Beth Leavel Takes Her Turn as Rose in Gypsy at The Muny

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel has been announced to star as Rose in the summer production of Gypsy at the Muny in St. Louis. Performances are set to run from July 27-August 2, 2018, with direction by Rob Ruggiero, choreography by Ralph Perkins, and music direction by James Moore.

"At the opening night party of Bandstand on Broadway, I asked Beth to give me a gift and to play Mama Rose at The Muny for our epic 100th season," said Muny artistic director and executive producer Mike Isaacson. "If memory serves, the reply was ‘Yes, please.’ Beth is a miraculous musical theater artist, and beloved by The Muny audience for her many great performances on this stage. Can’t wait."

Leavel earned a Tony Award in 2006 for her featured performance in The Drowsy Chaperone. Her Broadway credits also include 42nd Street, Crazy for You, Show Boat, The Civil War, Mamma Mia!, Young Frankenstein, Elf, Baby It's You! (Tony nomination), and, most recently, the 2017 original musical Bandstand. She currently stars as Miss Hannigan in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Annie and was last seen at The Muny in 2015 as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!

Gypsy originally opened on Broadway in 1959 starring Ethel Merman. The musical features a book and lyrics by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The story is based on the memoirs of the famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee and tells her story as the ultimate stage mother. Through Rose's dream to raise her daughters Louise and June to become stars, she aims to gain fulfillment for her own failed venture into show business.

Additional casting and creative team information will be announced at a later date.