CONFIRMED: Audra McDonald-led GYPSY to begin previews Nov 2024- Page 47

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 3:11pm

BETTY22 said: "I'm a little surprised at how many tickets are unsold.
Is Audra less of a draw than Nicole across the street?"

• It’s well documented that Audra is not a ticket-selling commodity. Outside of niche theater people, the general public neither knows nor cares who she is. LADY DAY is her only show that’s made money in the past 20 years, and that was dirt cheap. To advertise the production as AUDRA GYPSY is fun for theatre fans, but hubristic and idiotic if trying to reach the general public (which they must do for a musical this large).
• There is no incentive to buy early for this. People are buying later and later nowadays. Even the small niche of theatre folk who know & love her aren’t dim enough to think they must buy early and at full-price. Obviously GYPSY was trying for a costar with some box office weight, but that was foolish to think they’d get someone who boosted the box office.
• SUNSET is coming in with a level of buzz we haven’t see from a British production of a musical in years, which gives it a leg up over GYPSY. To compare based on Instagram followings (which isn’t a perfect comp), Audra has 200K, Nicole has 6 million, Darren Criss has 3 mil, Auliʻi Cravalho has 950K, Adam Lambert has 1.9 mil, Jim Parsons has 10 mil, Zegler has 2.3 mil, Kit Connor has 6 mil. Again, not a perfect comparison.
• Previews and the first few weeks of perfs should sell decently, but it’s a loooong winter for them to get through. This probably needs a flat out love letter from the NYT to have even a chance of success, and some luck & continued momentum after that. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 3:17pm

In addition to what Ermengarde mentioned, there's also a lot of hesitation (both on this board and elsewhere that I've seen) on the idea of a "soprano Rose" (even if that's not necessarily what we'd be getting) or just thoughts of Audra being miscast for the role.  Along with the general trend of waiting later to buy tickets, people may be waiting to see how the concept lands in the first few performances.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 4:21pm

Any hesitation among theatre diehards shouldn't be overestimated though, since that is a relatively small group of people that won't sustain the show.

One of the reasons why I personally am waiting is because it's opening cold on Broadway and Wolfe is known for making great use of his preview period. I'll check it out in December before it opens.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 8:37pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "BETTY22 said: "I'm a little surprised at how many tickets are unsold.

Is Audra less of a draw than Nicole across the street?"

Raves and positive word-of-mouth on Nicole plus the heavy TikTok content on her and the show has obviously helped the box office. Many are even returning to see the show again.

Though Audra works extensively on television she’s primarily known for her Broadway work. I have friends who are obsessed with THE GILDED AGE and have no idea who Audra McDonald is even though they are watching her throughout the series. Telling them she’s starring in a new Broadway revival of GYPSY won’t bring any excitement in them to get tickets to see her in the show. This revival so far has her fans and the Broadway community excited. Sadly, we’re the minority in any tickets sales."

 

No way is Audra getting the TONY over Nicole. We saw SB last night and Nicole is simply breathtaking and gives a mesmerizing performance as Norma. The TONY is going to Nicole no matter how good Audra is in Gypsy!

[binau]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 2:44am

I'm pretty sure the GYPSY ticket sales, at least for the first week - are stronger than what Sunset's were at this time. Sunset is doing well because word of mouth is igniting the box office on fire. Most of these seats weren't sold before performances started, but the train just is picking up and up. I don't believe that Nicole is a real 'draw' that would sell tickets to anything and anyone - I think it's the word of mouth from the strength of her performance and production. It's also a youthful attractive production that will appeal to a wide range of theatre goers. 

Gypsy has always been niche. I don't think the producers should be disappointed at the current advance. It's now up to the creative team and cast to put on a damn good show to convince those that are in the audience to tell their friends to see it too. 

If history repeats itself as it often seems to, I predict this show will be like one of the many other prestige runs with a very strong first 12-14 weeks and then softer sales to however it can last for (e.g. FOLLIES, WAR PAINT, COMPANY etc.).

The same kind of timeline that ONCE UPON A MATRESS has been mounted for on Broadway. 

 

 

[Ke3]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 11:54am

SouthAmericanCichlids said: "Nicole is probably more famous, but she's not very famous in the US. Audra is already established here. But Sunset did already have the reviews and Oliviers from London, and Gypsy hasn't even gotten its NYC reviews yet, so they can only really advertise the people. I say, just give it time."

The Masked Singer is one of the most watched shows in the country and The Pussycat Dolls sold 55 million records worldwide. That's not even taking into account the years she spent on the Simon Cowell circuit. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble but even if they don't know her name, Nicole's face rings more bells than any modern theatre star could. 

[Graymerchant]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 11:48pm

Any word or rumor on the scenic design for the production? I know the last revival was rather minimal. Hoping something lavish. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 11:57pm

They have a great designer in Santo Loquasto who has worked at a variety of different scales.

GYPSY is not the type of show that requires big lavish scenic design. It’s got a ton of locations and a lot of them are seedy theaters, dingy hotel rooms, second rate restaurants, a train station, the middle of the desert, etc. This isn’t DOLLY with candy-colored interiors and expensive Gilded Age grandeur.

If you leave a production of GYPSY talking about the set, there’s probably a bigger problem at hand. 

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 11/1/24 at 12:08am

I won't be back to Broadway until April. Hoping and praying hard for Audra it stays open at least until then. Really hoping it lasts until the Tony's. I know many think it's in Nicole's bag (me too), surely Audra would be at least nominated and perform. 

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 11/1/24 at 12:05pm

Danny Burstein implied in his facebook post about getting his wife's PHANTOM dressing room (see up the thread) that he expects to be at the Majestic for a year, so they are hoping the show will run at least that long.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/1/24 at 12:39pm

ChairinMain said: "they are hoping the show will run at least that long."


Well, yes.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 12:49pm

I can’t wait to see this- BUT its true, there’s no way anyone other than Nicole S is winning the Tony next year. 
Even if Audra is incredible- and I’m sure she will be, it’s going to be pretty hard to make this take on the role feel fresh and surprising like Nicole is managing over at the St James

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 1:04pm

If I had to make a bet at this point in the season, I'd be very surprised if something came along that could beat Nicole in actress, Jamie Lloyd in Director, the production in Revival, Jack Knowles for Lighting, and Adam Fisher for Sound.

Unless something truly surprising happens. Which I'd welcome, because that always makes a season interesting!!

The political climate this spring could also be a factor, which could hurt both kinda-cynical musicals about the entertainment industry.

Updated On: 11/2/24 at 01:04 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/3/24 at 1:58am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "If I had to make a bet at this point in the season, I'd be very surprised if something came along that could beatNicole in actress, Jamie Lloyd in Director, the production in Revival, Jack Knowles for Lighting, and Adam Fisher for Sound.

Unless something truly surprising happens. Which I'd welcome, because that always makes a season interesting!!

The political climate this spring could also be a factor, which could hurt bothkinda-cynical musicals about the entertainment industry."

I am strongly inclined to agree with you, particularly since I thought the physical production was mind-bogglingly thrilling.  The only thing that has me hesitating is George C. Wolfe’s brilliance.  What if he comes up with an incredibly different approach from the traditional (and stale) Gypsy staging?  I am thinking of some of the visual images during Shuffling Along and Bring In the Funk.

I do believe that the probability of that is very low in any event.

 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/3/24 at 2:26am

Are pre-sales low on this?  I was on the fence to buy now or later too.

[binau]

Posted: 11/3/24 at 4:22am

It depends when you want to go and where you want to sit. If you want to go to an early preview especially if you want to sit in the orchestra, buy now. If you want to go after opening, you can probably hold off until performances start. 

Overall, my perspective is that the sales seem good/fine and as expected for this kind of show/cast. I don't know why there is a suggestion that the show isn't meeting expectation - as I said (and just re-confirmed looking) - I'm pretty sure the sales right now for early previews are stronger than what Sunset's were at the same time. It's looking like they are going to have a healthy start. 

[Adeliciaboy]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 10:37pm

Uh-oh.   Has anyone listened to the just-released teaser tape of Audra singing the "Gypsy" score.  If you have heard it, you should be very worried about how this production is going to turn out.   As soon as I heard it, the first word that came to mind is "MISCAST!!"

The teaser immediately reminded me of the fatal mistake made in the original production of the ill-fated "Carrie" musical when Barbara Cook was cast as Carrie's mother.  Of course Cook could sing, but her kinder and gentler singing style was totally wrong for the role.  

The producers realized that, and Cook was replaced by Betty Buckley when the show arrived in New York City from Stratford.  And Buckley delivered a thrilling and chilling performance.

In the new teaser it sounds like Audra is doing a Rose that is much softer and more operatic than that of any previous actress in the role.  Maybe I'm  jumping to a conclusion based on too little evidence, but that's what my gut was telling me.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 11:01pm

Adeliciaboy said: "Uh-oh. Has anyone listened to thejust-releasedteaser tapeof Audra singing the "Gypsy" score. If you have heard it, you should be very worried about how this production is going to turn out. As soon as I heard it, the first word that came to mind is "MISCAST!!"

The teaser immediately reminded me of the fatal mistake made in the original production of the ill-fated "Carrie" musical when Barbara Cook was cast as Carrie's mother. Of course Cook could sing, but her kinder and gentlersinging style was totally wrong for the role.

The producers realized that, and Cook was replaced by Betty Buckley when the show arrived in New York City from Stratford. And Buckley delivered a thrilling and chilling performance.

In the new teaser itsounds like Audra is doing a Rose that is much softer and more operatic than that of any previous actress in the role. Maybe I'm jumping to a conclusion based on too little evidence, but that's what my gut was telling me."

Please go touch grass.

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 11:06pm

This teaser from 5 months ago? 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 11:07pm

Seeing as she sings for a cumulative ten seconds in that trailer with a heavy soundscape behind it, I would not read into anything.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 11:11pm

Audra McDonald sounds like Audra McDonald. More at 11.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/7/24 at 12:02am

Wick3 said: "This teaser from 5 months ago?

this teaser is better than the new one just released

"

 

[Peppa222]

Posted: 11/7/24 at 12:20am

I'm unsure why anyone would expect Audra to sing this score differently. Mama Rose ain't Billie Holiday. 

 

 

Updated On: 11/7/24 at 12:20 AM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/7/24 at 6:25am

How is a preview ticket $421 plus fees. That’s just insane. 

[The Rural Juror]

Posted: 11/7/24 at 7:40am

That ten seconds of Audra singing 1) Sounds perfectly fine, and 2) is barely anything to go off of. Also, Barbara Cook left Carrie because she almost got killed by a moving staircase set piece.