By Matthew Blank

Hordes of Gypsy fans packed the third level of Lincoln Triangle's Barnes & Noble Aug. 28 to celebrate the show's new cast recording.

The 5 PM event kicked off with journalist Patrick Pacheco (NY1, The Los Angeles Times) moderating a brief Q&A session with the production's central trio: Laura Benanti (Louise), Boyd Gaines (Herbie) and Patti LuPone (Rose)- all of whom took home 2008 Tony Awards for their performances in this revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne classic.

They were joined for a post-discussion CD signing by additional principal members of the cast, including Leigh Ann Larkin (Dainty June), Tony Yazbeck (Tulsa), Marilyn Caskey (Electra), Alison Fraser (Tessie Tura), Lenora Nemetz (Mazeppa), Sami Gayle (Baby June) and Emma Rowley (Baby Louise). Also on hand for the signing was multiple Grammy-nominee Robert Sher, who produced the album for Time Life.

By the 4:15 PM press check-in time, the sizable event space was at full standing room capacity, with a line of autograph seekers snaking out into the store, weaving through several sections of bookshelf and stretching back to the far corner. While those nearest to the front of the waiting area were able to listen to and view the discussion through the glass, the majority patiently waited on line in hopes of making it to the autograph table before the actors had to rush 20 block downtown for their 7 PM call time. Thanks to the efforts of a well-organized team of publicists and store staff, a massive amount of people were cycled through in the very limited time frame. LuPone, whose especially demanding role called for her to leave a bit earlier than her co-stars, had pre-signed a stack of album covers in order to accommodate as many fans as possible.

This new recording, released Aug. 26, boasts never-before-recorded songs cut from the original Broadway production, including "Three Wishes for Christmas," "Mama's Talkin' Soft," "Nice She Ain't," "Mother's Day," "Smile, Girls," "Who Needs Him?," and an alternate version of "Mother's Day." Jonathan Tunick provided new orchestrations for the additional numbers.

The Gypsy company includes Bill Bateman, Andrew Boyer, Jim Bracchitta, Dorothy Stanley, Beckley Andrews, Nancy Renée Braun, Mindy Dougherty, Kyrian Friedenberg, Matt Gibson, Sarah Marie Hicks, Steve Konopelski, Matthew Lobenhofer, Nicole Mangi, Katie Micha, Matty Price, Bill Raymond, Brian Reddy, Andy Richardson, Lisa Rohinsky, Jessica Rush, Alicia Sable, John Scacchetti, Geo Seery, Rider Quentin Stanton and Pearce Wegener.

Gypsy currently plays the St. James Theatre at 246 West 44th Street.

Tickets are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.