Carolee Carmello as Mama Rose in "Gypsy" — Page 2

Thanks to all for the notice, the clips, and the comments. I got my tickets and will be taking the train from San Francisco to Sacramento to see this Friday night. I would never have known about this if it weren’t for this board! I saw Carolee Carmello in Sweeney Todd and was blown away by her performance then. Can’t wait to see her again!

She sounds INCREDIBLE. Why aren't people writing her new roles every season!?

Updated On: 7/25/18 at 06:41 PM

Not for nothing, but she has absolutely no resemblance to Merman, physically or vocally.



Loved her in Mamma Mia and Parade. These clips...not so much. That's getting to be a mighty piercing voice.

SFCowboy said: "Thanks to all for the notice, the clips, and the comments. I got my tickets and will betaking the train from San Francisco to Sacramento to see this Friday night. I would never have known about this if it weren’t for this board! I saw Carolee Carmello in Sweeney Todd and was blown away by her performance then. Can’t wait to see her again!"

If that train from SF to Sacto actually leaves/returns from Amtrak in Emeryville wave up to the 7th floor of the adjacent parking garage/condo complex (The Terraces) and I might just see you out of my picture window and wave back! Sorry I can't make the Music Circus this season.

I think this is the first time I've ever seen a Mazzepa NOT in gladiator costume. I suppose they'll have to change the line about her "gladiator ballet." Can anyone who's seen it confirm what it was changed to?

ActorGuyIL said: "I think this is the first time I've ever seen a Mazzepa NOT in gladiator costume. I suppose they'll have to change the line about her "gladiator ballet." Can anyone who's seen it confirm what it was changed to?"

They are using the costumes of the 2008 revival.

http://images.playbill.com/photos/nemetzdiva200c.jpg

Updated On: 7/26/18 at 03:20 PM

Not be pull an Arthur Laurents here, but it's MADAME Rose. She is never referred to as Mama Rose in the script.

I rarely post "reviews" because I feel like I can never adequately express things or break down elements of shows, but since this production is at Music Circus and only runs for 6 days, I figured I'll try since I had the opportunity to see it.

The production is gorgeous, despite a simplistic set design. I was a little disappointed with the staging, as at times they did not treat the stage as a theater in the round. I think I saw the backs of the actors for a few minutes straight, which is pretty unusual there. I actually wondered if the stage was supposed to be rotating a couple times because of the staging. At other times, they used the theater in the round very well, having scenes around the theater. (So, for example, if you imagine a clock and were sitting at 6 o'clock facing the stage, there were some entrances/exits/small scenes at 1, 5, and 10. Hopefully that makes sense.)

The choreography was wonderful, and I loved how you could see Carolee Carmello doing the choreography just off stage completely mirroring the kids during the scenes where Baby June and the Newsboys were performing or auditioning.

Carolee was phenomenal in the role and commanded the stage. She received entrance applause from some of the audience (yay!) which is absolutely unusual at Music Circus. She was engaging both with the audience and those with whom she was sharing the stage. And her "Everything's Coming up Roses" and "Rose's Turn" gave me goose bumps-- I'm not quite sure the audio in the video posted does her justice. (There were some audio issues during the show, including an actor's mic completely going out, so depending on how they recorded it that may be way I feel like something is slightly off in the video compared to her live performance.)

Austen Danielle Bohmer (Louise) was great as well, and I was very impressed with her navigation as a the mellow/ submissive Louise and transformation into Gypsy Rose Lee. You can tell she is having a blast.

Really, I have been thoroughly impressed this season with the cast members who have done back-to-back shows. With the Music Circus schedule, that means, for example, a performer in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" was rehearsing "Newsies" during the day, and while "Newsies" was running, rehearsals for "Gypsy" were held during the day.

One performer totally made me grin after the show because he said something like, "I'm in the show six minutes. SIX minutes! And I don't care because I get to hear Carolee sing every day." And if I got to hear her sing this score every day, I think I'd feel the same way :)

Also, @ActorGuyIL: I *think* they still called it a Gladiator Ballet and didn't change it, but it has been a couple days now so I'm not positive.

Updated On: 7/27/18 at 12:23 AM

msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? "

Correct. Carolee is an amazing talent and should be known and recognized by more people, but as it is there is no producer in their right mind who would put up the money to revive Gypsy on Broadway starring her.

ive been to a lot of music circus productions,,they are very good most of the time for regional productions, and are a LONG ways from a broadway level production. The head of music circus is a great guy and really fills a need in the sacramento area and the theatre in the round there is well constructed and delivered a lot of musicals to folks that dont get much quality except for touring broadway shows...

i would subscribe if it wasnt a 2 plus hour drive.

would like to see carolee this weekend, and when you add the 5 hour drive round trip you gotta really want it so i will just wish her well on this one....

AEA AGMA SM said: "msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? "

Correct. Carolee is an amazing talent and should be known and recognized by more people, but as it is there is no producer in their right mind who would put up the money to reviveGypsyon Broadway starring her."

The only chance this would have at transferring is if some very wealthy people sat in the audience and thought this was an unmissable event that is worth them losing a ridiculous amount of $$$ to present on Broadway, with the small hope that It'd gain word of mouth and find an audience. I just do not see this ever happening ever given we already had LuPone fill this vision just 10 years ago (who - without seeing Carolee is probably arguably a little bit stronger vocally), and we had Bernadette try to fill the vision with more commercial prospects just 5 years earlier to financial failure.

Someone, somewhere thought Staunton would fit this vision but has seemed to have the wise sense and/or inability to get anyone to pay for it.

If someone really wants to see Carolee in the role, now is your chance. This is it.

Updated On: 7/27/18 at 03:27 PM