Geraldine Turner to star in Gypsy at The Q in 2019

The Q Geraldine Turner - photo by Kurt SneddonHeralded by many as one of the greatest musicals ever written, the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (The Q) has announced it will present Gypsy for a limited four week season in 2019 with Geraldine Turner starring as Rose.

Inspired by the memoirs of the famous burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, the story is a classic showbiz one: a pushy stage mother, Rose goes to extreme lengths to make stars of her two daughters, June and Louise, on the vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. The show is about making it in show business no matter what the personal cost. It’s a world of backstage dramas, high-pressure auditions and failed dreams

Vaudeville itself is dying, and the ragtag remainder find themselves in a house of burlesque where second daughter Louise reads lines and eventually steps in to strip becoming an overnight sensation and superstar. However this is mostly Mama’s story – Rose is the stage mother of all stage mothers.

With a book by by Arthur Laurents, the celebrated score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim boasts one glorious hit after another including Let Me Entertain You, Some People, Everything’s Coming Up Roses, Together Wherever We Go, You Gotta Get a Gimmick, and the iconic Rose’s Turn.

After being cast numerous times as Rose in productions of Gypsy that never made it to opening night, The Q is giving the award-winning Geraldine Turner the chance to finally take this iconic role to the stage.

One of Australia’s most renowned musical theatre performers, Turner has starred in a roll call of shows including Anything Goes, Chicago, Guys and DollsInto The Woods, Sweeney Todd and Wicked. She has appeared in countless television series and movies, whilst her cabaret and concert career has taken her around the globe.

The recipient of numerous awards including Green Room Awards and a Gold Mo for Performer of the Year, Turner was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1988 for service to the performing arts.

Directed by Rodney Delaney, with musical direction by Andrea Clifford and choreography by Jacquelyn Richards, Gypsy will feature a local cast of experienced and emerging talent and will be a ‘must see’ for all lovers of musical theatre in the region in 2019.

Gypsy will be presented at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre: 24 April – 18 May 2019. For more information, visit: www.theq.net.au for details.

Image: Geraldine Turner – photo by Kurt Sneddon