PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Extra! Extra!" Backstage at Signature Theatre's Gypsy With "Dainty June," Nicole MangiNicole Mangi stars as June in Signature Theatre's new production of the classic Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy. She shares some exclusive backstage pics from the beloved Virginia company.
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Matthew Blank
December 27, 2013
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Extra! Extra!" Backstage at Signature Theatre's Gypsy With "Dainty June," Nicole Mangi
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Extra! Extra!" Backstage at Signature Theatre's Gypsy With "Dainty June," Nicole Mangi
Nicole Mangi stars as June in Signature Theatre's new production of the classic Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy. She shares some exclusive backstage pics from the beloved Virginia company.
40 PHOTOS
A short walk to the beautiful Signature Theatre -- all dressed up with Gypsy posters!
Nicole Mangi
Oooh, the lobby video display is sexy.
Nicole Mangi
In the words of Agnes… ”That Signature Theatre is a very fancy lady!”
Nicole Mangi
Gypsy Rose Lee (aka Maria Rizzo) signs in for the day. We’re in our last day of tech, with a dress run tonight!
Nicole Mangi
I stop by the boys’ dressing to say hi as they get ready for tech. Apparently they’re limbering up!
These two are up to no good… actors Mitchell Hébert and Steven Cupo.
Nicole Mangi
Our amazing choreographer Karma Camp is working with Mamma Rose, played by the astonishing Sherri L. Edelen!
Nicole Mangi
An off-stage view of our three gorgeous strippers, played by Sandy Bainum (Tessie Tura), Donna Migliaccio (Mazzepa) and Tracy Lynn Olivera (Electra).
Nicole Mangi
Lots of wigs in Gypsy!
Nicole Mangi
Our beautiful wigs ladies take a minute to get pre-show perfect.
Nicole Mangi
A trip up to the costume shop to visit the genius that is Frank Labovitz, costume designer to the stars.
Nicole Mangi
A Gypsy look.
Nicole Mangi
Some of Frank’s beautiful sketches and fabric swatches.
Nicole Mangi
Actors Sam Edgerly and Joseph Tudor wait patiently for Gannon O’Brien to sign in.
Nicole Mangi
The woman behind it all: our beautiful production stage manager Kerry Epstein.
Nicole Mangi
Three incredible artists discuss their vision: James Kronzer (scenic designer, left), Joe Calarco (director), and Chris Lee (Lighting Designer).
Nicole Mangi
A cute shot of our Herbie and Louise getting on splendidly.
Nicole Mangi
A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!
Nicole Mangi
The stunning dance team: Pauline Grossman and Karma Camp!
Nicole Mangi
Music director Jon Kalbfleisch (right) takes a quick breather.
Nicole Mangi
Backstage with costume director Denise Umland.
Nicole Mangi
Two beautiful strippers (Donna Migliaccio and Sandy Bainum) get ready to make their entrance.
Nicole Mangi
Maria hangs out backstage. No shortage of costumes in Gypsy!
Nicole Mangi
Splits are hard. Gotta warm up.
Nicole Mangi
A backstage round of Uno with the youngest cast members.
Nicole Mangi
My mini-me, played by the very talented Erin Cearlock!
Nicole Mangi
Meet Minnie, in her theatrical debut as “Chowsie!”
Nicole Mangi
Sherri L. Edelen looking fabulous as Momma Rose.
Nicole Mangi
Our incredible director Joe Calarco working with Maria on one of Louise’s strips. It is not to be missed!!!
Nicole Mangi
Balloon girl Grace Doughty shows off her fabulous costume!
Nicole Mangi
Cast-mate Carolyn Cole is a proud puppy momma.
Nicole Mangi
A sneak peek of our beautiful set by designer James Kronzer. Complete with orchestra warming up, getting ready to play the best overture in the history of musical theatre.
Nicole Mangi
Miss Cratchit, played by Alyssa Gagarin, is looking rather chic!
Nicole Mangi
Dainty June and her farmboys doing some gambling… Don’t tell Momma!
Nicole Mangi
Cearlock -- get photobombed by Donna Migliaccio as Mazzepa!
Nicole Mangi
Time to rehearse our bows!
Nicole Mangi
Actors Sherri L. Edelen and Steven Cupo backstage.
Nicole Mangi
Stage sisters!
Nicole Mangi
Director Joe Calarco and choreographer Karma Camp -- a true dream team!
Nicole Mangi
Our Louise looks on with a smile as Gypsy comes to life. Come see the show at Signature Theatre -- it’s playing through January 26!
Directed by Joe Calarco, the cast is headed by Sherri L. Edelen as the ultimate pushy stage mother Rose. Performances continue through Jan. 26, 2014.
The company also features Mitchell Hébert as Herbie, Donna Migliaccio as Mazeppa, Sandy Bainum as Tessie Tura, Tracy Lynn Olivera as Electra, Carolyn Cole as Agnes, Maria Rizzo as Louise and Vincent Kempski as Tulsa with Erin Cearlock, Steven Cupo, Grace Doughty, Samuel Edgerly, Alyssa Gagarin, Nicole Mangi, Dan Manning, Ethan Miller, Gannon O’Brien, John Ray, Ellen Roberts, Eli Schulman and Joseph Tudor. “I couldn’t be more excited to direct Gypsy,” said Calarco in a previous statement. “Sherri and I have talked about doing the show together for years. It’s really been a dream of ours to tackle it together, so I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
“Gypsy marks Signature’s 23rd Sondheim production, and it promises to be something special with Sherri Edelen bringing Momma Rose to life,” added artistic director Eric Schaeffer. “Her talents are larger than life, just like Rose, and it will be thrilling to see her collaboration with Joe Calarco onstage.”
Featuring a book by Laurents, music by Styne and lyrics by Sondheim, Gypsy was inspired by the memoirs of famed burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee.
Set during the 1920s on the fading vaudeville circuit, Gypsy, according to the Signature, "portrays the rise of famed performer Gypsy Rose Lee. Momma Rose, the archetypal stage mother, steamrolls everyone on her way to propel her daughters into child stars. When the younger, more talented daughter defects, Rose sinks all her hopes (and claws) into the elder."
The creative team also includes music director Jon Kalbfleisch, choreographer Karma Camp, scenic designer James Kronzer, lighting designer Chris Lee, costume designer Frank Labovitz and production stage manager Kerry Epstein.
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets start at $40. Single tickets are available in person at the Signature Box Office at 4200 Campbell Avenue in Shirlington, by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT, and online at signature-theatre.org.
The new play imagines the relationship between two literary icons at odds with their time: 27-year-old Christopher Marlowe and rising star William Shakespeare.