Who will be the next Broadway Madame Rose? — Page 4

Jarethan said: "NoItAll said: "pmensky said: "I don’t believe a producer would bring this show back to Broadway without a name that could go above tittle which would appeal to those who are both hardcore Broadway fans and tourists who are not. The only two people I’ve seen so far in this thread who could do that are Sutton Foster, Megan Mullally and Audra."

Thisis going to sell Mame?! And that was 8 years ago.

Can anyone hereabouts come up with another name capable of turning a musical into a hit all by herself and could sing “My White Knight” better than Sutton Foster was even able to imagine? No? Then try looking up the latest Broadway grosses for a hint."

I love SF, but it was Hugh Jackman who sold the tickets. Remember the first time he was out and the grosses dropped by over $1.0MM (and would have dropped by more if people had more notice). SF sells tickets, but not enough to make that production a hit.

I also think that Megan Mullally would NOT sell tickets. Maybe as a stunt cast Matron Morton for 8 weeks, but not as Mama Rose. Maybe on tour, but not on Broadway."

Sutton Foster has done 12 Broadway shows, led 6 seasons of a successful TV series, and won 2 Tonys, including for a revival of Anything Goes which she performed for over a year. The show extended its run at least once while she was in it and at least once for months after she left. Your non sequitur that “it was Hugh Jackman sold the tickets,” is evidence you really have no valid argument as to why she wouldn’t be ideal in this revival. 

As for Megan Mullally (4 Broadway shows, 2 Emmys and 4 SAGs) she is exactly the type of actress who should play Rose. She has the right chutzpah, amazing comedic timing and a wonderful singer. Her character on Will & Grace was iconic and beloved. She has the kind of tourist name recognition that producers love. 

I say this half jokingly, but it really does feel like Annaleigh Ashford will be playing Mama Rose at some point in her career. She is getting those coveted musical theater roles. 

pmensky said: "Jarethan said: "NoItAll said: "pmensky said: "I don’t believe a producer would bring this show back to Broadway without a name that could go above tittle which would appeal to those who are both hardcore Broadway fans and tourists who are not. The only two people I’ve seen so far in this thread who could do that are Sutton Foster, Megan Mullally and Audra."

Thisis going to sell Mame?! And that was 8 years ago.

Can anyone hereabouts come up with another name capable of turning a musical into a hit all by herself and could sing “My White Knight” better than Sutton Foster was even able to imagine? No? Then try looking up the latest Broadway grosses for a hint."

I love SF, but it was Hugh Jackman who sold the tickets. Remember the first time he was out and the grosses dropped by over $1.0MM (and would have dropped by more if people had more notice). SF sells tickets, but not enough to make that production a hit.

I also think that Megan Mullally would NOT sell tickets. Maybe as a stunt cast Matron Morton for 8 weeks, but not as Mama Rose. Maybe on tour, but not on Broadway."

Sutton Foster has done 12 Broadway shows, led 6 seasons of a successful TV series, and won2 Tonys, including for a revival of Anything Goes which she performed for over a year. The show extended its run at least once while she was in it and at least once for months after she left. Your non sequitur that “it was Hugh Jackman sold the tickets,” is evidence you really have no valid argument as to why she wouldn’t be ideal in this revival.

As for Megan Mullally (4 Broadway shows, 2 Emmys and 4 SAGs) she is exactly the type of actress who should play Rose. She has the right chutzpah, amazing comedic timing and a wonderful singer. Her character on Will & Grace was iconic and beloved. She has the kind of tourist name recognition that producers love."

You missed my point entirely.  I did not question wither’s ability to play Rose; if you look back earlier, I actually posted in response to someone who dissed her for it; I essentially said that no one should ever rule her out, referencing the folks who said that she wouldn’t be a good Reno in years-ago posts or Marian in the months leading up to MM.  On the contrary…I suspect that SF could do almost anything she set her mind on doing.  Mullally, not so sure.

On Broadway, Gypsy is an overexposed property that relies on a big name to sell tickets.  I simply opined that I did not think either would sell enough tickets.  When Patti LuPone stars in a money losing production that received spectacular reviews, not to mention Tony’s for its three leading performers, it is going to take a lot to sell tix any time soon…and I am positive that MM cannot sell those tickets and doubt that SF can.  I still believe that, although I would love to be proven wrong.

east side story said: "Musicaldudepeter said: "I believe Liza and Bette Midler were asked before Tyna Daly was approached, but both declined."

Arthur Laurents kept Minnelli out of the conversation, so she was never seriously considered. He claimed that her inherent need to be liked by audiences would not work for Madame Rose. Arthur allegedly wanted a strong female actor first, and a vocalist second (or third).

Tyne Daly was also apparently surprised when she was not offered the tv movie version a few years later after playing the role to great success, especially given that CBS was the network of "Cagney & Lacey," a role that won her four Emmys. There is an interview on YT where she mentions this anecdote."

Arthur had such a one note take on Rose. He's right that Liza thrives on making the audience like her but that seems like such an interesting take on Rose to me.

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Even if Megan Mullally couldn't sell tickets on her name only, so what? I'm confident that her wonderful performance would create strong word-of-mouth, goodwill, and a Tony. Maybe that would be enough."

You might want to look up her most recent live performances. She’d be close to Beanie redux.

I’m willing to be proved wrong. Post a link to a LIVE performance and include the date. (Absence of evidence may not be proof of absence, but some may it consider it close enough in Megan’s case, as not everyone will love her when she’s 64.)

BTW, my request applies to all nominations; reputation is not performance.

Updated On: 1/26/23 at 07:43 PM

Countess Luanne, and I'm only half-kidding.

Nick Offerman would make a good Herbie, opposite his wife's Rose.

OhHiii said: "Someone really brought Sutton's name up in this conversation? Please never go into casting."

Sounds like someone’s bitter! Didn’t get a callback? For the record,  there was a lot of talk about how Sutton was wrong for Marian in The Music Man, too. Oh, and casting directors don’t make casting decisions, they make suggestions to the director and producers who make those decisions. If a revival of Gypsy was being planned in the next couple years, and you don’t thing Sutton’s name would be discussed, then you’re the one who should never go into casting. 

Maybe in Summer Stock, not on Broadway.

Tovah as Rose! 
i saw her in the role a few years ago. She flashed her panties during roses’ turn 

SARA RAMIREZ would be the ultimate MAMA ROSE! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJqAYUAJbTk

 

Updated On: 1/28/23 at 02:38 AM

Oliver Twist said: "SARA RAMIREZ would be the ultimate MAMA ROSE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJqAYUAJbTk

I hope not.  I have never gotten her appeal.

Re what it takes to be a great Rose, I would start with: strong acting ability, the ability to be very passionate but not overact, warmth, stamina, a strong singing voice that can belt with the best of them, and charisma.  A lot of talented and acclaimed people don’t have charisma.  Rose needs to be played by someone with charisma.

 

 

The key thing about a Rose to me, not that I've suggested any candidates, is that she not be Arthur Laurents' cartoon (which Ke3 brought up elsewhere in this thread, and which Sondheim himself remarked on in Finishing the Hat). None other than PalJoey informed my thoughts on this one several years ago, and I trot it out whenever such a thread occurs.

Regardless of the performer, they must remember this rule: if you play the human, the monster will be more impactful when it emerges. If you play the monster from page 1, the audience will grasp your ability to play monstrous and nothing more. (See: Imelda Staunton and, to a certain extent, La LuPone.) 

Or, to put it another way, everyone that is close to her in this show before they, too, reach a point of no return with her had to like her, or something about her, to be willing to put up with everything that is Rose. Gypsy is not Mommie Dearest Meets Stockholm Syndrome: A Study in Vaudeville.​​ If you're playing Rose a hair away from a "dance mom" from the word go, unsympathetically, the show's dramatic base will crumble, even if your voice rivals Merman's.

Updated On: 1/28/23 at 01:21 PM