CONFIRMED: Audra McDonald-led GYPSY to begin previews Nov 2024 — Page 18

Purchased tickets for mid-December! I have always adored McDonald, but what sold me on this production is Wolfe's direction, and the fact that Arthur Laurents won't be there to give George the same "help" that Sam Mendes got in 2003.

Ok so...

Louise: Joy Woods, Hailey Kilgore

Herbie: obviously Norm Lewis

Bummed that we won't get to see Jennifer Simard tackle Mazzepa or Tessie Tura

I wonder if Anika Noni Rose would consider doing it. If they want to allow the standby to take a different route vocally, Jeanette Bayardelle would be incredible.

singer234 said: "I wonder if Anika Noni Rose would consider doing it. If they want to allow the standby to take a different route vocally, Jeanette Bayardellewould be incredible."

Anika as the STANDBY?! Surely not - Anika arguably means more to the general public than Audra does!

incomesabby said: "good time to say I have a $79 first preview ticketup for grabs.Reason being that abetter seat for the same price opened up right after I hit purchase 😩and I couldn't resist moving up a row based on people's comments about the rear mezz here.

So not sure how to get rid of it now... but I do know there's people out there who would want it(don't flame me if you see it on theatr lol)"

Telecharge will definitely allow you to exchange, I've done it multiple times.

singer234 said: "I was thinking more a Donna Murphy situation. She probably wouldn't, true, but I'd love to see her for a replacement stint if it ever gets there, a la Sweeney."


The Donna Murphy/DOLLY situation was a complete anomaly, the only such moment in modern history that someone of that stature did one performance a week (+ vacations), and it happened under much different circumstances:

• Bette is a much much much much bigger star than Audra
• Donna was the rare alternate who did not stand by
• Donna did not begin until after the Tony Awards so there would be no issue of comparison for the voters. That worked for a show that opened in the spring, but Gypsy begins 7 months before the Tonys and is only on sale through June 29.
• Good as she was (the best Dolly I saw in that revival), it was an expensive flex by a producer who does not work anymore. Putting the standby on once a week probably would have sold nearly as many tickets, and the costs would have been far lower.
• that arrangement only works for someone who is otherwise fine with being unemployed 6 days a week (or, in the very unique and not-replicated Kathie Lee Gifford/Putting It Together situation decades ago, hosting a talkshow)
• it was, to my knowledge, a rather unhappy experience for a lot of people involved.

Since Audra has no day-off noted, we can safely assume she's contracted to do 8 shows a week and any reduction in her performance schedule would occur on an as-needed basis.

Updated On: 5/31/24 at 07:20 PM

I don't live in NYC but bought tickets for Saturday December 7th, matinee which had much better availability than that Saturday's evening performance.

I am now wondering if Gypsy will have an alternate at certain performances and if I bought a ticket for a time when Audra won't be performing. Does anybody know if Audra will really be singing two Saturday shows? And if there's an alternate, can I get my money back or switch to a performance when Audra will be singing.

Any advice?

BroadwayBaby6 said: "I don't live in NYC but bought tickets for Saturday December 7th, matinee which had much better availability than that Saturday'sevening performance.

I am now wondering if Gypsy will have an alternate at certain performances and if I bought a ticket for a time when Audra won't be performing. Does anybody know if Audra will really be singing two Saturday shows? And if there's an alternate, can I get my money back or switch to a performance when Audra will be singing.

Any advice?"

Since Audra has no day-off noted, we can safely assume she's contracted to do 8 shows a week and any reduction in her performance schedule would occur on an as-needed basis.

I've been thinking about her vocals and how she'll sound singing the score, and I think it's likely it will sound similar to how she sang "Old Maid" from 110 in the Shade. They famously lowered the key for her, obviously to give her a more raw and somewhat "beltier" sound.

Here's a video of it live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYvs2Up4E8o

Another example is her "Rainbow High."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZijZu_tojw&list=RDqZijZu_tojw&start_radio=1

She is certainly not going to sing Rose in her operatic soprano like some are fearing.

Audra singing "Rose's Turn":

https://www.tumblr.com/thefolliesgeorges/696628851374194688/audra-mcdonald-roses-turn-audra-mcdonald

ljay889 said: "I've been thinking about her vocals and how she'll sound singing the score, and I think it's likely itwill sound similar to how she sang "Old Maid" from 110 in the Shade. They famously lowered the key for her, obviously to give her a more raw and somewhat "beltier" sound.

Here's a video of it live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYvs2Up4E8o

Another example is her "Rainbow High."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZijZu_tojw&list=RDqZijZu_tojw&start_radio=1

She is certainly not going to sing Rose in her operatic soprano like some arefearing."

The highest note in the Merman version of Gypsy is the C above middle C.

Historically, on B'Way, she's belted higher and she belts higher currently in concert. She'll be fine.

I'm sure she'll approach it very differently than Merman, Lansbury, Daly, Peters, and La Lupone, but they have all approached the score very differently from one another.

Do you think Billy Porter would be involved in this production? Like perform as Mama Rose once a week to give Audra a break?

I loved his impromptu performance of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" at the Tony Awards a few years ago.

Updated On: 5/31/24 at 07:34 AM