SING OUT LOUISE! Opera House stages an American Fable, ‘GYSPY!'
- Chase Harrison
- 33 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The Good Ole U-S-of-A is encroaching on its 250th day of inception! While an impressive number, it certainly wasn’t reached without sever growing pains and a high learning curve for the country. America was built off the basic notion that if one has a dream and enough drive anything can be achieved. A lovely marketing ploy called, “The American Dream”— and I don’t mean Dusty Rhodes.
“We’re Americans, not Ameri-can’ts” as an old slogan once read.
It is the can-do attitude that propels the plot of the musical masterpiece, “Gypsy.” A show often cited as the crowning achievement of the 20th century's musical theatre art movement. Or to put it simply, the greatest American musical. Though that usually gets said when Sondheim’s name is attached... so, grain-of-salt.
The musical, loosely based on the 1957 memoir of famous burlesque performer, Gypsy Rose Lee. Follows a young performer’s path from vaudeville child act to a mature striptease dance, all at the behest of her manager/mother, Rose Hovick, aka Mama Rose. The true focus of the story being the complexities and traumas of a wroth mother-daughter relationship and the psychological scars a life in show business leaves. First brought to stage in 1959, a mere two years after the memoir's publication, hardly a decade has passed without a revival of the show making its way to Broadway.
Though, here in the Port City, nearly a decade has passed since we heard the matronly cries of “Sing Out Lousie!” within the halls of Thalian. That changes this coming Thursday, June 18 when Opera House Theatre Company brings “Gyspy” back to a Wilmington stage. Under the direction of longtime collaborator, Suellen Yates, along with Bradley Barefoot as assistant director and choreographer for the production. Both these admirers of the show call the musical a perfect trifecta of song, dance and story. Elements the team were more than happy to expound upon when we sat down to discuss their soon-to-open production.
My ears immediately met the sounds of a stylish piano playing when I entered the Scheffler Building. Rehearsals for the day began early and the creative team edged some time out to talk. Soon the piano was paired with the serenading singing voice of NaTasha Yvette Williams, the actress bringing Mama Rose to life. As I rounded the corner to the offices and found Suellen, we made our introductions but all I could focus on was this awe coming from the other room. If this unseen sneak peek was an indication of what is in store for audiences, then wow!
Yates and I discussed her history with the Opera House company.
“This has been my 35th year working with Opera House. I think?" she pauses. "I lost track around 20 directorial projects. Anyways, this one 'Gypsy' has been such a great process, it is that rare combination of a great book, great music, and great dancing. My experience has been that some musicals will be known for one of the three, but here with 'Gypsy,' it’s a trifecta!”
I asked Yates what drew her to direct this production, this story, and the director was lightening with her response, “A Strong Woman.” Yates continues, “The struggles of a woman who is powerful and determined, and how she is viewed by the male characters. I think that’s part of the timeliness of the story. Now that’s not to say the only reason but I think people will identify with these women’s struggles, even today.”
Barefoot agrees. “I’ve loved the show for a long, long time but have never gotten the chance to work on it. I think that it’s crazy for a show, written in the '50s—it’s still one the strongest librettos for a musical…” Barefoot takes a beat to calculate his thoughts, “Ever! Plus, I think any actress who can sing this score is dying to play Mama Rose.”
Barefoot goes on to add, “And to have someone like Natasha Yvette Williams come in to take on a King Lear-like mammoth role, like Mama Rose. This is a rare opportunity to see this caliber of talent in this big of a role.”
“Yes!” The director exclaims! “Bringing in NaTasha has been such a treat. A few years ago, I worked with her on an original play, 'The Thursday Night Bridge Circle.' From there we became friends, and she [NaTasha] would go on to have this extraordinary career. I mean she’s won a Grammy; she’s Tony nominated; you can look-up to see how many Broadway shows she’s been a part of…”
“Twelve!” Barefoot interjects from the top of his head.
Yates signals over to Barefoot, “There you have it, when Justin [Smith, the producer] asked me to direct, NaTasha was the first face that popped into my mind. I talked to Justin about this, he agreed.” Yates stops herself as if not to lose any precious details, “Oh also, during this time she is playing Madame Morrible in 'Wicked' on Broadway, March of this year no less.”
Yates throws her hand up in a cast-caution-to-the-winds manner. “It’s a longshot, but let me text her and see what she says. I’m telling you not 30 seconds later I get the response from NaTasha.” Yates picks up her cellphone to read me the actual message:
“I would love to come to Wilmington to do 'Gypsy' with you and Opera House!”
The director begins to mime frantically texting, phone in hand, “I was messaging Bradley, ecstatic over this news! I just couldn’t believe it.”
Yates makes a point to highlight a certain fellow cast member too, “I also want to mention Cas [Fracaswell Hyman, a juggernaut of the Wilmington stage] who’s playing Herbie in this production for us. He and NaTasha were scene partners in 'Death of a Salesman' they are reunited here. Those two just make such a completed package. To speak nothing of the total different dynamic the two share now in this.”
At a break in rehearsal, NaTasha Yvette Williams joins our interview. Given an opportunity to speak with a Tony nominated Broadway star, I more than jumped at the chance, wanting to know what stamp she planned to leave on such an ionic role...
“I don’t know if I have put a stamp on it, YET!” The actress tells. “It’s daunting, very daunting, because its so big, so loved, and everyone is so familiar with it. It’s interesting to try and figure out what elements are important to me that might be a little bit different to me, or that are unique to me, about how I process being funny, or hard, or mean. This is a great opportunity, but I feel the weight of it as well.”
Suellen won’t let her lead be modest. “Let me just add she [NaTasha] has worked day and night since getting here. I mean how many weeks would a normal actor have to do this, a month?”
With an exaggerated “OH” Williams sighs, “At least six weeks.” With a chuckle Suellen punctuates, “Yeah, and Natasha is doing it all in two and half.”
As this is a return to the Cape Fear for NaTasha, the actress isn't shy about her feelings working in Wilmington. “Oh, I love working in Wilmington, I absolutely love Wilmington!" she shares. "This is my third production here, so it’s like being home.”
In 2021 the actress appeared in “Thursday Night Bridge Circle” for Opera House Theater Company, then again in 2024 for the company’s production of “Death of a Salesman.” That production would do one to sweep at the 2025 Wilmington Theater Awards. Where at Williams would pick-up the win for Outstanding Actress in a Play.
“Oh, oh, oh I won an award here!” She excitedly proclaims, “I won a Wilmington Theater Award. I haven’t gotten that award yet ... come to think of it.” Williams was not present during the ceremony to accept it herself. On this revelation, the room erupts in a laughter as everyone begins to discuss how to hunt the trophy down for Williams. Suellen concedes to reach out to the in-the-know parties, as NaTasha makes a simple request of this dear writer, “Let’s put this in the article, so we can get that found for me. Okay?”
With a cheshire grin adorned to my face, I assure the actress, “It will.”
Back to the show’s legacy, NaTasha perfectly sums it all up. “I grew up hearing the phrase, “Sing out Louise.” Long before I know it was from “Gypsy.” This is a classic, and I’ve always wanted to play Mama Rose. I mean you say “Gypsy” and I’m ready to go. Every actress wants to do this role… And probably a lot of the men too.”
Well, I know a good last line when I hear it!
“Gypsy” opens this coming Thursday, June 18 and runs through June 28 only at the historic Thalian Hall. I for one will be getting my ticket now!
Details
Gypsy
June 18-28
7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. matinee on Sat. and Sun.
Thalian Hall Main Stage
