Missy Dowse is up
for challenging role

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

It’s the story of the quintessential stage mother, her dreams for herself and her daughters, and the daughter who dared to live out her own dream.
Based on the memoirs of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy — the hit musical making its Philadelphia premiere at the Academy of Music on May 9-11 — tells the story of Rose, an overbearing stage mother who is determined to make her girls the stars of vaudeville.
Rose overwhelmingly favors her younger daughter June, who eventually escaped the clutches of her overbearing mother to go on to Hollywood stardom as June Havoc. With June gone, Rose turns her attention to Louise, who had been relegated to the chorus but now must discover her own talent and ultimately becomes a bigger star than Rose ever dreamed possible.
Starring in the role of Louise is 21-year-old Missy Dowse, a Long Island native who said she always longed to be a performer and is now having the time of her life appearing as Gypsy Rose Lee.
On a leave of absence from her studies as a theater major at Hofstra University, Dowse said, “My role in this show is one that examines the classic tale of an ugly duckling turning into a swan. Louise was kind of pushed into the background when June was around, but after she ran away, Rose turned her attention to Louise and tried to make the act work around her. They end up in a burlesque house, and when the star spot opens up, Rose persuades and pleads with Louise to take over. She says she doesn’t want them to walk away as failures.”
And so, to please her mother, even though she is terrified, Louise appears onstage and ends up being fairly good at what she does, and ultimately becomes very successful.
Set against the freewheeling days of vaudeville and burlesque, Gypsy explores ambition, jealousy, family relationships and the bittersweet loss of innocence.
With music by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, the show features some of the biggest songs ever to come along and thrill audiences, including Everything’s Coming Up Roses, Rose’s Turn, Together, Wherever We Go and others.
“Other women have done the role, so I try to make it my own. While trying to stay true to Gypsy Rose Lee and the book, I put a little bit of myself in the role because I think that’s what makes my performance a little different, a little unique,” said Dowse. “I also have to stay in touch with different physical aspects of my performance to show how she grows up and transforms from a shy girl into this confident woman. I myself am very shy, so working up to all that was a little difficult for me. Of course, I have to overcome shyness once I get up to a certain point, you know.”
Some of Dowse’s past credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Women, Grease, and a staged reading of Agnes of God with Talia Shire and Susan Sullivan. This is Dowse’s first tour, and she insists she is thrilled to be doing it, even if it means sometimes doing six cities a week.
“I know that might sound a little tough but it’s not as bad as it may seem,” she said. “I’m surrounded by good people in a good show in a dream role. So, as long as we keep in shape we can keep going.”
Dowse keeps in shape by getting a lot of rest and eating well. “I also drink lots of water and work out wherever and whenever I can,” she said. “But the best thing is the fact that doing this show never gets boring.
“This show has been called ‘the American musical,’” she added. “It truly is a classic, and so wonderfully written that that in itself keeps it fresh and very rewarding. Also, the fact that these are real people and the story is so interesting makes it a wonderful and very satisfying show for us all.” ••
For times and ticket information, call 215-731-3333.