“Curtain Up, Light the Lights!” Everything is indeed coming up roses as the Sterling Community Theatre Troupe prepares the musical Gypsy to be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 7 which will close Sterling’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration this year. 

Considered by many critics and artists to be the greatest of all Broadway musicals, Gypsy tells the true story of an ambitious showbiz mother known as Momma Rose, who treks across America with her daughters Baby June and Louise in search of success. The show is set in the waning days of Vaudeville and the rise of Burlesque in the 1930’s. 

Gypsy features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It is suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. The show boasts a parade of iconic tunes that conjure the joys and heartaches of show business: “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Let Me Entertain You,” “Together, Wherever We Go,” and more. The brassy masterpiece about vaudeville and burlesque promises to entertain audiences of all ages. 

The Sterling production of Gypsy will feature a cast of 25 and an orchestra of 12. 

The Sterling cast is led by Betsy Dutton, retired long-time Sterling High School theatre director, as Rose. Playing her daughter Louise who goes from shy and quiet to becoming the famous Gypsy Rose Lee is 2023 Sterling High graduate Ella Wellman. Retired music director and long-time stage veteran Mark Clark will play Herbie, the manager of the family act who is also Rose’s romantic interest. 

Sterling College junior from Hutchinson Mary Little will be seen as June, Rose’s youngest daughter and the focus of Rose’s initial showbiz dreams. Sterling College junior from Sterling, Noah Svaty will play Tulsa, a talented young dancer in Rose’s troupe who dreams of having his own act. 

Tessie Tura, the Texas Twirler will be played by Sterling School Librarian Amy Brownlee. Mezeppa, who is called “a revolution in dance” will be Sterling native and radio personality Katelyn Mattson Levy. Rounding out the burlesque trio will be Sterling native and Rock Creek High School Music Director Janie Brokenicky as Electra.

Sterling grade schoolers Isabel Sant and Charlie Clawson will play the young June and Louise. Other grade schoolers also featured in Gypsy will be Nathaniel Giorgetti, Suzy Ball, Elise Henry, and Eli Jaeger. 

The young men in Rose’s act with the names of each of the places they were recruited from include Sterling College students Caleb Brownlee and Luke Harding as L.A. and Yonkers and Sterling High student Leland Brittan as Kansas. 

The girls in Rose’s Hollywood Blonde act will be Sterling College graduate Bekah Parish as Agnes, Sterling resident Alley Rowland as Marjorie May, and Sterling High students Zoe Harding and Reyna Sanchez as Delores and Thelma. 

Rounding out the cast will be Sterling College band director Larry Brownlee and Hutchinson radio personality Glen Grunwald as well as recent Sterling College graduate Robbie Stansbury.

New Ellsworth High Schol Band Director and Sterling native Bryce Wilson is heading up the orchestra for the show. Hutchinson resident James Pope is pianist for the show. Other orchestra members include from Sterling -- Kimberly Sant, Benjamin Mattson, Shay Carmichael, Macy Brownlee, Jacob Pieplow, and Camden Smith; from Hutchinson Taggert Reiss and from Lyons Lily Stansbury. Noah Svaty and Robbie Stansbury will also be featured in the orchestra when not on stage in their respective roles. 

Recently retired McPherson High School theatre director and Sterling native Greg McGlynn is designing the set for the show with Sterling College student Mariana Inchauriga designing lights. 

Tickets for the Sterling production of Gypsy will be available at the door before each performance and will be $15 for adults and $5 for students.