Orcas Center has announced auditions for its April 2010 production of Gypsy.

The popular Broadway musical, based upon the memoirs of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee, contains music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents. Mama Rose, the leading role in Gypsy, has been played by such legendary performers as Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury and Bernadette Peters, and is currently being played on Broadway by Patti Lupone.

Orcas Center’s production of Gypsy will be directed by Deborah Sparks, with musical direction by Joe Babcock and choreography by Susan Babcock.

The cast includes several singing and dancing children and adults, as well as parts for non-singing actors. A description of characters to be cast in Gypsy may be found at www.orcascenter.org (click on the What’s New page).

Show dates for Gypsy are April 21 (preview); April 22, 23 at 7:30 p.m., April 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; April 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and May 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Cast members are required to be available for an 11-week rehearsal period from January 31 to April 22. Children cast in the show will be required to take Susan Babcock’s dance class, and a chorus class with Grace McCune. Scholarships are available for families needing tuition assistance for these classes.

Audition dates and times for Gypsy are as follows:

For children ages 8+, Saturday, Jan. 9, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Jan. 10, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

For adults, Saturday, Jan. 9, 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan.10, 6 to 8 p.m.

Call backs for children and adults, Monday, Jan. 11, 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, contact Deborah Sparks at 376-2281 ext. 2 or sparks@orcascenter.org.