Rites of passage

Mar. 8—Nearly a quarter century ago, Kali Davies-Anderson performed for the first time in "Gypsy," the loosely adapted bio-musical of legendary burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee.

Back then, in 2000 at the New Castle Playhouse, she performed as one of the "Toreadorables," the young dancers who perform along with a young Gypsy Rose — who then went by her given name, Louise — and her sister June, who would achieve fame in acting under the name June Havoc.

Gypsy Rose Lee was perhaps one of the most famous strip-tease performers in history, notorious for her sex appeal, although she reputedly never took it "all" off.

"It's not what you do. It's the way you do it — stripping, or writing, or talking ... or just breathing," she said. "Do it with an air, and never admit you're scared."

Davies-Anderson aspired ever since her first taste of "Gypsy" in 2000, to play the musical's central role, Rose, queen of the stage mothers and a role played on Broadway by acting legends Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters, Patty LuPone and Imelda Staunton.

In the musical's very first scene, Rose storms onto the stage of a children's production to make sure her two little girls, especially Baby June, get more than their share of the spotlight.

"This is a role I've wanted to play forever," Davies-Anderson said. "She gets interpreted in different ways by different actresses."

Davies-Anderson, of New Castle, is an experienced actor on local stages, but she shares the stage with two performers who are new to the stage, just like she was the first time performing in the musical.

Sylvan Paglia, 11, plays young Louise, who has to stand by while Rose nurtures Baby June into a star, will make her stage premiere, but she has a more supportive mother in the cast. Kimberly Paglia, of Mercer, is also in the show.

"She is obsessed with musical theater," Kimberly Paglia said of her daughter. "We were looking for an opportunity to have her in a show."

The role of Electra, one of three exotic dancers in the burlesque hall from the musical's second act, is a departure for Kimberly Paglia, a teacher for blind and sight-impaired children in the Grove City-based Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV and music director at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Mercer.

But that's why they call it acting.

"I feel like when you're on stage, you're playing a role, you're playing a part," Kimberly Paglia said.

Sylvan Paglia said she's looking to play the younger version of the title role.

"It's an excited nervousness," she said.

Ronald Sinesio, who directs the performance, said "Gypsy" has a deserved reputation as the greatest American musical.

"It's very precise," Sinesio said. "There's not a wasted line."

And the music — including "May We Entertain You," "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Together, Wherever We Go" — with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and tunes by Jule Styne, is nothing less than iconic.

"It's just such a monster show," Sinesio said.

ACTS presentation of "Gypsy" will take place at the ACTS Performing Arts Center, 40 South Irvine St., Sharon, with showtimes of 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15 and 22, and Saturday, March 16 and 23; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17 and 24. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students, and are available online at http://actspac.org/; Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm at the box office; at the door; or by calling the box office at 724-815-4388.