Gypsy Theatre Company

Bringing theatre to life, and life to theatre...

Forsyth County News, March 14, 2008

Weekend events bring comedy, kids
theater to Forsyth
By Jennifer Sami

Beginning this weekend, the local arts community brings something old and something
new. Back by popular demand, “Nunsense - The Musical” returns to the Cumming
Playhouse tonight.
“This was the No. 1 most requested show to come back, and so we brought it back,” said
Playhouse Director Linda Heard. “It’s comical, it’s very enjoyable to watch, the music is
good...it was a great hit last time and we expect the same this time.”
“Nunsense” first hit the playhouse two years ago. The play, which incorporates video of
the nuns interacting with the community, was a hit, Heard said.
On Saturday, the Gypsy Theatre Company makes its debut with two performances of
“The Festival of Cups.”
The children’s play, featuring a wizard, princess, king, prince and an evil dragon, will run
in conjunction with the grand opening of the Sawnee Mountain Preserve visitor center and
universal tree house.
“We’re really excited about it,” said co-owner Danielle Bugay. “This is our first show and
we’re excited to be bringing it to the community. It’s great to be able to be a part of the
festivities for the opening.”
Saturday’s show features four cast members, including Cumming-Forsyth County
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO James McCoy, who will be playing the roles of
wizard and messenger.
Beginning in 2009, Gypsy will be part of the Cumming Playhouse’s repertoire of theater
companies. Bugay and company co-owner, Mercury, have both performed at the
playhouse.
“We think the city is definitely ready [for us],” she said. “It’s always good to have new
blood. There are several theater companies coming to the area, and we’re just one of
them.”
In addition to the playhouse, Gypsy will continue to perform at the Sawnee Mountain
Preserve amphitheater.
“We’re planning on doing Shakespeare in the summer and quite possibly the fall,” she
said. “We think it’s a great backdrop and a great location.”

The Gypsy Theatre Company's - “The Festival of Cups" will run at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday at the outdoor amphitheater at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, located on 2500
Bettis-Tribble Gap Road in Cumming. The performances are free and open to the public.

E-mail Jennifer Sami at jennifersami@forsythnews.com

Forsyth Herald, March 5, 2008

Theatre company makes first
impression

By Christine Braden
cbraden@northfulton.com
www.forsythherald.com

If all the world is a stage then the members of the newly created Gypsy Theatre Company
will feel right at home during their first production at the outdoor amphitheater of the
Sawnee Mountain Preserve.
“It’s an amazing outdoor space we discovered by accident,” said Mercury, who is the
company’s artistic director. “Danielle [Bugay, Mercury’s partner in the company] and I
were hiking and came across the Outdoor Amphitheater at Sawnee Mountain. That might
have actually been the genesis of Gypsy Theatre Company, when we spotted the
amphitheater.”
The company’s first show at the amphitheater takes on a personal aspect considering
Mercury - who goes strictly by one name - wrote the script and will direct the production
himself. Called, The Festival of Cups, the show is family-friendly. According to its
description, the show is set in a mythical yesteryear where a dragon has been terrorizing
the peaceful kingdom of Redyon and has captured their princess. Through the story
which ensues, Redyon finds itself dealing with the crisis and the realization of things not
always being what they seem.
It was inspired by Mercury’s nephews and nieces who wanted him to write something they
could perform, instead he came up with something they would like to see.
“Writing often does that,” he said. “Takes on a life of its own as the story grows.”
Before heading to Georgia, Mercury, who is originally from Hawaii, spent 18 years in New
York within various positions of the theater including, actor, director, writer, technical
director, master carpenter, stage hand, camera operator, company manager and stage
manager. In all, he has spent over 20 years in theater work.
Bugay, serves as the managing director. Though the majority of her theater experience
has been offstage as a company manager for many years, she venture onstage three
years ago and fell in love with the spotlight.
It’s Mercury and Bugay’s mission to “cultivate” theater appreciation within the local
community by passing the passion onto the next generation through local schools and by
giving local theater lovers a venue with which they can both stretch their artistic abilities
and enjoy the talents of others.
They would like to “see how Forsyth County reacts to Shakespeare,” at the amphitheater,
said Mercury. The company is [also] slated to produce “Steel Magnolias” at the Cumming
Playhouse during 2009.
Gypsy’s inaugural production will take place March 15 at 11 a.m. and then again at 1 p.m.
as part of the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center grand opening. Admission is free
and the center will have other activities ongoing throughout the day. The amphitheatre is
located at 2500 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information on
the Gypsy Theatre Company visit, www.gypsytheatre.biz.

A fairy tale written & directed by Mercury - Performed March 2008

For more information of The Festival of Cups, click here.