The MAC Players are holding open auditions for Gypsy, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim’s landmark backstage musical, with roles available for performers of nearly every age ahead of an October run at the Middletown Arts Center.
Middletown’s Community Theater Troupe Is Casting the Show Many Call Broadway’s Finest
The MAC Players, the resident community theater company at the Middletown Arts Center, are opening auditions for Gypsy on Tuesday, September 1st, taking on a musical many theater professionals regard as the finest ever written for the stage. Directed by Kathy Connolly, with musical direction from Nick Jupinka and choreography by Samantha Amaral, the production will run October 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, and 25th at the Middletown Arts Center on Church Street, next to the Middletown train station.
A Backstage Epic Built for a Deep Cast
With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy draws loosely on the memoirs of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee to tell the story of an ambitious, overpowering stage mother pushing her daughters toward the success she never achieved herself. Set across America in the 1920s and 1930s, as vaudeville collapsed and burlesque rose to take its place, the show has earned its reputation less through spectacle than through the sheer depth of its characters, anchored by Mama Rose, widely considered one of the most demanding and rewarding roles in the American musical theater canon.
That depth extends well beyond its central role. The production calls for performers spanning nearly every age range, from adult leads to a dedicated set of preteen roles for Young Louise and Baby June, along with a substantial ensemble built around specialty burlesque performers, backup singers, and dancers. Rehearsals are set to begin on or around September 8th, running Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings in the lead up to the October opening.
The Roles Up for Grabs
Mama Rose
Overbearing, charismatic, and driven. The show’s central force and one of musical theater’s defining roles.
Louise
Quiet and introverted at first, she transforms into a legendary stripper once thrust into burlesque.
June
A gifted, willful teenager who ultimately refuses to keep playing the “baby doll” she’s been since childhood.
Herbie
A candy salesman turned manager with a heart of gold and a protective streak for those he loves.
Tulsa
An ambitious, charismatic dreamer and strong athletic dancer, especially in tap.
Young Louise & Baby June
The show’s youngest leads, requiring strong singers and dancers, with Baby June needing ballet and gymnastics background.
Tessie Tura, Mazeppa & Electra
The show’s iconic burlesque trio, each built around a signature stage gimmick.
Ensemble Roles
Newsboys, Toreadorables, Uncle Jocko, Pop, and a full female and male ensemble round out the company.
How to Audition
Performers auditioning should prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show, with an accompanist provided or backing tracks welcome for those who bring their own. Callbacks, including dance auditions, take place September 3rd from 5 to 10 p.m. Self tape submissions will be accepted for the initial round, though anyone submitting a tape must still be available to attend callbacks in person. Anyone interested in auditioning or with questions about the process can reach the production team directly by email at auditionmac@gmail.com to schedule a time slot.
For a community theater program that has built a steady track record staging modern classics and demanding ensemble pieces, taking on Gypsy represents one of its more ambitious undertakings yet, both for the vocal and dramatic demands of its lead role and for the sheer scale of a cast spanning multiple generations of performers. With auditions opening September 1st and a two weekend run set for mid to late October, the MAC Players are giving Monmouth County performers a genuine shot at one of musical theater’s most enduring and challenging shows.
