Lea DeLaria though casting Herbie might pose a problem.
Stand-by Joined: 3/17/15
Sutton has openly said that she would love to play that role some day. In fact, she sang a pretty darn spectacular version of Rose's Turn at her Carnegie Hall concert in March. So I'm all for that!
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/06
Did you hear Tonya on the recent Theater People podcast speak about dream roles? She declined to name any others but did say Rose was one, so much so she begged Arthur to let her cover Patti(!).
I will never get over that we didn't get a production (or even a movie) with Judy and Liza.
NEVER.

Some people are really gonna see this as an offbeat choice, but...
...what about Sandra Bernhard?
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
I have loved several of the Mama Roses who I have seen, particularly Angela Lansbury and (yes) Bernadette Peters.
But, what I would REALLY love is to once see it played by someone closer to the likely age that Mamma Rose would have been at the beginning of the show, somewhere in her 30s, I would imagine. I think it would provide some new opportunities.
While it has never really kept me from enjoying Gypsy tremendously, I still cringe when I see a woman well into her 50s telling her 8 year old to Sing Out, Louise
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
Of the suggestions thrown out I could see Marin Mazzie and Alice Ripley though their ranges strike me as a little high for Rose. I'm not sold on Sutton but maybe in another 20 years when she's finally out of her ingenue phase?
That's not a dig. If she can continue to pull it off, more power to her. Stephanie J. Block could be a decent choice.
How about Lesli Margherita?
Idina Menzel.
Sutton just turned 40, and said at a recent concert that she doesn't see herself playing ingenues anymore. Then she said that Rose was a dream role and proceeded to kill Rose's Turn.
So I'm looking forward to the inevitable revival. I'd also love to see Laura Benanti return to Gypsy as Rose. Those two probably top my list.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/16/15
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
I'm with those who would like to see an age-appropriate Momma Rose. A woman in her 50s or 60s with two little girls is just creepy. And she needs to have enough life ahead of her to remain steadfastly determined and hopeful. At the end, when she realizes that her shot at the big time has passed her by, she is, at most, in her early 40s.
"Surely being 51 years old in 1959 is a lot different to being 51 years old over 50 years later, in 2015. "
Um, in the first place GYPSY doesn't take place in either year.
Secondly, the very talented actress being proposed is 66, a far cry from 51 then and now.
Thirdly, I don't care how much Barbra Streisand or Meryl Streep jazzercises, biology is still biology. Though one woman in her 60s just carried implanted embryos to term, it's still not a common practice; nor is there any reason to suppose it will become one. Certainly there's nothing to suggest that Madame Rose (who hasn't $88 to her name) could afford such a procedure and maternity.
Although she's pushing it at 57, Lea Delaria could be brilliant! I've seen her play and sing a middle-age woman's part and she was amazing. In fact, she reminded me very much of Ethel Merman.
Videos