The Tamaqua Area Community Theatre group has spent the past eight weeks preparing for its biggest venture yet, a production of the well known musical "Gypsy."

Director Jonathan M. Blackwell-Rodgers says this production "is our largest to date, both in regard to the number of cast members and the caliber of performances. Our actors run the gamut in ages, from 7 to senior citizen." The director laughingly declined to provide an age for the cast's most senior member, which was probably smart as that actor is his mother.The musical is based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, a burlesque entertainer who became famous for her striptease act, then went on to become an actress and playwright. Born in 1911 as Rose Louise Hovick, she and her sister, June, started in vaudeville at a young age, driven to perform by their aggressive, domineering mother, Rose, who is seen as the stereotypical stage mom.TACT's production features Zane Bachert as "Herbie," a former agent who becomes the girls' manager; Marissa Miller as Rose, the ultimate stage mother; Hannah Betz as Louise, who becomes known to the world as Gypsy Rose Lee; and Chanita Guerrero as June. The supporting casts includes Brooklyn Surotchak as Baby June and Julia Romankow as Baby Louise.First performed on Broadway in 1959, the show was originally produced by David Merrick and Leland Hayward, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Jule Styne composed the music and Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics to such memorable tunes as "Let Me Entertain You" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses." It's being presented by arrangement with the TAMS-Witmark Music Library Inc.Performances will be at 7 p.m. Fridayand 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdayat the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. in Tamaqua.For more information or tickets, call 570-669-1192 or visit

www.TamaquaArts.org. The venue is BYOB friendly and refreshments will be available. Due to the subject content, the musical is not recommended for those under the age of 13.