The MAMA ROSE’S TURN Show at The Ziegfeld Society!

Here’s a few images from the Ziegfeld Society’s dramatization of my book, MAMA ROSE’S TURN! We presented actual songs from the Vaudeville and Burlesque acts Rose Hovick managed that starred her children, Rose Louise Hovick, who became Gypsy Rose Lee, and “Baby June” Hovick, later “Dainty June” Hovick, and finally known as “June Havoc.” Loria Parker was Rose, Merrill Grant was June, Vanessa Altschuler was Louise/Gypsy, Mark York was our playwright and musical director, and I was the Narrator and also played a few other characters. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun working on a project!

Vanessa Altschuler nails the song “The Vamp.”

Loria Parker as Rose teaches Merrill Grant as June a new song, “Won’t You Be My Husband?” The “inappropriate” lyrics to this one temporarily got the act in trouble in the 1920’s!

Loria Parker as Rose Hovick pretending to need “a little hot soup” in one of her favorite scams.

Merrill Grant sings June Havoc’s hit from PAL JOEY, “You Mustn’t Kick It Around”

Merrill Grant (June), Vanessa Altschuler (Louise/Gypsy), Mark York and Me after our MAMA ROSE’S TURN show at The Ziegfeld Society!

Curtain Call! Photo by Jen Lau

The real Gypsy Rose Lee, when she was Louise Hovick, and her sister, Dainty June Hovick, later known as June Havoc, in Vaudeville.