Vivian Holt, 10, clearly remembers the call she got from her mother telling her she not only got a part in "Gypsy," but that she was cast as Baby June.

"I started running around the house screaming!" she said.

A Joplin resident, Vivian was cast in Joplin Little Theatre's production of "Gypsy" at age 6.

"I was one of Uncle Jocko's kids in the Kiddie Show at the very beginning of the play," she said. "We were just on stage for a few minutes then there was a lot of waiting in a trailer on the parking lot until the curtain call."

Vivian had her sights set on a larger role with this production; it would mean driving to Pittsburg from Joplin every night for several weeks for rehearsals and the performances, and she didn't want to do it for a bit part.

It worked out in her favor that she was cast this time as the younger version of Cassie Hurt-McLarty (Dainty June), an experienced teen performer with similar coloring as Vivian.

"I didn't get to do much else this summer because of this, but I'm really glad I did it," she said. "I want to grow up and be a singer or movie star."

She belts out a solo number, "Let Me Entertain You," while dancing, and has a fast costume change of about 20 seconds, but handles it like a pro. Vivian attends the Briley Performing Arts Center in Joplin.

She credits her mother, Karen, who Vivian says is nothing like the pushy stage mother Mama Rose, for driving her back and forth each night, her grandmother for taking care of her during the day while her mom works, and her dad for enduring not getting to see much of her in recent weeks.

Don't miss Vivian on stage as Baby June in Gypsy July 28-31; tickets are on sale now at www.memorialauditorium.org and at the box office at 503 N. Pine, 620-231-7827.
The real-life Gypsy Rose Lee in 1956. 

In a somewhat parallel storyline to our show, Janelle Cowan, who portrays Miss Gypsy Rose Lee, was inspired to get into theatre by her real-life sister, Alicia, while they were students at St. Mary’s-Colgan High School. 

“Alicia started doing plays, and I always looked up to her,” Janelle recalled. “I wanted to do what she did, so I decided to try it.”

The real-life striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee (Rose Louise Hovick, 1911-1970) was the sister of June Havoc, who had natural talent and was the first to do everything. Louise followed along in her footsteps; when June eloped with a boy in her vaudeville show, Louise was thrust into the spotlight by their mother, Mama Rose, and rose to stardom as an actress, author, playwright, and a morning talk show host. (June went on to later act on Broadway and in Hollywood, stage directed, and appeared on TV in the soap opera "General Hospital.")

Unsure about musical theatre but wanting to try, Janelle took a nod from Alicia and auditioned for PCT’s “The Music Man” as a sophomore in high school and got a part in the ensemble.

“From then on, I was hooked,” Janelle said.

Her most role prior to Gypsy was in PCT’s 2014 production of “Annie.”

Janelle went on to graduate from Pittsburg State in 2013, and now works as an administrative specialist at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts where she is surrounded by show business on a daily basis.

Preparing to portray a character based on a real-life person — particularly one like Gypsy Rose Lee — was more work than she’s ever done for a role, she said.

“But it’s also my favorite role so far,” she said. “Getting to be her as she transforms and grows up and gets better at what she does, gains confidence, is I guess a lot like me.”

Her cast mates and audiences agree that Janelle has mastered the role flawlessly, including changing costumes a physically demanding seven times. Toward the end of the show, she changes into four evening gowns and long gloves in a matter of minutes. Her fastest change? From a pink gown to a yellow one in a mere 12 seconds.

And as for Alicia: After appearing in PCT productions like “The Hobbit,” “The Crucible,” and “Pippin,” she went on to become a graphic designer. She did not, however, elope!

Don't miss Janelle on stage as Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy July 28-31; tickets are on sale now at www.memorialauditorium.org and at the box office at 503 N. Pine, 620-231-7827.

The real-life Gypsy Rose Lee in 1956.

Presenting...Gypsy's second non-human cast member, who we affectionately dubbed "Herbie" after the character in the show who courts Mama Rose.

Born just a day ago, "Herbie" is on loan from owners Melinda and Duane Adair of Pittsburg. Sure, he's a baby goat, and Dainty Louise's scene calls for a lamb. But beggers can't be choosers when it comes to borrowing livestock for the stage. And Morgan Grotheer, who plays Louise, says the goat is so precious no one will notice it's not a lamb; we kinda think she's right. Louise will sing "Little Lamb, Little Lamb," to Herbie during Act 1.

To ensure no accidents happen, the show's backstage "goat wranglers" learned to put a newborn diaper on it — a first in their years in theatre, they say.

And if "Herbie" had been born a girl? 

"He would have been named 'Gypsy', of course," said stage manager Deanna Grotheer, Morgan's mom.

Come see this bundle of cuteness for yourself! “Gypsy" runs July 28-31; tickets are on sale now at www.memorialauditorium.org and at the box office at 503 N. Pine, 620-231-7827.

Rehearsal accompanist and pit orchestra keyboardist Barbara York, a noted composer and Megan Gabehart's mother.