Muny Announces Full Cast for Gypsy

ST. LOUIS (May 15, 2018) – The Muny announced today its complete cast and design team for the theatre’s centennial season production of Gypsy, July 27 – August 2. Gypsy is proudly sponsored by Missouri Lottery.

“Gypsy is arguably one of the greatest musicals ever, and this amazing, brilliant cast assemble by Megan Larche Dominick is ready to make it shine in our 100th season,” said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “Having real-life couple of Beth Leavel and Adam Heller as Rose and Herbie will be particularly delicious.”

Joining the previously announced Beth Leavel (Rose) are: Adam Heller (Herbie), Julia Knitel (Louise), Hayley Podschun (Dainty June), Jennifer Cody (Tessie Tura/Miss Cratchitt), Ann Harada (Electra), Ellen Harvey (Mazeppa), Kip Niven (Pop /Cigar/Philadelphia Announcer), Drew Redington (Tulsa), Michael James Reed (Weber/Bourgeron-Cochon/Detroit Announcer), Lara Teeter (Uncle Jocko/Phil/Minsky’s Announcer), Elise Edwards (Baby Louise) and Amelie Lock (Baby June).

A striking ensemble completes this cast including Kevin Curtis, Meghan Faddis, Ciara Alyse Harris, Haley Holcomb, Zachary Daniel Jones, Chris Kelley, Evan Kinnane, Katie Pohlman, Jack Sippel, Gabi Stapula, Daryl Tofa and Keaton Whittaker. The company will also be joined by the Muny Kid youth ensemble.

A show stopping design team leads this production with scenic design by Luke Cantarella, costume design by Amy Clark, lighting design by John Lasiter, sound design by John Shivers and David Patridge, video design by Nathan W. Scheuer, wig design by Leah J. Loukas, with production stage manager Shawn Pennington.

As previously announced, Gypsy is directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins with music direction by James Moore.

BETH LEAVEL (Rose) Recent Muny credits include: Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller), Hello, Dolly! (Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi) and the inaugural Muny Magic featured artist. Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Other Broadway: Florence Greenberg in Baby It’s You! (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC nominations); Bandstand, Elf, Mamma Mia!; Young Frankenstein, 42nd Street (original & revival), Crazy for You, The Civil War, Show Boat. She recently starred in the world premiere of Prom at Alliance Theatre, slated for Broadway in the fall of 2018. Numerous credits off-Broadway, regional theatre, commercials and television including the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Bandstand. MFA from University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

ADAM HELLER (Herbie) Muny debut! Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: Follies, Brighton Beach Memoirs. Broadway: It Shoulda Been You, Elf, Baby It’s You!; Caroline, or Change; A Class Act, Victor/Victoria, Les Misérables. National tour: Titanic, Falsettos. Off-Broadway: A Letter to Harvey Milk (The Acorn), Peer Gynt (Classic Stage), Wings (Second Stage), Merrily We Roll Along (York), Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn and The Immigrant (New World Stages).  Regional: Fiddler on the Roof (Goodspeed, Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Actor), Rags (Goodspeed), Triangle (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), The Chosen (Barrington Stage), My Name is Asher Lev (Arden), Smart Blonde (City Theatre), Merrily We Roll Along (Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration), A Funny Thing...Forum (Goodspeed), No Way to Treat a Lady (Hartford TheaterWorks). Television: The Good Fight, Elementary, Unforgettable, The Americans, The Sopranos, Law & Order (all 3 series) and Oz.

JULIA KNITEL (Louise) Broadway: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Carole King, first national tour), Bye Bye Birdie. Off-Broadway: A Letter to Harvey Milk (Lucille Lortel nomination). Select New York/Regional: Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs (Portland Stage Co.), Ingrid in Volleygirls (NY Musical Festival: Best of Fest). Film: Miles.

HAYLEY PODSCHUN (Dainty June) Originally from Overland Park, KS, Hayley has been working professionally since the age of 10, where she started as Baby June! Hayley made her Broadway debut at the age of 12 in The Sound of Music and has been working consistently since then. Broadway/tours: Wicked (Glinda, national tour), Hello, Dolly!; Something Rotten!; Chaplin (Mildred Harris), Anything Goes, Sunday in the Park with George, Pal Joey, Hairspray (Broadway and national tour). Film/TV: Hairspray (Tammy), The Blacklist, Louie. For more information, check out her Instagram: @hayley_podschun or her website www.hayleypodschun.com

JENNIFER CODY (Tessie Tura/ Miss Cratchitt) Jen returns to The Muny for her sixth show. She has been in Peter Pan, The Pajama Game, Hello, Dolly! (Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical); The Addams Family (Grandma) and most recently Young Frankenstein (Elizabeth). Broadway: A Christmas Story, Shrek The Musical, The Pajama Game, Taboo, Urinetown, Seussical the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, Cats. She also originated roles in The Wild Party, Henry and Mudge and Charles Busch’s Cleopatra and Judith of Bethulia. Her voice can be heard as Charlotte LaBouff in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, which won her the Annie Award (animation’s ‘Oscar’). Her film/television credits include: Blue Bloods, Unforgettable, Law & Order, Lucky Stiff, Khumba, Winx Club, American Dad, Robot and Monster, Phineas and Ferb and a new cartoon called P. King Duckling.

ANN HARADA (Electra) Muny: Mamma Mia!; 42nd Street, High School Musical. Originated the role of Christmas Eve in Avenue Q on Broadway and the West End. Other Broadway: Cinderella, 9 to 5, M. Butterfly, Seussical, Les Misérables. Film: Sisters, Admission, Hope Springs, The Art of Getting By, Trouble, Youth in Oregon, Feel. TV: The Jim Gaffigan Show, The Good Wife, 30 Rock, House of Cards, Master of None, Younger, Smash (Linda).

ELLEN HARVEY (Mazeppa) Muny: Into the Woods. Broadway: Present Laughter (Miss Erikson), How to Succeed in Business… (Miss Jones), The Phantom of the Opera (Madame Giry), The Music Man, Thou Shalt Not. Off-Broadway: Big Love (Eleanor, Signature Theatre), Shakespeare in the Park: Into The Woods (Cinderella’s Stepmother). National tours: Mary Poppins (Miss Andrew), Disney’s High School Musical (Ms. Darbus), Mamma Mia! (Tanya) and Sunset Boulevard. Regional favorites: Company (Joanne, Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Critics 2017 Supporting Actress Award), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett, Kansas City Rep), Animal Crackers (Mrs. Rittenhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival), Last Night of Ballyhoo (Boo Levy, Bay Street Theater), Pericles (Dionyza, Two River Theater), Sister Act (Mother Superior, North Shore Music Theatre), The Little Mermaid (Ursula, N.C. Theatre). TV: House of Cards, Gotham, Younger and Partners. Everything else: www.ellenharvey.net @ellenharveynyc.

KIP NIVEN (Pop/Cigar/Philadelphia Announcer) has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, in regional theatres and summer stock, as well as in feature films, network television and commercials. He has appeared in virtually every Equity theatre in Kansas City, including: KC Rep, Starlight, The New Theatre, Spinning Tree, Musical Theater Heritage, The Coterie and Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. For over twenty-five years, Kip has taught his Musical Theatre Audition Technique Workshop/Master Class at colleges, universities and theatre festivals throughout the country. He was a member (for 23 seasons) of the award-winning radio comedy show Right Between the Ears. He is also the Production Coordinator for EARTh (Equity Actors’ Readers’ Theatre). He is a vested member in SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association and serves as Vice-Chair of the KC Area AEA Liaison Committee.

DREW REDINGTON (Tulsa) Originally from St. Louis, Drew made his Muny debut in Aida in 2006 and was most recently seen as Mark in A Chorus Line last summer. Other Muny favorites include Oklahoma! (Slim), Hairspray (I.Q.), 42nd Street and Hello, Dolly!. Broadway: Holiday Inn (Roundabout Theatre). Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse (Mary Poppins), Marriott Theatre (Honeymoon in Vegas), Casa Mañana (West Side Story), Stages St. Louis/St. Louis Symphony Concerts (Peter and the Wolf), Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (A Christmas Story, Macbeth). TV: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Today Show. Training received at Elon University. @drewseph_red

MICHAEL JAMES REED (Weber/Bougeron-Cochon/Detroit Announcer) Previous Muny appearances include: The Music Man, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story; Tarzan the Musical, South Pacific and West Side Story. Local St. Louis audiences have seen him frequently at The Repertory Theatre including recently in Faceless, Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, and All the Way. With Shakespeare Festival St Louis, Michael has appeared in over 10 productions, including The Winter’s Tale, Twelfth Night, and Henry IV & V. New York credits include La Bête (Broadway), King Lear (Roundabout), Amphitryon (Classic Stage Co.) and A Forest in Arden (New York Theatre Workshop). Regional credits include Old Globe, Pasadena Playhouse, Alley Theatre, American Conservatory Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse and South Coast Rep. Favorite TV appearances include Numb3rs, 24, JAG, Six Feet Under, The Shield, The King of Queens, That ‘70s Show and Chicago P.D. Michael is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London.

LARA TEETER (Uncle Jocko/Phil/Minsky’s Announcer) is a veteran song and dance man that is currently a Professor of Theatre and head of the Musical Theatre Program at the Webster Conservatory. He has performed in opera houses, national tours and six Broadway shows, including the 1982 revival of On Your Toes, for which he received a Tony nomination. Lara has performed on the Muny stage since 1990 in such classics as Singin’ in the Rain and Beauty and the Beast. For the last 9 years, Lara has directed and choreographed for the Variety Theatre. Helping to celebrate their 10th Anniversary Season, The Variety Theatre received the 2018 St. Louis Theatre Circle Award for their body of work.

ELISE EDWARDS (Baby Louise) Muny credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (Bielke) and ensemble roles in A Chorus Line, Oklahoma! and Seussical. Along with being cast in the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ A Christmas Carol, she has also performed in several productions at the Conservatory of Southeast Missouri. Conservatory of Southeast Missouri credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Jacquenetta Snug), Seussical (Jojo), Macbeth (MacDuff’s son and Banquo’s son in), The King and I (Royal Daughter) and Annie (Molly). Elise recently created the role of Cassie in a feature Tom Green and Les Stroud film, Interviewing Monsters (fall 2018 release).

AMELIE LOCK (Baby June) is thrilled to make her Muny debut! Amelie was born in New York City and currently lives in St. Louis. She was last seen in A Christmas Story: The Musical (Cerre Players, CBC High School). She is also a growing writer and director of original musical productions.

Link for more information: https://muny.org/gypsy/

About the show:

Gypsy has a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Revered by many as the greatest musical ever written, Gypsy is the timeless tale of an ambitious stage mother, Momma Rose, fighting for her daughters’ success…while secretly yearning for her own. With a book by Academy Award-winner Arthur Laurents and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy features countless showstoppers, including “Let Me Entertain You,” and “Together, Wherever We Go.” Take our word for it, “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” or better yet a ticket, to see this spectacular Muny gem shine.