Gypsy Finale - Joy and Sadness

The Sunday matinee was our last performance - 9 out of 10 were sold out. The cast party afterwards was also a howl as the little kids did their version of the grown-ups acting. An 8-year old doing the strippers had us in stitches.

Sadly, today we struck the set and started building the set for Godspell. When a show ends it is like a school year ending - relief with sadness over the breaking up of the team - maybe a reason so many teachers use their spare time to be involved in the Rockaway Theatre Company. Some experience withdrawal symptoms. I would too - but I have all the ed crap to fill in the gap.

Mr. Goldstone surrounded by admirers - the young lady - grownup baby June - is an awesome talent - and going into her sophomore year at Fort Hamilton HS

Selfie by Kim Simek - a teacher who could be a professional actor - she delivered a performance as Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee as good as it gets

The entire cast - aged 7 to 72 - I'm 2nd oldest

Some backstage fun.

A selfie with me by John Panipinto who starred in How to Succeed...

Steve and Catherine - anchors aweigh

The Gypsy strippers

Oh, those costumes

Kim coming backstage to cheers at finale in what she termed "the role of a lifetime"

Catherine with Matt and John - Caroline the cow - Matt plays the rear end

Joe Hagopian and date

Steve really wanted to play Gypsy Rose Lee

Joe and John face off - see that young lady in background? She played Agnes - 16 years old and a natural on stage - goes to Scholars Academy in Rockaway - there were 2 other students from the school in the show

John and Jess - a teacher - in her other role when she is not Tessie Tura, the stripper