At Live Arts, ‘Gypsy’ takes a revealing look at a stage mom

Live Arts is taking a musical look at naked ambition starting tonight in its DownStage space.

“Gypsy: A Musical Fable” can be seen at 8 tonight, 8 p.m. Saturday, 8 p.m. Wednesday and 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The production will run through Oct. 25.

The musical, which is known for such songs as “Let me Entertain You” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” tells the story of famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee.

It features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents.

Director John Gibson and music directror Greg Harris are leading the cast, which includes Lydia Underwood Horan as Momma Rose, who redefines the concept of the pushy stage mother when she pushes her shy, tomboyish daughter onto the stage to perform a striptease act and ends up launching a celebrated career.

Joining Horan in the cast are Peter Balcke, Georgia Castleman, Kara Dawson, Stephanie Finn, Marc Hengartner, Sara Holdren, Robin Hyer, Camden Luck, Michelle Majorin, Perry Medlin, Bill Niebel, Pat Owen, Geri Carlson Sauls, Jane Scatena, Doug Schneider, Josephine Stewart, Julie Stoessel, Josh Tucker and Jessica Wilbert.

“Gypsy,” which made its Broadway debut in 1957, is based on memoirs Lee published in 1957.

It dives into the years when Momma Rose, based on Lee’s mother, was overseeing the successful vaudeville career of Baby June, based on June Havoc, Lee’s sister. Lee had a small role in her sister’s act, and when June bolted, Momma Rose sought to make Lee the star.

The 1962 film version starred Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood. It picked up three Academy Award nominations and six Golden Globe Award nominations, taking home a Golden Globe for Russell as best actress.

Horan is stepping into some famous shoes, as the role of Momma Rose is one of the meatiest in the musical theater repertoire.

Other actors in the role over the years have included Ethel Merman, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Angela Lansbury and Bernadette Peters.

Tickets are $22.50, $20.50 for Live Arts members and $10 for balcony seats.

Wednesdays are “pay what you can” nights, and Thursday has an early-bird curtain of 7:30 p.m.

Two matinees are planned — for 2 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit http://www.livearts.org or call 977-4177, Ext. 108.