CONFIRMED: Audra McDonald-led GYPSY to begin previews Nov 2024- Page 13

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 6:32pm

TRUE STORY...i work with someone who is helping produce a fund raising concert headlined by AUDRA, at an estate in Santa Monica...2 weeks ago i told him to whisper in her ear " GYPSY"...lol... 

VOILA!

Now i just have to make arrangements to see this amazing star on a trip to Broadway!...i think i will treat myself for my birthday in December to see this...btw...i got to see Angela Lansbury do Rose at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, before she went to Broadway and won her TONY!!

Circle of Life!!

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 6:34pm

Audra already has six Tony Awards and though I’m excited to see her do GYPSY, I also think there will be those who (like Bernadette) think she is miscast. I don’t think she is a slam dunk Tony winner for this. 

[Jeff Tupolski]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 6:47pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Jeff Tupolski said: "Rentaholic2 said: "What has Hailey Kilgore been up to?"

Think I said before during the initials rumors, butshe’s my current top choice for Louise. Then round out the main trio with Brian d’Arcy James."

I actually would love to see Danny Burstein play Herbie."

You’re making me waiver on my choice. I love me some Burstein.

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 7:07pm

Colman Domingo, Sterling K. Brown, Jeffrey Wright(does he sing?)  for Herbie!

There are a number of Black starlets who could delight as Louise. Halle Bailey, Hailey Kilgore, Myha'la Herrold, Christian Pitts, Keke Palmer, etc.

Can we stop suggesting DeBose for every Black adjacent role? 

I feel confidence in George C. Wolfe directing. 

Updated On: 5/29/24 at 07:07 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 7:13pm

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 7:30pm

I also wonder which ending Wolfe will decide to take in this production: does Louise walk out on Rose, do the two of them reconcile, or will the closing moments be up for audience interpretation?

Updated On: 5/29/24 at 07:30 PM

[azsmalls06]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 7:45pm

Please God not Ariana DeBose. I’m begging. 

Echoing Keke Palmer or Hailey Kilgore. 

[GroupAGroup1]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 7:46pm

To the people saying Audra has the Tony locked up, I'm not so sure: don't underestimate the power of, Look, this woman already has more Tonys than any other actress in Broadway history, LET'S HONOR SOMEONE ELSE., 

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 7:49pm

I wonder if they’d really splurge and try  to get H.E.R. as Louise. She is younger than most names being mentioned in this thread. She did a nice job in The Color Purple film, and was pleasant in the live Beauty and the Beast. 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 8:08pm

Don’t give a damn if she has the Tony lined up or not (…but she does) and I don’t imagine Audra cares either.  I’m just so happy to see this materialize.  It has the potential to be the best show of the season. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 8:10pm

I thought Wolfe’s direction of Shuffle Along was incredible.  It was never, ever going to happen, particularly given its aborted run, but I thought he should have beaten Kail, whose direction I felt was Hamilton’s weak link…just too busy.

i do think the Majestic is the wrong theatre for this.  Gypsy has never enjoyed a long run, and it played to plenty of empty seats after awhile (except for the Lansbury run, which was only scheduled for 10 weeks and extended to 15).  I think a smaller theatre — like the Broadhurst or would guarantee higher percentage of capacity.  Not talking the first 6 - 8 weeks necessarily.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 8:16pm

QueenAlice said: "Audra already has six Tony Awards and though I’m excited to see her do GYPSY, I also think there will be those who (like Bernadette) think she is miscast. I don’t think she is a slam dunk Tony winner for this."

I agree it won't be a slam dunk as it depends on the competition and Nicole S will provide some strong competition for sure! Other leading ladies in musicals in the 24-25 season are Katie Brayben, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Sutton Foster, etc. 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 8:37pm

NYTimes: Audra McDonald to Star in ‘Gypsy’ Revival on Broadway This Fall

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/theater/audra-mcdonald-broadway-gypsy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.v00.lrHI.4EJmNoCSwq-U

[Kad]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 8:48pm

I think Wolfe is one of the great theater artists of the last 50 years and has had remarkable thematic cohesion throughout his entire body of work. He's also not the type to colorblind cast- if he's directing a black Mama Rose, he is going to really interrogate what it means to be a black woman living that life in that era. He's not afraid to challenge an audience and I am really, really excited to see what that means for his take on Gypsy.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 9:05pm

ljay889 said: "I wonder if they’d really splurge and tryto get H.E.R. as Louise. She is younger than most names being mentioned in this thread. She did a nice job in The Color Purple film, and was pleasant in the live Beauty and the Beast."


What a pitch.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 9:42pm

Kad said: "I think Wolfe is one of the great theater artists of the last 50 years and has had remarkable thematic cohesion throughout his entire body of work. He's also not the type to colorblind cast- if he's directing a black Mama Rose, he is going to really interrogate what it means to be a black woman living that life in that era. He's not afraid to challenge an audience and I am really, really excited to see what that means for his take on Gypsy."

1000% And you don’t seek him out of retirement to just do the show the way it’s been done before. I expect something TRULY exciting from this team. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 9:52pm

I do think there’d be some great layers with an interracial Herbie/Rose. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the LuPone revival (besides Benanti who was radiant), but this one has me salivating. 

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 9:55pm

And after Audra's run, can we get Lea Salonga in as Mama Rose? Her performance in "Old Friends" is a revelation.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 9:59pm

I can’t wait for everyone here in the states to see Lea do “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” at The Friedman. It’s incredible and really does beg for her to do the role in full. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 10:03pm

Damn this has me aflutter.

[TBFL]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 10:08pm

It's funny how all those people who said that the rumours of Audra in Gypsy was complete nonsense, a fantasy, totally made up, no truth to it whatsoever...... are strangley quiet today. Heaven forbid some of them might actually admit they were wrong....

Personally, this doesn't appeal.. Yes she's hugely talented, but the idea of a soprano Mamma Rose does nothing for me. And i'm all Gypsy'd out for a good few years.

Despite her falling in the odds, i'm still backing Katie Brayben for the Tony,

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 10:27pm

Audra playing Rose is obviously beyond thrilling, but George C. Wolfe directing is really the cherry on top. I can’t wait to see what magic they create together.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 11:08pm

Wonder who will be the music supervisor/conductor?

Andy Einhorn is Audra's guy for her concerts and certainly knows his way around a big revival (Dolly, Carousel, Cinderella).

Daryl Waters has worked with Wolfe a lot, including Shuffle Along.

Shelton Becton conducted/played Shuffle and Lady Day.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 11:14pm

I hope Einhorn is the music director. 

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 5/29/24 at 11:23pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Thompson_Hovick

 

Rose's real passport pic looks like America's Most Wanted