May they entertain you?

A show often called by critics the “greatest American musical” is coming to the Wantagh High School stage next week. “Gyspy” opens on Feb. 3 for five performances.

The show focuses on show business mother Rose, mother of striptease artist Louise a.ka. Gypsy Rose Lee. It will be performed by a cast of 45 drama students, and the lead role of Rose will be played by senior Judy Streib.

“I love her,” Streib said of her character. “She’s an awful person, but it’s so much fun to play her.”

Streib said she has the part every theater student dreams of — an over-the-top character in a leading role. Because she is in all but a handful of scenes, learning the role has been intense.

Kayla Bonasera plays Gypsy Rose, who she described as a timid but passionate person who is very smart despite having never received a formal education. She said her favorite part of the show is Gypsy Rose’s monologue where she screams at her mother.

Alexus Argueta is Mazeppa, a stripper that Rose meets at the burlesque house. She is also serving as the play’s assistant director. Junior Dylan Hupert plays Herbie, Rose’s love interest and the man who manages the act of Gypsy Rose and her sister, June. “He’s very nice, he’s very sweet and he always wants the best for everyone,” Hupert said. “I feel like I can relate to this character.”

Theater teacher Heather Naughton, the play’s director, said she chose “Gypsy” because she likes to give her students a variety of shows during each of their four years at Wantagh High. Last year was the more modern “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” so she chose a traditional musical for this year. “It’s one of those pieces that’s so well known,” she said of “Gypsy.”

Rehearsals began in October, and as soon as this play is done, practices will get under way for the May production of “Our Town.”

Right now, the actors are focusing on “Gypsy.” Naughton said the goal is to give the audience a real Broadway experience without having to leave Wantagh. “We really do theater for the audience,” she said. “I don’t think that’s common for high school theater. If it’s not fun for the audience, then we’ve failed at our job.”