Gypsy: A Celebration of the Landmark Musical
Where: 53rd Street Library
18 W. 53rd St.
212-714-8400 Price: Free
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“Here she is, boys! Here she is, world! Here’s Rose!”
Join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring the iconic 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy, focusing on the formidable character of Mama Rose. We’ll delve into the complex portrayal of ambition, motherhood, and the pursuit of fame through her lens, showcasing how this role has become a defining role for diverse actresses, such as Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Leslie Uggams, Patti Lupone — And now it’s Audra MacDonald turn!
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This exclusive panel will also highlight the contributions of its legendary creators: Stephen Sondheim’s sharp lyrics, Arthur Laurents’ compelling book, and Jerome Robbins’ innovative direction and choreography. Together, they crafted a timeless narrative that continues to resonate today. Join us as we celebrate the artistry and cultural impact of Gypsy while examining its themes of resilience and aspiration, particularly through the unforgettable Mama Rose!
Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form shortly before the program.
“Curtain up! Light the lights! Play it, boys!”
ABOUT THE PANEL:
Dominic Broomfield-McHugh is Professor in Musicology at the University of Sheffield and Visiting Professor of Film and Theatre Music at Gresham College. His eight books reflect his interest in the cultural world of the mid-twentieth-century American musical, including studies of the work of figures such as Cole Porter and Lerner and Loewe, as well as The Wizard of Oz. His next two books, The Oxford Handbook of the Disney Musical and The Letters of Frank Loesser, will both be published in July 2025. He is an Emmy Award winner for his role on the PBS documentary Meredith Willson: America’s Music Man, which is inspired by his monograph published by OUP. Dominic is series editor of Oxford’s Guides to Film Musicals and has convened five international conferences under the title StageStruck!. He has delivered talks at leading venues including the British Library, BFI, the Library of Congress, and the Sydney Opera House.
Donald P. Gagnon, Ph.D. holds a dual appointment as Professor of Theatre Arts and Professor of English at Western Connecticut State University, where he also teaches in the Kathwari Honors program. He received his B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida, his M.A. in English from the University of Central Florida and his Ph.D. in English/Literature, with an emphasis on modern American and British drama, from the University of South Florida. His research, publications, and presentations range from African American drama to LGBTQ+ drama to musical theatre and more, with an essay on Eugene O’Neill and August Wilson in a forthcoming book from Oxford University Press. The inaugural recipient of the WCSU Provost’s Award for Teaching, he served as chair of the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy for Region 1 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Deborah Paredez is a performance scholar, poet, and cultural critic. She is the author of the critical memoir American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous (Norton 2024), the scholarly book Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, and the Performance of Memory, and the poetry collections This Side of Skin (Wings Press 2002) and Year of the Dog (BOA Editions 2020), a New York Times “New and Notable Poetry Book.” She is an Associate Professor and Chair of creative writing at Columbia University where she teaches a class about divas in American culture.
Ben West is a musical theatre artist and historian, and creator of The Musical Theatre Report. His book, The American Musical: Evolution of an Art Form (Routledge, 2024), chronicles a detailed and comprehensive history of the American musical’s artistic evolution, and he created twenty “Timeline Wall” exhibits for the Museum of Broadway that trace the history of the Broadway stage from 1732 to 2021. He has worked in various capacities on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, and created and directed Unsung Carolyn Leigh for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. West has lectured and spoken at several institutions including Yale University, University of Michigan, the Dramatists Guild, and the Shubert Organization. He is a recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award.
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