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From left: Jesse, Joshua, and Joey Gregory For Joey, Jesse, and Joshua Gregory, the musical "Gypsy" is a family affair — and not just because of the story being told on stage.
Joey and Jesse, who met at Pittsburg State where they marched in band, both have character roles in the production, as does their son, Joshua, age 20 months. For Jesse, the theatre has been a second home since childhood. “My first show with PCT was The Hobbit (2003), and I was hooked,” she said. “I love the sense of community it creates.” She went on to work as a counselor for Jr. Starz Children’s Summer Theatre Workshop, and landed roles in plays at Pittsburg Community Middle School and Pittsburg High School, including “Godspell,” “Beauty & the Beast,” and “Seussical,” and served as stage manager for Pitt State’s production of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone.” She was drawn to audition for "Gypsy," she said, because after sitting out a few seasons while pregnant with Joshua and during his infancy, she missed her theatre family. “There are old people I grew up with, and new people who are interesting to meet, and all of them accept you for whoever you are,” she said. By comparison, theatre wasn’t part of Joey’s youth growing up in McLouth, Kansas. He played a munchkin in a K-12 production of "Wizard of Oz," and that was about it. “I convinced him to audition for 'Gypsy' since Josh and I were going to do it,” Jesse said. Joey, who works as a receptionist and family support staffer for KVC, reluctantly agreed. “I pretty much did it because she told me to,” he laughed. “But then I got nervous and excited when the cast list got announced. I was waiting for that call.” He was cast as Cigar — a rough, rather aggressive owner of a burlesque theatre in Wichita, Kansas. Young Joshua, who has quickly grown at ease in Memorial Auditorium and enjoys climbing up and down the stairs, was cast as Baby Swami and enjoys showing off the enormous turban he’ll get to wear. Jesse will be Baby Swami Mama and Weber, a theatre manager in Los Angeles. "We're having a lot of fun doing this together," she said. Don't miss the Gregory family 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. Left: June Havoc in her film days. Right: Cassie Hurt-McLarty, 16. Cassie Hurt-McLarty has come a long way since her first PCT show: “The Music Man” (2006) in the 25th anniversary season.
“I fell and broke my nose on stage,” she recalled. “I finished the show with tears running down my face.” Ten years later, she is helping PCT celebrate its 35th year with a bigger part, a resumé that includes dozens of shows, and her sights set on show business as a career. It’s appropriate, she says, that this year’s show is “Gypsy.” “It’s a show about show business,” she said. “I am serious about wanting to do this when I grow up.” A student of vocal instructor and fellow PCT performer Lisa Gerstenkorn, Cassie plans to pursue a degree in vocal performance and will be happy, she said, working in any aspect of the performing arts. Starting in PCT’s Jr. Starz Children’s Summer Theatre Workshop as a 6-year-old, Cassie has amassed credits in shows at Pittsburg Community Middle School, Pittsburg High School, Showbiz Kids, Midwest Regional Ballet, and 10 musicals with PCT. Her favorite role? “Probaby Sarah Brown in ‘Guys & Dolls’ at PHS,” she said. “And I really, really loved being in Evita last summer with PCT.” She screamed, she said, when Gypsy stage manager Deanna Grotheer called with the news that she would portray June, the sister of Louise (later known as Gypsy Rose Lee). Notebooks she keeps while preparing for shows now include research for her current character, as well as the time period, old vaudeville acts — anything she can find to inspire her and get into the mindset of the person she’s portraying. “I have pages of quotes from Mama Rose and June,” she said. "And lots of photos." While she can relate to June’s ambitions to be a big Broadway star, there are differences. At 16, the real-life June married a boy in her vaudeville act. Her mother, who is portrayed in the musical as Mama Rose, was overbearing and would stop at nothing to see her child become a star — including telling her as a child that her dog died in an effort to get her to cry on stage when an act required it. Cassie’s real-life moms, Pam Hurt-McLarty (“Mommy”) and Lisa Hurt-McLarty (“Mama”) never miss one of her performances, and more often than not, they’re working as stage crew on shows and attend rehearsals. Pam recently drove Cassie to Utah for a vocal music workshop. "But they aren't at all overbearing," Cassie said. "They are quiet, very loving and very supportive." Don't miss Cassie on stage as 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. Tickets for our 35th summer musical, "Gypsy," go on sale to the public today!
Here's what you need to know. Tickets can be purchased three ways: 1. Online at www.memorialauditorium.org 2. In person at the box office at 503 N. Pine St. during business hours Monday through Friday 3. By phone by calling the box office at 620-231-7827. Choosing the third way means a wonderful person named Terri, who already has a full-time job assisting with all that happens at Memorial Auditorium, is swamped with phone calls. Like, hundreds. Choosing the second way means you have to get in your car, take time away from work or family or friends or eating ice cream and drive to Memorial Auditorium, park, and mess with all of that when it's 96 degrees outside. Choosing the first way means all you have to do is get your debit or credit card out, select which seat you want from the handy map, add it to your shopping cart and then decide whether you want to print it right then and there (super easy!) or arrange to pick it up before the show at the Will-Call Window (we love printing it out because it means that you don't have to stand in line and can go immediately to your seat when you arrive at the auditorium). We offer five shows: Yes, five. That means plenty of options for you to see it — and you don't want to miss it. Performances are July 28 (a Thursday) through July 31 (a Sunday), which means three night shows and two afternoon shows. We offer handicapped seating: Memorial Auditorium has an elevator and ramps, and handicapped seating and restrooms, which makes it convenient for people of all physical abilities to enjoy our performances. There are 1,600 seats: We offer reserved seating on the main floor, and there is general admission seating in the balcony (that means your ticket is not assigned to a seat and it is first-come, first-serve). That may sound like a lot of seats, but for big shows, we often sell out. In 2013 with Wizard of Oz and 2014 with Annie, we were sorry to have to turn people away because we sold every seat in the house every show we performed. So don't wait! Get your tickets TODAY! (Hint: See #1.) P.S. Yes, there is a fourth way to get tickets. You can purchase them at the door the night or afternoon of the show when the box office opens. We realize sometimes people make last-minute decisions to go see a show. But trust us, it's much, much better to get them ahead of time. Why? Guaranteed seat of your choice + no rush + not delaying the curtain going up because of long lines = happy audiences and happy performers. |
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