CONFIRMED: Audra McDonald-led GYPSY to begin previews Nov 2024- Page 27

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 12:28am

I thought they were gonna do something with the box office window on the street, but they covered it up again.  The lampposts from the phantom marquee are gone 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 7:37pm

Is Bryan Cranston still rumored to be Herbie?  I had heard this a while ago .  But I am still hoping for the other rumored Cranston return in Damn Yankees.  He did hint at this on Andy Cohen.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 8:03pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I'm ok with digital marquees in theory, because you do have to combat the blaring lights of the neighborhood, but WHY do they photograph so badly??? Not all video screens photograph like that!!! Why are these so awful?"

The Shubert during Hello Dolly was gorgeous There was just a splash of digital presence in the marquee.  I want all the elegance back.

[stagepotato]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 8:42pm

This is slightly off topic but about the digital marquees. If I remember correctly, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, doesn’t the Music Box have one side digital and one side normal/not digital? I wouldn’t mind that combo for the marquees if they have to be digital. 
 

While I do hate them, I do like they give a slight preview of the show. I thought The Heart of Rock and Roll did a good job highlighting the characters, choreography, and a few scenes. But photographing was awful. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 8:58pm

I do hate the digital marquees. I think the one they slapped on the Shubert is so ugly. Interesting that London hasn’t quite jumped on the trend. 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 6/25/24 at 12:24am

I was watching clips from the Live from Lincoln Center Passion the other day and it got me thinking about how nice a reunion would be with Cerveris and Audra. 

Updated On: 7/2/24 at 12:24 AM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/1/24 at 11:56pm

[Listener]

Posted: 7/2/24 at 9:40am

I'm honestly not too excited for this.

Audra's voice is so...thick. I don't hear it for Rose.

[bruzson]

Posted: 7/2/24 at 10:00am

Thick?? I just saw her perform at the Rady Shell here in San Diego and the voice was resplendent. She even tossed in a ‘Sing out Louise’ at an appropriate moment 

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/2/24 at 10:32am

I’ve been wondering if they’ll use Laurents’ 2008 edits: cutting Mr. Kringelein and the “faux rape,” using the stuffed lamb, and cutting the “Small World” reprise. 
The Staunton revival used all of these edits, and I wonder if it’s going to become commonplace now. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/2/24 at 10:51am

Of the three, I think Mr. Kringelein and the stuffed lamb are the most likely uses; the "faux rape" scene reads very uncomfortably to modern audiences regardless of the reason Laurents actually cut it, and the stuffed lamb (or even some kind of Bunraku puppet kinda thing) is just easier to maintain than everything that goes into maintaining an actual lamb.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/2/24 at 10:52am

I’m a firm believer in the Small World reprise

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/2/24 at 11:06am

I can go either way with the reprise, but I think the consensus at the time was that Rose is so obsessed in the moment with getting Louise on that stage, that she wouldn’t take the time to sit and pine for Herbie. and I don’t disagree with that.

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 7/3/24 at 6:44pm

As my grandmother would no doubt ask, "Who's Audra Gypsy?  Is she a singer?"

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/3/24 at 11:55pm

verywellthensigh said: "As my grandmother would no doubt ask, "Who's Audra Gypsy? Is she a singer?"

"

Funny you say that as my cousins said as we passed by tonight what's AudraGypsy?

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 3:17pm

I just watched her London Palladium concert on PBS and my excitement for this Gypsy, which was sky high, declined with every song she sang. Yes, her voice is as luscious and gorgeous as ever, but I'm having trouble imagining  it fitting the Gypsy score and character. (Part of the trouble,  I think, may have been the concert's musical direction which was for the most part so lethargic that it sucked the life out of most of the numbers she sang. I think the R&H selections fared best.) On the other hand, I keep thinking George C. Wolfe must have something surprising up his sleeve that will make this revival revelatory and amazing, so of course I'll be there.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 3:28pm

SisterGeorge said: "Yes, her voice is as luscious and gorgeous as ever, but I'm having trouble imaginingit fitting the Gypsy score and character. "

I would urge you to watch some clips from her in 'Lady Day'. She's far more versatile than most people think and has the ability to sound completely different from her classical soprano for which she is known. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 3:30pm

It just reminds me of Sutton Foster in The Music Man.  She was truly wonderful as Marian, but you really missed the soprano.  Hearing her sing My White Knight, and Til There Was You, I kept thinking, I wish it was Kelli singing those songs. And everybody felt that way. I feel like people might have the same opinion with Audra.  Except she needs to sound like a horn not a flute. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 6:54pm

Broadway Flash said: "It just reminds me of Sutton Foster in The Music Man. She was truly wonderful as Marian, but you really missed the soprano. Hearing her sing My White Knight, and Til There Was You, I kept thinking, I wish it was Kelli singing those songs. And everybody felt that way.”

No, “everybody”  did not feel that way. Please stop making up stupid sh*t. 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 7:00pm

No, literally everybody thought this.  I don’t know a single person who though her deep low alto belt was preferable to a soprano singing those beautiful songs. 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 8:47pm

I like the belt on My White Knight

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 7/5/24 at 8:25am

I rather preferred her belt. I suppose not literally "everybody" thought this, and you probably should steer clear from hyperbole for the remainder of your time on this board :)

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 7/5/24 at 10:22pm

Audra is going to SLAY in Gypsy.

[binau]

Posted: 7/6/24 at 3:43am

I watched "Lady Day" last night and it's true that we shouldn't underestimate Audra's ability to adjust her voice for a character. I do suspect we won't see this kind of transformation because Gypsy as a show has ALWAYS been grounded in the lead actress' personality and vocal style. And it's not like there is a distinctive 'Rose' character voice. Plus it's easy to 'act down' (as Audra did with Lady Day) than 'act up' (Eg. Audra is not going to have Patti's belt suddenly come from an acting trick). She obviously has the capability to tone down her vibrato if needed a little. 

But we shouldn't underestimate Audra, OR the director George C Wolfe. Look at his musicals. Shuffle Along, Caroline, or Change, The Wild Party etc. - this is a man that very deeply, deeply understands the musicianship behind vocal performances and always turns out good performances with a high level of characterisation in them (same as Michael Greif). 

Also, part of me wants Audra to keep some of her signature style. As I said, the show has ALWAYS been grounded in the personality and vocal style of the actress. The show and casting has always been so amazing because Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone sound nothing like each other. So every time it's a whole unique experience and character. Audra should not feel compelled to follow the mould.

This whole production is starting to feel a bit 'deja vu' to the Sam Mendes Bernadette Peters Gypsy. Get a hot director ('George C Wolfe' and cast against type ('Audra'. Meanwhile the vultures are circling in the background. Hopefully unlike Sam Mendes Gypsy production, Arthur Laurents' estate are not hovering in the background trying to stop creative choices (e.g. According to David Burtka who played Tulsa the Sam Mendes production we saw wasn't even the real thing. Sam Mendes had a number of choices that Arthur Laurents simply wouldn't allow, such as having Bernadette's face dripping with make-up during 'Rose's Turn'.

I don't care which magazine he writes for but I want to see Ben Brantley's take on this production. Another hallmark of all the previous recent revivals is what he said about Patti Lupone and Bernadette. I don't think I'm ready to listen to Jesse Green's take on this yet. 

Updated On: 7/6/24 at 03:43 AM

[east side story]

Posted: 7/6/24 at 12:55pm

I am highly looking forward to this production, Audra’s performance, the direction, everything. I do agree that there is a whiff of the Mendes/Peters production since no one from the original creative team is alive or involved outside of their estates, but I don’t bet against McDonald. 

Currently rereading Arthur Laurents’ last book, and while he was certainly a viper who would hold a grudge, it is worth noting that every single time he directed Gypsy in New York, the lead won a Tony for their performance.  Having seen LuPone at City Center four times in three weeks ($25 front row balcony seats), on Broadway twice, and Peters when I was a kid, I am always looking for my next opportunity to hear that score and let that story take me away.

Cannot. Wait!