Youngster getting thrills on the road with 'Gypsy' Madison Samilow of Marlboro enjoys playing to audiences BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer Madison Samilow, 10, of Marlboro, is touring the United States with "Gypsy," the legendary Broadway musical that recounts the story of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. MARLBORO - As she travels throughout the United States and across the border into Canada, Madison Samilow, 10, of Marlboro, is having the time of her life performing in the national Broadway tour of "Gypsy." "Gypsy," produced by Phoenix Entertainment, was at the State Theatre in New Brunswick at the end of October. According to musicals.net, "Gypsy" is "a musical fable suggested by the memoirs of (strip-teaser) Gypsy Rose Lee." In an interview, Madison said that after watching other people act, she knew that was what she wanted to do. Her parents, Josh and Merrie Samilow, enrolled her in dance class when she was two-and-a-half years old. By the time she was 5 Madison was taking musical theater classes. Her mother recalled one day when Madison's teacher pulled her aside to have a talk. Thinking her daughter was in trouble, Merrie soon found out that the wanted to discuss Madison's singing ability and asked if the Samilows had considered pursuing Madison's talent. The youngster soon began acting in local theater productions. Madison starred as Gretel in "The Sound of Music" three times, which she said is her favorite musical. Then one day Madison decided she wanted more. Searching the Internet, Madison found an open casting call for the national tour of "Gypsy." When she showed her parents the casting listing they were a little hesitant. "(Madison) told us we were holding her back," Merrie recalled. Merrie and Josh decided to allow their daughter to attend the audition in Manhattan. Merrie said when the call came to inform them Madison had been chosen for the touring company they were shocked. "I wanted to see the whole country and I love acting, singing and dancing," Madison said about her desire to be in the traveling show. In early September Madison and her mother headed out onto the road with the tour kicking off in Springfield, Mo. Since then they have traveled throughout the Midwest, including stops in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. The show has also been performed in Canada. "It's really cool to see new places," Madison said, adding that one of her favorite stops was seeing Niagara Falls. Madison is part of the ensemble cast, but said she sometimes takes the stage in the role of Baby June, one of the leads. The youngster said she is never afraid to be out in front of a crowd and said she loves the attention. "It's very cool (being on stage) and I love when people clap for you at the end," Madison said. Life on the road can be tiring, she said, noting that on some nights the cast will not board the bus until 4 a.m. The young actress said on those nights she gets little sleep, as she must wake up early for her school lessons. Madison and seven other young cast members are being tutored while "Gypsy" is on the road. Merrie said life on the road is fun, as the cast is all friends and will go out for dinner some nights, but she said it is hard to be away from her family in Marlboro. Madison agreed with her mother's feelings about being away from home. "I sometimes miss my siblings," she said. Meanwhile, Josh is in Marlboro with Madison's siblings, Michael, 13, and Mackenzie, 5. They get to see their mom and Madison whenever possible. Merrie noted that she switches chaperone duty with Madison's grandmother at some points. Whenever the show is in the Northeast, Madison and Merrie manage to get home for a night or two, according to Josh. The tour, which is scheduled to run until May 2008, does allow its cast members time to spend with their families and friends. Josh said there are three official layoffs for the tour, 10 days at Thanksgiving, a fiveweek layoff for the holidays around Christmas and New Year's, and a 10-day break in April. "I love going to all the new theaters, all the new friends I've made, and the applause," Madison said of her time on the road. Being a part of "Gypsy" has opened many opportunities to Madison, according to her mother. She said her daughter expects to sign with a manager in the near future. Merrie said Madison has convinced other cast members to teach her skills that will help advance her career. The one dream role Madison has would be to play the lead in the musical "Annie." Right now Madison is planning to be an actress for the rest of her life, hoping to make it to the Broadway stage, along with television and the silver screen. "She loves it. She gets a fever to be onstage," Merrie said.