The University of Findlay will hold auditions for the musical “Gypsy” Dec. 3 and 4. Auditions for adult roles are at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and auditions for children’s roles are from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday only.

All auditions will take place in the Frank J. Egner Center for the Performing Arts, Room 209. Community members are welcome. All persons need to be prepared to sing a 16-bar cut from an up-tempo song. An accompanist will be provided. There also will be dance auditions; all persons need to be prepared to move for choreography.

The cast will include approximately 60 roles for an equal number of men and women, as well as no more than 12 children, including at least five boys, between the ages of 10 and 13 with unchanged voices.

Performances of “Gypsy” will take place Feb. 20 to 24, 2008, in the John and Hester Powell Grimm Theatre.

“Gypsy” was first produced on Broadway in 1959 with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Ethel Merman received rave reviews for her performance in the lead role of Mama Rose, the overbearing stage mother of the famed burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee, portrayed by actress June Havoc. Other actresses who have portrayed Mama Rose include Rosalind Russell, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone.

Songs from the musical include “Let Me Entertain You,” “Small World,” “All I Need is a Girl,” “Together Wherever We Go” and the popular “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Some critics have identified “Gypsy” as the best musical ever written.

Micheal F. Anders, Ph.D., professor of music and director of the music program, is the producer/musical director. Other production staff include Vicki McClurkin, stage director; Steven Brown, choreographer; and Jerry Deall, scenic and lighting designer. Additional staff members include Matt Stimmel, technical director; Kathy Newell, costumer; and J. Ladd, hair designer.

For more information, contact Anders at 419-434-4717 or anders@findlay.edu.