Who will be the next Broadway Madame Rose?

Ethel, Angela, Tyne, Bernadette, Patti...

Who is the most logical next Rose for Broadway? When do you think we'll get our next Gypsy? The Imelda Staunton revival was rumored to transfer at one point, many people talk about a fantasy Audra McDonald production, many actresses have said they'd love to play it one day - Sutton Foster, for one. Who do you think will get the opportunity to be the next Broadway Rose?

I'm more curious to hear who'll be playing the role at Goodspeed starting in April.

TaffyDavenport said: "I'm more curious to hear who'll be playing the role at Goodspeed starting in April."

Give me Karen Mason.

Loretta Swit

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Audra is likely next in line, although its crazy to think she finally aged into the role as she is now 1 year older then Merman was when the show debuted. Therefore unless someone like Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchette, Melissa McCarthy, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Salma Hayek, or Sandra Bullock are desperate to play the role on Broadway, IE an Alist Hollywood actress with a storied career, I would assume we will see an Audra lead production within the next 5 years or so. I think the more interesting question is will it be an all Black production, or maybe have Dainty June be lighter a lighter skinned person of color and Louise be very dark skinned to add the subtext of colorism to the script. I know Gypsy is semi-biographical, but having a black Mamma Rose can add a layer of subtext to why her dreams never came true, and pushed them onto first June who is theoretically white passing and then as a last resort Louise.

I've always wondered about Chita's Rose, especially from the planned London production in the 1960

Also, does Audra truly belt? Or how would she sing this score? What are the best examples of her singing songs close to Gypsy's score?
She has apparently started doing Rose's Turn in her concerts but no footage available as far as I'm aware - what are people's thoughts on her version of the song?
I feel, much like when Sutton Foster took on Reno Sweeney and when Kelli O'Hara took on Kate, we are moving further away from having the type of actress on which Rose was built - the kind of musical comedy 'broad' - or am I wrong? Foster was woefully miscast in Anything Goes but she's the closest they had to that kind of performer. Who carries the energy of those older divas? - Jessie Mueller? Megan Hilty? Neither screams Rose to me.
What about Donna Murphy? I'm surprised she hasn't been mentioned yet. Strange how she never got her Gypsy moment, as she's a contemporary of Bernadette's and Patti's (slightly behind them I know).

Updated On: 1/24/23 at 12:08 PM

Audra sang Rose's Turn just last month at Carnegie Hall. There's a recording of it if you know where to look. She didn't belt, but it was powerful nonetheless. I would LOVE to see her take on Mama Rose in a heartbeat!

nealb1 said: "Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that. A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director."

Sadly, she didn’t modify her performance for camera. That performance played excellently at the theatre as she was playing to the balcony. With a camera in her face, oh boy. Same with the filmed 2001 revival of THE WOMEN. The ladies were glorious on stage but watching the filmed performance, they are literally screaming every word of dialogue. Performing on stage and for camera requires a huge adjustment. Stanton’s GYPSY and the revival of THE WOMEN made no effort to adjust the performances for the camera.

Have you people been living in caves? There’s a new sheriff in town: Lea Michele.

Think a retired Fanny Brice ambitious for her daughters.

nealb1 said: "Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that. A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director."

Fair enough. I found her acting quite nuanced, but I understand why people don't like her singing voice. It is rough and harsh, although I personally found that interesting.
I feel like West End and Broadway audiences often have extremely different expectations when it comes to singing. Reminds me a bit of Elena Roger in Evita: she got excellent reviews on the West End, but her singing did not pass muster for Broadway audiences.

Nicticorax said: "nealb1 said: "Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that. A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director."
Fair enough. I found her acting quite nuanced, but I understand why people don't like her singing voice. It is rough and harsh, although I personally found that interesting.
I feel like West End and Broadway audiences often have extremely different expectations when it comes to singing. Reminds me a bit of Elena Roger in Evita: she got excellent reviews on the West End, but her singing did not pass muster for Broadway audiences."

While I agree with the sentiment that Broadway has higher standards for singing than London, this specific example is funny to me because I would venture to say Imelda sang Rose more competently than Tyne Daly.

Ariana de Bose or Laverne Cox will be the next Rose.