CONFIRMED: Audra McDonald-led GYPSY to begin previews Nov 2024 — Page 3

I know the Rudin production was rumored for a few years… Does this hint at a Rudin return? Does he still hold the rights?

I just wanna know if Rudin's still in the picture. Can't wait to see what the response would be to him being publicly attached to this.

As for Zendaya, I don't believe almost anything I read about Zendaya. She's one of the handful of actors under 30 that people know and so she and her crop are always being rumoured for something because the other names wouldn't be worth gossiping about. She's not a great singer but then Louise doesn't need to be. It'd make sense that they'd want a name for Louise. There's less need for the "take the money and run" mindset you have to have doing a niche property with a Broadway star.

Doing theatre would sharpen her skills so I support it. She gets better with each film role, a spin across the boards would only make her better. I'd love to see Ermengarde's suggestion of Halle Bailey as well. She's someone I think has the potential to be a good actress but needs more time to find herself.

The only correct choice for Louise is Denée Benton, in my opinion. She already plays Audra’s daughter on The Gilded Age, and it sits perfectly in her range.

FANtomFollies said: "ColorTheHours048 said: "The only correct choice for Louise is Denée Benton, in my opinion. She already plays Audra’s daughter on The Gilded Age, and it sits perfectly in her range."

I might be in the minority, but having seen her as Cinderella in the recent ITW and also a viewer of Gilded Age I feel like her acting falls a bit flat. She's not bad but is missing a 'spark' for me. I would much prefer Joy Woods."

No, I agree. I loved her in Great Comet but much preferred Soo in ITW. Of course she's an actress, but I think in the roles I've seen so far she has too much seriousness for Louise. She doesn't come across as naive. Halle Bailey could do it if she wanted to, but if not, hopefully another actress in her 20s.

TotallyEffed said: "Hell would freeze over before Zendaya played Louise in Gypsy on Broadway."

Give her a few years, when movie offers have dried up, & she's hosting some bad TV game show, then she'll do a Jamie Lloyd play or something.

Updated On: 1/5/24 at 09:29 AM

QueenAlice said: "I have so many questions. This reporter says the completely striped down Sunset Boulevard cost 2.7 million pounds to produce in London, but will cost 17 million to do on Broadway? So what does that make the relative producing cost for a traditional, large scale revival of Gypsy? 40 million? I'm sorry Audra McDonald, beloved as she is, is not a big enough name to headline something with that pricetag. Maybe she can do this at Encores.

There is no way Zendaya is going to sign on for a supporting role in Gypsy. She and Tom Hardy were, hwoever, at Sunset Boulevard in London this week."

Most larger scale musicals these days are somewhere in the $20 - $25 million range. Moulin Rouge, I believe, was $24 or $25 and it’s hard to imagine a production of Gypsy being as huge as that.


But we also know nothing about what this production will be, other than Audra’s casting. Who’s to say it’ll be traditional and large scale?

Updated On: 1/5/24 at 10:27 AM

Impeach2017 said: "If they cave to the name change, they've already lost. Of course, why stop there? The entire burlesque sequence should be changed because it exploits women.”



No one is going to change the title of this musical.

Denee Benton playing Louise would be like Betty Buckley playing Mame.

I don't think Zendaya is doing this, but the idea that a name wouldn't play Louise doesn't hold up. Anne Hathaway was supposed to be in the Bernadette revival. It's an easy role to get "legitimacy" (whatever that means), attention, and maybe even an award.

TalkinLoud said: "Can't believe no one has suggestedAriana DeBose yet."

I think we can keep it that way.

Ke3 said: "Denee Benton playing Louise would be like Betty Buckley playing Mame.

I don't think Zendaya is doing this, but the idea that a name wouldn't play Louise doesn't hold up. Anne Hathaway was supposed to be in the Bernadette revival. It's an easy role to get "legitimacy" (whatever that means), attention, and maybe even an award."



That argument doesn't hold water. The Bernadette peters GYPSY was in 2003 and Anne Hathaway only had 1 major film credit to her name. She was not a Star yet. Zendaya is a Major Star.

It's Trevor Nunn directing.

ColorTheHours048 said: "Ke3 said: "Denee Benton playing Louise would be like Betty Buckley playing Mame."

Explain this dig to me like I’m 5, because huh?"

Not really dig. She just doesn't have the warmth for it. She's a very "serious" presence. The idea of her doing a striptease seems ridiculous. Just like the idea of Betty Buckley doing high kicks seems ridiculous. Give Denee a Marie Christine revival.

Musicaldudepeter said: "It's Trevor Nunn directing."

I hope this is a bad joke!