Audra McDonald as Mama Rose?- Page 2

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 11:48pm

This recent "Guys & Dolls" revival should have revived the black cast idea and cast Audra as Sarah Brown.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 12:54am

I would go for it completely! I love Audra so much. She can do anything she wants in my opinion

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 12:57am

Lilias White as Rose!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 12:58am

For someone to take the financial risk for this, they'd need a name, like Queen Latifah as Rose.


That could actually work...



I would go see Piragua's cast.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 1:08am

I think Audra McDonald would rock as Baby June :)

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 11:45am

She's really not a belter, but she can belt when she wants too. I'm sure that Audra would act the crap out of that part.

Exactly what I was going to say! I've always thought she'd be brilliant in this role!

Now, can we put her in a time machine back to her "Carousel" days and make her the lead in a new revival of "My Fair Lady"? Pretty pleeeeease?!

[boydowncenter]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 2:29pm

i definitely would not want to see audra as mama rose. I know I know...I'm probably the only non-fan on here.
I think Queen Latifah is a very interesting choice, and would be a great name.
What about Beyonce as Gypsy? haha

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 2:38pm

I'm for Lilias White!

As for June...Look at some of the girls who played Squeak in "The Color Purple" or the girl that played Snookie in the revival of "110 in the Shade"...I think her name is Carla Duran.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 2:56pm

Tonya Pinkins-Momma Rose
Anika Noni Rose would be a brilliant Louise.
Nikki M. James-June
Norm Lewis-Herbie
Chester Gregory II-Tulsa

I'd be happy with a one night only concert or a studio cast recording. A full on production would be sublime though, I can just imagine how exciting the Dressing Room scene would be between Pinkins and Rose, especially if they do it as directed by Arthur Laurents in the last revival.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 4:18pm

<------ Like I said on the other thread. I want Renee Elise Golsberry (sp?) to play Louise. Or even june for that matter

Updated On: 5/20/09 at 04:18 PM

[DavidPatrickS82]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 4:33pm

Lilias White would be great, but her understudy would have to be wonderful, cause Ms White calls in a lot. Or do we not remember 1997 when Sharon Wilkins was going on like every night in The Life!

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 4:34pm

my vote goes to lillias white!!! also if gypsy is revied within the next 10yrs or so hands down donna murphy should play mama rose!!!

[tonight]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:08pm

audra's voice is not rough enough to play mama rose.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 6:18pm

Lilias White's voice is one of my favorites, and she could sing the hell out of the score but could she act the role? Oh, well, this is hypothetical, so who cares if she could.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 6:40pm

"Lilias White's voice is one of my favorites, and she could sing the hell out of the score but could she act the role?"

It doesn't really matter. Merman was never a brilliant actress so the book was written to be foolproof.

Also as Jennifer Holliday demonstrated in "Dreamgirls" if you can stand center stage and belt to the back of the house, your acting can be crap. You could tell that she was given line readings for some of her scenes.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 8:07pm

I honestly feel that there should be a continuous production of GYPSY on Broadway. A different director could come in an re-direct the show with minimal set changes every now and then with new stars coming in and out. This would give every major actress who could play the role a chance and new directors with great visions a chance to be seen on Broadway. The Tonys would need to make a ruling to only count the actors in a new director's production for the awards and of course, the directors could be nominated.

This is a show that must be seen by everyone. EVERYONE.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 9:01pm

I want to see Dueling Gypsy productions. They could knock down the wall between the Shubert and the Booth(?) and put up a clear plexiglass wall. Then audiences could watch one Gypsy onstage and see the backstage of the other production. Talk about a hot ticket!!

[javertim]

Posted: 5/20/09 at 9:34pm

I could totally see Jenifer Lewis as Mama Rose ... She has the low timbre that I love to hear in that part. And she's a terrific actor to boot.