2026 - Gypsy — Queanbeyan Players

2026 – Gypsy

Regarded as the “mother of all musicals” and a crowning jewel of Broadway’s Golden Age, Gypsy is a riveting musical fable inspired by the memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee. Set against the dying world of vaudeville, the show follows the ultimate stage mother, Momma Rose, an ambitious and domineering force of nature who ruthlessly pushes her daughters—the favored June and the shy Louise—toward stardom. As June rebels and escapes, Rose re-channels her intense, desperate ambition onto the neglected Louise, transforming her into a reluctant burlesque star.

Featuring a brilliant book by Arthur Laurents, unmatched music by Jule Styne, and razor-sharp lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy explores the high costs of fame, maternal love, and the pursuit of the American dream. This electrifying masterpiece, featuring iconic standards like “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Let Me Entertain You,” and “Rose’s Turn,” is a thrilling journey of backstage drama, heartache, and triumph.

See the program here.

Dates: 31 October - 8 November 2026

Production Team

Director - Jude Colquhoun

Musical Director - Brigid Cummins

Choreographer - Belinda Hassall

Assistant Director - Christina Philipp

Repetiteur - Brigid Cummins

Costume Designer - Suzan Cooper

Prop Designer - Pip Russell-Brown

Lighting Designer - Zac Harvey (Eclipse)

Sound Designer - Telia Jansen (Eclipse)

Production Manager - Inge and May Kent

Stage Manager - Justine Ramsay

Cast

Rose - Emma White

Louise/Gypsy - Emily Pogson

Herbie - Steven Galinec

Dainty June - Paris Ellis

Tulsa - Ash Syme

Tessie Tura - Aleisha Croxford

Electra/Miss Cratchet - Alissa Pearson

Mazeppa - Sarah Hull

Baby June - Matilda Hutchinson

Little Louise - Elodie Sweett

Children’s Ensemble

Alma Sims

Harlan Blazeski

Dakota Page

Indyana Dew

Ensemble

Andrew Finegan

Thomas (Dac) Lee

Jasper Granger

Joshua Hammond

Eleanor Graham

Lillian Fromyhr

Alice Macnab

Ally Stewart

Carly Carter

Mikayla Nutt

Orchestra

Conductor - Brigid Cummins

Reed 1 - Bernie Evans

Reed 2 - Lenore Studdert/Sandra Cruikshank

Reed 3 - Kirsten Nilsson

Reed 4 - Helena Maher

Reed 5 - Lachlan Smith

Trumpet 1 - Andrew Terracini

Trumpet 2 - Tony Withers/Sam Hutchinson

Trumpet 3 - Ash Syme

Horn - Iain Hercus

Trombone 1 - Alistair Clarke/James Harding

Trombone 2 - Saana Allen/James Harding

Trombone 3 - Felicity Boxall

Violin - Bronwyn Potter

Violin - Sarah Crawford/Laura Lay

Cello - Adelaide O'Keeffe

Bass - Mel Fung/Callum Richens

Keyboard - Nick Catanzariti

Percussion - Steve Barrett/Jen Hinton

Percussion - Tim Hurd/Jen Hinton

Production Team

Costume Design - Suzan Cooper

Costumes Team

Helen McIntyre (Gypsy’s final costumes), Janetta McRae, Finn Hayes, Jennie Norberry, Aleisha and Scott Croxford (cow’s head creation), Ickle Pickle, Canberra Philharmonic Society

Properties Master - Pip Russell-Brown

Properties Team

Helen McIntyre, Sandra Finney, Sophie Hope-White

Set Design - Jude Colquhoun

Set Artistry - David Abbie, Helen McIntyre, Inge Kent

Set Construction

Igor Blazeski, David Tricks, Joe Moores, Justine Ramsay, Adrian Bury, Mel Hutchinson, Henry Hutchinson, Evan Proud, Belinda Hassall, Helen McIntyre, May Kent, Inge Kent, Jen Hinton, Nicole DeLorenzo, Pip Russell-Brown, Ebru Unal, Cast and their families

Lighting Design - Zac Harvey (Eclipse Lighting and Sound)

Follow Spot Operators - Eve Perry, Daniel Jones, Aidan Bavinton (swing)

Sound Design - Telia Jansen (Eclipse Lighting and Sound)

Microphone Technicians - Felix Thornton, Matilda Beer, Sophie Hope-White, Adrian Bury, Lucy van Dooren

Stage Manager - Justine Ramsay

Assistant Stage Manager - May Kent

Stage Crew

Adrian Bury, Andy Custodio, Nicole DeLorenzo, Irene Jaunzemis, Leo Mansur, Finn Ramsay, Felix Thornton, Lucy van Dooren, Aidan Bavinton, Joe Moores

Hair and Wigs - Jacqueline Philipp, Andy Custodio

Intimacy Coordinator - Jill Young

Publicity, Marketing and Advertising

Sophie Hope-White, Adrian Bury, Jenna Hinton, Lillian Fromyhr, Paris Ellis, Sarah Hull, Rachel Thornton, Sienna Head, John Whinfield (voiceover)