Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business mother." It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life.

A City Center Encores! Summer Stars series production of “Gypsy,” starring Patti LuPone, ran from July 9 thru July 29, 2007, and also featured Boyd Gaines & Laura Benanti. Arthur Laurents was the director. Ms LuPone will be the fifth actress to headline as Rose on B’way, following Ethel Merman (1959), Angela Lansbury (1974), Tyne Daly (1989) and Bernadette Peters (2003).