UBCC Blog: Gypsy Stage Company

BY MELINDA RIZZO

“Hustle never sleeps,” is John Coulter’s motto.

Coulter is an actor, brand ambassador and promotions manager for The Gypsy Stage Company based in Doylestown, an all-in organization that creates and performs its own work.

Plays may be enjoyed at McCoole’s Arts and Events Place located at 10 S. Main Street in Quakertown.

“Having Gypsy Stage here in Upper Bucks offers our residents and visitors intimate opportunities for quality theatre performances right here in our back yard,” said Danielle Bodnar, executive director of Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce. 

Founded in 2014 Coulter said Gypsy is unique because everything is created from scratch – original plays, scenery, props, playbills, posters and tickets. “Everything is done in house,” Coulter said.

“We’re starting with small productions and are testing the water at McCoole’s,” Coulter said.

He noted Jan Hench, owner of McCoole’s Red Lion Inn and McCoole’s Arts & Events Place invited Gypsy to audition and “fell in love” with the organization.

“She loved how we are interactive with the audience, how we perform all original productions - and unless we’re repeating a show, it’s all new work,” Coulter said.

Shows typically run for two nights (Friday and Saturday) with a matinee on Sunday, Coulter said.

Because Gypsy wants to offer live theater to anyone interested in attending it, they will be offering smaller, adapted shows in the future for special needs groups.
 
“It will be a smaller crowd, but they will get to enjoy the effect of the show,” Coulter said.

He said Gypsy is also available for corporate, non-profit and organizational events.

He’s encouraged because the response has been swift and positive to Gypsy Stage Company work. “It’s moving like an avalanche, not a glacial pace,” he said.

“There’s a lot of interest. People are contacting us and saying ‘come to our chamber meeting,’ ‘come to our annual meeting,’ ‘our monthly meeting,’ and do something new, engaging and different,” Coulter explained.

Coulter will be performing in Unspeakable, October 25, 26 and 27 , and in Chasing Santa A Christmas Musical, December 13, 14, 15 and December 20, 21, 22.

“The thing I love about when I play my character for Christmas is the way it lights up the audience… it’s an amazing thing for me,” Coulter said.

He said making other people happy is a performer’s big pay-off. “It’s not that I’m the center of attention. I see someone who’s having a bad day, and I can make them laugh and feel better,” he said.

If you go:
Gypsy Stage Company shows typically run 2 ½ hours with one intermission.

General admission tickets cost $20 and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more through the 2019 season. McCoole’s and Gypsy Stage will be offering dinner and a show set price options, coming soon.

Next up at McCoole’s: Nora Swan, A Murder Most Personal, runs Oct. 4 - 6 at McCoole’s Arts and Events Place, 10 S. Main Street Quakertown.
“The audience gets drawn into the plot, by the end of the play everyone’s on the edge of their seats,” Coulter said.

Original script by Gypsy Stage Company Owners Judith Sapperstine and Gary Murway.

See the Nora Swan, A Murder Most Personal trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHK4ZbcDsfU.

For more information visit www.gypsystagecompany.com.
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