayal of the young Judy Garland in the ABC movie "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows" — will indeed star in the title role of the upcoming revival of Gypsy starring Bernadette Peters. A spokesman for the production confirmed the news to Playbill On-Line.
Blanchard won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries/Movie for her work as Judy Garland in the aforementioned TV film. She also garnered Golden Globe, AFI TV and Golden Satellite award nominations for that performance. A New Jersey native, Blanchard's other credits include "Stealing Harvard," "We Were the Mulvaneys" and three years on the CBS daytime serial "Guiding Light." Gypsy will mark the actress' Broadway debut.
Sandra Church originated the role of Louise ("Gypsy") in the musical's 1959 production. Others who have portrayed the role of the young actress-turned stripper include Zan Charisse (1974 production) and Crista Moore (1989 production). Deborah Gibson played the role opposite Betty Buckley's Mama Rose in the 1998 Paper Mill mounting.
It was also just announced that Kate Reinders will play Dainty June, Blanchard's sister in the classic musical. Reinders' Broadway credits include Into the Woods and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and she also appeared as Liesl in the national tour of The Sound of Music. Regionally, she has been seen in Hair, The Wizard of Oz (as Dorothy) and as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters will headline the much-in the-news Gypsy revival, which is being directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. It was recently announced that the revival of the Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents musical will play Broadway's Shubert Theatre with previews commencing March 24. The official opening date is scheduled for April 24. No on-sale ticket date has been announced. The last Broadway mounting of the famed musical Gypsy 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.
