Students can enter into the world of vaudeville and burlesque striptease when the classic American musical, Gypsy, comes to the Eisenhower Auditorium tonight.

Written by Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne, Gypsy tells the story of the intense stage mother, Mama Rose, and her two daughters whom she forces into show business.

"[Rose's] youngest daughter, June, starts as the star," said Ruby Lewis, the cast member who plays June. "She travels through the vaudeville scene until she gets sick of it and leaves. The other daughter ends up hanging with the burlesque striptease artists."

Lewis, who has a background in competitive dance, said she found it easy to turn on the charisma that her character, June, requires.

"I know how to win on the audience with my cute and charm. But it was hard for me to come off as selfish without acting bratty. There's a very fine line, and June doesn't know any better but to be selfish," Lewis said. "You'll see though, she goes through a transformation and admits that she is being used [by her mother]."

Laura Sullivan, director of marketing and communications for Center for the Performing Arts (CPA), said Gypsy is one of the more popular musicals this year.

"It's selling very well because a lot of people are familiar with it whether they've seen it on Broadway or in the movies," Sullivan said.

"There is popular music that everyone knows, and hopefully, it will be a full house," she said.

This is the first national tour that Lewis is performing in, and she said it has been a new and educational experience.

"[Touring] has been exciting and eye-opening. I've met so many amazingly talented people. I've never been outside of Kentucky all my life and being away from home is hard, but it's nice to be independent," Lewis said.

"It's also nice to know that I can keep the passion for a show every day."

Lewis said the show is elaborate with flashy performance numbers and costumes to go along with it.

"The costumes are elaborate for the performance numbers, but the characters, when playing themselves, are dressed in period. The costumes were made for us so they fit and move great," Lewis said.

"The set is a big piece that is used for all kind of scenes, which is smart. Overall, it's a very professional-looking show," she said.

Sullivan said CPA looks to balance the musicals it brings to State College -- some new shows and some classics.

"We try to round out our Broadway series ... This is to bring in new audiences and keep the old audiences we've had," Sullivan said.

Lewis said she hopes this performance will help turn those who are unfamiliar with the theater into theater-lovers.

"I think the audience can get a great appreciation of artistry from this show. Each actor takes a character and makes it real, almost come alive," she said. "Even if you're not familiar with the theater, you'll believe you're watching real life."

Lewis said students will enjoy this show because it is relevant to everyone, no matter the background.

"If you have a mother, you will relate. If you have aspirations, you will relate. And if you want to be entertained, you will be," she said. "It's a very dynamic piece, and you have to remember that live theater is so much more exciting than movies. You never know what will happen."