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by Michael Portantiere

Ethel Merman Meets the Gypsies of the Year

  • This year's "Gypsy of the Year" competition at the Minskoff Theatre began with a tribute to the great star of the original production of Gypsy, Ethel Merman, channeled by the wonderful Klea Blackhurst in a show-stopping number that had The Merm cavorting with her newsboys.

    Here are my photos of the show, which, in addition to a series of roof-raisers presented by Broadway's gypsies, featured among its hosts and presenters such notables as: Seth Rudetsky, who wrote the opening number; Tyne Daly and Jonathan Hadary, who starred in the 1989 Broadway revival of Gypsy; Cherry Jones, Zachary Quinto, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Brian J. Smith from the cast of The Glass Menagerie; Mark Rylance, Stephen Fry, and Samuel Barnett from the casts of Twelfth Night and Richard III; Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, two of the stars of No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot; and, from the cast of Betrayal, Daniel Craig. Bottom line: This year's "Gypsy of the Year" fundraising drive raised an awesome $4,343,234 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

    (All photos Copyright 2013 by Michael Portantiere)


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    Published on Saturday, December 14, 2013


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


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