Blog Archives - Pittsburg Community Theatre

Sing out, louise!

7/30/2016

To see Parker Leas perform with grace and beauty as Clara in Midwest Regional Ballet's "The Nutcracker," one would never guess she'd be cast in "Gypsy" as Baby Louise, the slightly awkward sister of the talented Baby June, who is always in the limelight.

The Joplin eighth grader says performing awkwardly in this role was inspired by her own awkwardness off the stage: "At home and in gym, I'm actually kind of clumsy," she said.

Parker, who is one of Kaye Lewis' junior company dancers with Midwest Regional Ballet, has performed in "Nightmare Before Christmas," "Alice in Steampunk Wonderland," and "Cats," and in PCT was a munchkin and flying monkey in "The Wizard of Oz." She was inspired to try out for "Gypsy" after seeing it a few years ago at Joplin Little Theatre.

Her mother, Staci, drives her to Pittsburg from Joplin each night for rehearsals and performances, which Parker says she appreciates "very much."

"I just love being on stage," she said.

Don't miss Parker on stage as Baby Louise 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.

"Presenting, in person, Baby June!"

7/30/2016

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.

let her entertain you

7/26/2016

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.

The Prop Lady

7/26/2016

When a show needs Dust Bowl-era eating utensils, or vintage suitcases, or a live lamb (!!), directors know to look no further than Mimi Little, PCT's prop lady since 1991. Her first show? "Gypsy," the first time around. Her son, Linden, was 10 and had been cast as a newsboy in Baby June's vaudeville act.

"I was a stage mom and they put me to work, as often happens," Mimi said. "I volunteered to help paint backdrops at rehearsals, since I was there anyway. The director, Bob Tindel, needed the help. When I came back the next day, there were four more for me to work on. I guess that was when I was unofficially hired."

Hired she may have been, but her work for PCT for the past 25 years has been as a volunteer because she has a passion for the arts and a love for the people.

"We don't have a large family — Linden is an only child — and PCT has become our family," she said. "The ladies of PCT helped raise Linden."

So much so that PCT cast and crew of all ages call her not Mimi, but Mama Little. She doesn't like the spotlight — we had to twist her arm to pose for a photo — and has been on stage herself just once, in an emergency.

"It was in 'Our Town,' and a person got sick so I had to fill in at the last minute," she said. "But I really don't like the limelight at all. I prefer to be behind the scenes — it wouldn't be a show without the crew."

Her favorite show to find props for: "Evita" in 2015, she thinks.

"I like period pieces, because I get to use antiques," said Mimi, who scours attics, basements, thrift shops and garage sales — and her own home — for just the right props.

The oddest thing she's had to find as a prop?

"A G-string for a funny moment in this show, 'Gypsy', " she laughed.

And as for that little boy she brought to the 1991 "Gypsy" to perform as a 10-year-old: He's now directing this year's production.

Come see Mama Little's handiwork 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.

little lamb, little lamb

7/25/2016

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.

just add music

7/24/2016

Tonight was the first night for the full 17-member pit orchestra to meet at Memorial for rehearsal, and wow! If you come see Gypsy for no other reason than to hear these musicians play the toe-tapping tunes by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, that’s reason enough.

The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including "Everything's Coming up Roses,” "Together (Wherever We Go)," "Small World," "Some People," "Let Me Entertain You," "All I Need Is the Girl," and "Rose's Turn." It is frequently considered one of the crowning achievements of the mid-20th century's conventional musical theatre art form, often called the "book musical."

Our pit orchestra is directed by Megan Gabehart, who has served as music director for numerous PCT shows. It's filled with veteran performers who double — and triple and quadruple — up on instruments.

Recent Pittsburg High School graduate Jack Warring handles a full section of auxiliary percussion, from xylophone to timpani. Musicians in the reed section transition from alto sax to clarinet to flute to piccolo.

The orchestra also includes musicians who are coming in from a distance to perform: Levi Randolphe drives from Joplin. AJ Beu drives from Kansas City.

It includes a recently married couple: Chris and Amanda Goddard. And seven music teachers: Megan (Labette County), Andrea Dinkel (Galena), Kelsey DeVore (Jasper, Mo.), Amanda Goddard (Labette County), Daniel Warlop (Frontenac), Danica Gibson (Southeast), and Levi Randolphe (Joplin).
It includes two Pittsburg State students: Jacob Caffrey and Justin Crossman.

And it includes one of Megan’s former students at Pittsburg High, Sam Ortiz, now a music student at Pittsburg State.

Rounding it out are Lucas Warford, Oliver Smith, Matthew Schmitt, and Megan’s mother, Barbara York, a noted composer in her own right.

Gypsy has been referred to as the greatest American musical by numerous critics and writers, among them Ben Brantley ("what may be the greatest of all American musicals..."). Theater critic Clive Barnes wrote that"'Gypsy' is one of the best of musicals..." We can't help but think that's in large part because of the music.

Come hear it 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.

Everything's coming up roses...

7/24/2016

ome see Mama Little's handiwork for yourself! Recent years have seen MJ Harper play larger-than-life roles with PCT: She was the plant in "Little Shop of Horrors," Mama in "Hairspray," and a sultry nightclub starlet who belted out Sinatra tunes in "My Way."

But her latest role required her to be much more genuine and real: She's portraying Mama Rose in "Gypsy," a role based on the true-life woman named Rose Thompson Hovick, (August 31, 1890 – January 28, 1954) who was the pushy stage mother of two famous performing daughters: burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee and actress and dancer June Havoc.

It was daunting for two reasons: Mama's solo numbers are vocally and emotionally challenging. And the show is about her relationship with her two daughters. MJ, 29, has no children. But as a music teacher of 8 years in Ft. Scott, and having shepherded little ones on and off stage at PCT for years, MJ draws on her feelings of them being "her babies."

"There's a fine line between doing things for them because you want so badly for them to succeed, and letting them do things for themselves," she said. "For Mama Rose, it's not that she doesn't love her babies — it's that she has something in her that isn't fulfilled. I'm sure to some extent, every mom wrestles with those feelings at some point."

MJ said she counts herself lucky: Many wonderful moms have influenced her life in very positive ways, including her own mother, Gertrude Harper.

She said she draws on her mother's experiences as an Air Force wife, moving from place to place as Mama Rose and her daughters in, to connect to scenes in the show where they're on the move a lot.

Harper, who earned a music education degree from Pittsburg State with an emphasis in vocal performance, said she considers this the role of a lifetime.

"I'm humbled that there are people who trust me to do this," she said.

Don't miss hearing MJ in “Gypsy," which 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.

Family of note

7/23/2016

Gypsy Music Director Megan Gabehart and her children, Spencer and Isabel.

While Megan Gabehart is known for being all-business when she picks up her conductor’s baton to direct the musical aspect of a show, she admits to being a bit emotional about "Gypsy." It’s the first production she’s done with her children and her mother.

Megan, a music teacher for K-8 at Meadow View Grade School in Labette County, has served as the show's musical director through six weeks of rehearsals and directs the pit orchestra of 17 musicians. It’s her 10th year to be part of PCT, for which she also directs Jr. Starz Children’s Theatre Workshop each summer.

Daughter Isabel, 6, plays an instrument in the opening act of Gypsy, sort of: As one of the multiple children trying out for Uncle Jocko’s Kiddie Show of the Vaudeville Era, she blows a few awkward notes on the clarinet.

Son Spencer, 9, is featured in the third, fourth, and fifth scenes of Act 1 as a newsboy and sailor in the vaudeville act that Mama Rose hopes puts Baby June and Baby Louise on the path to fame.

And Megan’s mother, Barbara York — herself a former musical theater director and noted composer who works as a rehearsal accompanist at Pitt State — is the master of the keyboard.

“Usually it’s business as usual, and luckily my kids are used to that because they get that from me at school,” Megan said. “Isabel struggles with it more than Spencer, because she is younger, but he is really independent during rehearsal when I’m busy, and tries his best not to even talk to me unless it’s important.”

“I do get a little emotional when I see them on stage, though,” she said. “I’m very proud of them.”

As for working with her mother — that’s standard.

“We have worked together so much over the years, we have definitely found a way to work without the family dynamic,” Megan said. “Especially since I am her boss, essentially. I call her Barbara when we are working, instead of Mom, and that helps kind of set that relationship with different boundaries.”

“Luckily, she is amazing, and was music directing for theatre long before I was even born, so she gets it.”

Don't miss hearing Megan, Barbara, Isabel and Spencer perform 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.

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

Show stealer?

7/23/2016

Meet Sissy, a half poodle/half schnauzer that has a role in "Gypsy." At just shy of 2 years old, this is her first attempt at show business, and she has earned two thumbs up from her human cast members.

Her owner, Krista Hightower, is a theater major who started at Pittsburg State University last year and will be a senior this fall. Best known as Templeton in last year's Pitt State production of "Charlotte's Web," and Slender in "Merry Wives of Windsor," Krista portrays a show girl in "Gypsy."

Sissy, whose stage name in "Gypsy" is "Chow Mein," follows in the paw-steps of several iconic dogs on the PCT stage, including "Toto" in 2013's "Wizard of Oz," and "Sandy" in 2014's "Annie."

Don't miss seeing Sissy on stage 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.

what's old is new

7/22/2016

This show has special significance to two mother-daughter pairs and director Linden Little.
In PCT's 1991 production of Gypsy, Linden was 10 and played the role of a newsboy. Sarah Hall (far left) and Jenna Spencer (far right) were 10 years old, and also were in the cast as a newsboy and a mime in Uncle Jocko's vaudeville act, respectively.

In this year's show, Sarah's daughter, Bella, who soon will turn 10, is playing a newsboy like her mom, and Jenna's daughter, Alora, 14, is playing a farm boy.

"It's cool to be in the same show my mom was in," Alora said. Bella, who has grown up listening to the Gypsy soundtrack, agreed.

And their moms are still involved: Sarah, a stay-at-home mom, is in the cast again, this time playing Miss Crachitt. And Jenna, who is an artist and works at Colton's Steak House, is helping to paint the set.

"It definitely brings back memories," Sarah said. "The dance the newsboys do is still the same — the 'chugs' they do never change, from production to production. It's a different set, a different director, but it's still Gypsy."

Jenna said she and Sarah, who both graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1998 (Little graduated in 1999), have loved the show since they were in it and frequently belt out lyrics to the songs. They loved it so much, in fact, that they used the last spoken scene of the show — a dramatic and emotional climax between Mama Rose and her daughter, Gypsy Rose Lee — as a duet in forensics competition at PHS.

Don't miss this special production of "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.