Apr 25, 2019 4 min read

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From left, Tori Heckert as June, Kathy Hawk as Mama Rose and Riley Konesky as Louise in "Gypsy."

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From left, Riley Konesky as Louise, Kathy Hawk as Mama Rose and Tori Heckert as June in “Gypsy.”

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From left, Matt J. Rush as Herbie, Kathy Hawk as Mama Rose and Riley Konesky as Louise in "Gypsy."

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From left, Tori Heckert as June and Riley Konesky as Louise in "Gypsy."

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From left, Matt J. Rush as Herbie, Kathy Hawk as Mama Rose and Riley Konesky as Louise in "Gypsy."

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As part of their 10th season, the Mon River Arts group will be bringing the production of “Gypsy” to the Grand Theatre stage in Elizabeth next week.

Director Seamus Ricci said the group puts on about four different shows each year with two junior shows and then two main stage shows that incorporate adults.

As for choosing Gypsy for this next offering, Ricci said each season it depends on what show rights are available at the time.

“This one was available, and we selected it because it has a wide range of ages for roles so we could incorporate everyone from ages 10 and up,” he said. “It creates a lot of opportunity.”

The musical has been described as the perfect musical by critics because it is very well written and there was a lot of force behind it when it premiered in 1959.

Ricci said the show is based on true events from a famous burlesque dancer named Gypsy Rose Lee that’s focused on her upbringing and the impact her mother, Rose, had on her.

“It’s actually more about the mother, but Gypsy is really the representative of how they lived their lives, moving from town to town and living in vaudeville,” he said.

Gypsy’s younger sister June was actually more talented, and the mom used her talent to take them places while Gypsy was resigned to making the costumes.

When June elopes and leaves the act, Rose decides she will make a star out of Gypsy, the only daughter she has left.

“They weren’t super successful, but then they got booked in a burlesque show by accident,” Ricci said.

After the two-week contract was up, the owner was looking for someone for another act and Rose pushes her daughter to take the job.

Gyspy becomes successful in the burlesque business because of her comedic routines and sense of humor.

Ricci said the role of Rose is one that every middle aged actress wants to play.

Kathy Hawk, who will be playing the role in this production, agreed.

“This has been on my bucket list for awhile,” she said. “It’s one of the biggest singing and acting challenges out there for a middle-aged actress.”

Hawk added that the role is an emotional roller coaster and everything that goes into the role is challenging.

When a friend asked her how it was going, Hawk relied, “It’s going great, but it’s kicking my butt.

“It’s just so vocally demanding and emotionally draining, but it’s a great journey,” she said.

As for relating to the character, Hawk said she hasn’t had a problem.

“She’s the mother of two kids that she’s trying to get into show business, and I have two daughters who’ve followed in my musical footsteps as well,” she said.

As a whole, Ricci said the show is just so well put together and the music stays in your mind.

A challenge that the Mon River Arts group is having with putting on a show of this magnitude is space.

“It’s a very large show, and the theater is a little more intimate than what the show calls for,” Ricci said. “The challenge was figuring out how to make it intimate rather than big and grand.”

The show is slated for 7:30 p.m. May 3, 4, 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. May 5 and 12 at the Grand Theatre, 207 S 2nd Ave., Elizabeth.

There is reserved seating and tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. For tickets, call 412-405-8425, email MRAboxoffice@gmail.com or purchase tickets online at monriverarts.ticketleap.com/gypsy/.