Why Has Gypsy Never Been a Big Hit?- Page 2

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 12:01pm

I did say ‘big hit’, not hit.  I associate the words ‘big hit’ with big profits and longer runs than Gypsy has ever had.

Re the Sondheim musical point, I do think that Gypsy has a larger number of widely recognized songs than any Sondheim show I can think of, so to me it is more a Jules Styne musical than a Steven Sondheim one. I thing — and I am only opining here, nor trying to diminish the importance of lyrics— that John Q. Public is sucked in more by the music than the lyrics.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 12:03pm

NOWaWarning said: "I think another component is that each production is so molded and marketed around the leading lady. It makes replacing her when she leaves a more daunting task."

But the shows have generally already run out of steam by the times the original leading lady was ready to depart.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 2:44pm

The Tyne Daly revival WAS considered a big, big hit.  There was adulation for her that season.  The producers very wisely toured the show extensively before arriving on broadway.  This was not a tour that then decided to go to broadway.  Broadway was always the plan. If you have the time you can look up different interviews she did on different talk shows while on the road.  It was very smart promotion that built excitement.  The production closed after Linda Lavin took over to not so great reviews The intention was to take the show with Tyne to London. But the political climate at the time scared everyone and they chickened out.  All tame considering what is going on in the world today.  When the London engagement was scrapped; Tyne returned to the show for a limited engagement at the Marquis theater.  

Gypsy needs to be shelved for at least 20 years.  And considering how dull the latest production is.. it just might.  But it makes me sad because I probably wont be alive to see it.

Updated On: 7/7/25 at 02:44 PM

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 5:33pm

"Gypsy" has always been a favorite musical of mine, ever since I was a small child when my mother told me how much she loved the film.  Every time it was on television I would watch it, "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Rose's Turn" were always the highlights for me.  When I saw a much larger than usual newspaper ad for Ms. Daly in "Gypsy", I first believed that it was a huge joke!  However, I bit the bullet and saw her over the Christmas holiday and to tell you the truth, her performance scared the holy hell out of me!  Tyne Daly was phenomenal!  Then a few years later, I was able to see the Ravinia Festival concert performance with Patti LuPone, when she was part of the Arthur Laurents "she will never play this part!" campaign and she was pretty amazing as well!   I do feel that being given the opportunity to play this part is a gift and that any actress with the right vocal chops should take the opportunity and run with it!...

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 6:52pm

Tyne was the last Rose to satisfy me. I do think it should be shelved  a while . But I wouldn’t mind some regional productions based on the original classic staging.  It doesn’t have to be a duplicate.  But some of the genius sequences shouldn’t be messed with.

[east side story]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 7:14pm

Loving all this chatter re: Tyne! Her cast recording was always my favorite growing up, vocals and all. Would love to have seen her in the role. When I worked in the theatre district, several colleagues talked regularly talked about how sensational Daly was in that production. And these were the type of front of house staff who had seen it all over the years, which made it all the more memorable to me. 

Always feels like she gets left out of the conversations for some reason. 
 

[BentleyB]

Posted: 7/7/25 at 7:24pm

I love “Gypsy” and have seen it on Broadway with Bernadette, Patti and Audra.  Patti is still my favorite on stage.  But I still think Bette Midler in the 1993 filmed version is my favorite and would have loved to have seen her do it live.  At that time it was a big hit and event for tv.  The film received an 18.6/28 household rating/share, ranking 4th out of 90 programs that week, and was watched by 26.2 million viewer.  What I will say is we took a 21 year old with us to see Audra.  He has seen dozens of shows with us on Broadway.  He was bored out of his mind.  I think the story doesn’t connect with younger audiences. 

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 9:27am

I get why young people would be bored.

It’s a lot of book scenes of people talking backstage or in hotel lobbies.

It’s really compelling thematically, but no two ways to slice it- it feels old fashioned.


And the songs often stop the action and make it feel like it’s trying to tone down what’s disturbing.


I do really like it, but I can agree it’s not a “punchy” fun show

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 9:53am

To be honest, the next revival really needs to be a total departure from the classic stagings a la Sunset/Evita. Count me in for Jamie Lloyd’s 2036 revival starring Lady Gaga. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 12:51pm

DAME said: "The Tyne Daly revival WAS considered a big, big hit. There was adulation for her that season. The producers very wisely toured the show extensively before arriving on broadway. This was not a tour that then decided to go to broadway. Broadway was always the plan. If you have the time you can look up different interviews she did on different talk shows while on the road. It was very smart promotion that built excitement. The production closed after Linda Lavin took over to not so great reviews The intention was to take the show with Tyne to London. But the political climate at the time scared everyone and they chickened out. All tame considering what is going on in the world today. When the London engagement was scrapped; Tyne returned to the show for a limited engagement at the Marquis theater.

Gypsy needs to be shelved for at least 20 years. And considering how dull the latest production is.. it just might. But it makes me sad because I probably wont be alive to see it."

I loved this production SO MUCH! Tyne was a revelation and scared this sh!t out of me! I also adored Crista Moore as "Louise/Gypsy" her "Strip/Let Me Entertain You" number just dripped SEX!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 3:17pm

I've been hoping Ava DuVernay's next feature film is a Gypsy remake starring Audra. Audra gave a small, but remarkable performance in DuVernay's Origin. 

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 3:46pm

quizking101 said: "bear88 said: “It’s telling to me that the only time aGypsyrevival apparently broke even on Broadway was when it cast an actress best known as a TV star (Tyne Daly) as Rose. Every other time, producers have picked a Broadway star. That makes sense as a creative choice but not a commercial one."

Worth noting that, prior to her renaissance as a Broadway/TV star, Lansbury was a prolific film actress and nominated for 3 Academy Awards"

True, but supporting in all three cases.  Hers was never a star name before Mame, though her acting prowess was beyond question and arguably without peer.

 

Updated On: 7/8/25 at 03:46 PM

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 4:01pm

CarlosAlberto said: "DAME said: "The Tyne Daly revival WAS considered a big, big hit. There was adulation for her that season. The producers very wisely toured the show extensively before arriving on broadway. This was not a tour that then decided to go to broadway. Broadway was always the plan. If you have the time you can look up different interviews she did on different talk shows while on the road. It was very smart promotion that built excitement. The production closed after Linda Lavin took over to not so great reviews The intention was to take the show with Tyne to London. But the political climate at the time scared everyone and they chickened out. All tame considering what is going on in the world today. When the London engagement was scrapped; Tyne returned to the show for a limited engagement at the Marquis theater.

Gypsy needs to be shelved for at least 20 years. And considering how dull the latest production is.. it just might. But it makes me sad because I probably wont be alive to see it."

I loved this production SO MUCH! Tyne was a revelation and scared this sh!t out of me! I also adored Crista Moore as "Louise/Gypsy" her "Strip/Let Me Entertain You" number just dripped SEX!"

Tyne Daly in Gypsy was sublime.  She scared the hell out of me.  And all the casting worked.  Jonathan Hadary was her equal and the seduction of Herbie during You'll Never Get Away From Me was electrifying.  And the strippers.. WOW.  Nothing in this latest incarnation gets even close to touching it.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 10:03pm

SmokeyLady said: "CarlosAlberto said: "DAME said: "The Tyne Daly revival WAS considered a big, big hit. There was adulation for her that season. The producers very wisely toured the show extensively before arriving on broadway. This was not a tour that then decided to go to broadway. Broadway was always the plan. If you have the time you can look up different interviews she did on different talk shows while on the road. It was very smart promotion that built excitement. The production closed after Linda Lavin took over to not so great reviews The intention was to take the show with Tyne to London. But the political climate at the time scared everyone and they chickened out. All tame considering what is going on in the world today. When the London engagement was scrapped; Tyne returned to the show for a limited engagement at the Marquis theater.

Gypsy needs to be shelved for at least 20 years. And considering how dull the latest production is.. it just might. But it makes me sad because I probably wont be alive to see it."

I loved this production SO MUCH! Tyne was a revelation and scared this sh!t out of me! I also adored Crista Moore as "Louise/Gypsy" her "Strip/Let Me Entertain You" number just dripped SEX!"

Tyne Daly in Gypsy was sublime. She scared the hell out of me. And all the casting worked. Jonathan Hadary was her equal and the seduction of Herbie during You'll Never Get Away FromMe was electrifying. And the strippers.. WOW. Nothing in this latest incarnation gets even close to touching it."

Yes, Yes, Yes and MORE YES!!! 

[Papi2013]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 10:34pm

I loved Jonathan Hadary in this.  Is he still working?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:13pm

Hadaray was in the fantastic “Epiphany” at LCT a couple years ago. I don’t think I’ve seen him since. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:42pm

There's one really solid joke in the Rosalynd Russell film that I wish was in the show-

In the end dressing room scene

 

Rose: You think I should freshen up?

Louise: Well they only want me in the tub

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:48pm

OhHiii said: "To be honest, the next revival really needs to be a total departure from the classic stagings a la Sunset/Evita. Count me in for Jamie Lloyd’s 2036 revival starring Lady Gaga."

I have to admit that I was hoping this one would.  Boy, was that unfounded.  
 

Re comments about retiring it for 20 years, that is a great idea; until someone really famous decides they want to do it.  Who knows…if it is someone big from the movies or concert stage, they might even make money.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/9/25 at 6:58am

The only way Gypsy becomes a financial hit is if a HUGE star like Hugh Jackman signed on. Music Man was by many measures not good, but his star power made all of that fall away and they printed money for over a year. Gypsy isn’t a show for the masses. And like others have said, Sondheim revivals have a pretty standard trajectory. 6-8 strong months, then they peter out pretty quickly when the audience starts turning over to rely on more tourists and bridge and tunnel audiences. 

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 7/9/25 at 8:33am

But see “Music Man” is still in the elementary and high school and regional world, it’s wholesome family fun and its reputation is still wholesome family fun. Absolutely FOR the masses

Music Man is at this point more recognizable with American society than “Oklahoma” or “King and I” is.

Non theatre moms and dads said “Oh! I know The Music Man!”

and then they cast Hugh and it was a done deal

Updated On: 7/9/25 at 08:33 AM

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 7/9/25 at 10:14am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "There's one really solid joke in the Rosalynd Russell film that I wish was in the show-

In the end dressing room scene



Rose: You think I should freshen up?

Louise: Well they only want me in the tub"

Natalie Wood was as big a star as Rosalind Russell when the film was shot, so Spiegelglass beefed up Louise's/Gypsy's role a bit.  You also see this when she and Tulsa have their goodbye scene at the train station.  Tulsa is the one who runs off with June in the play, but in the film it's another guy just to give Natalie that goodbye scene.

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/9/25 at 2:02pm

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "But see “Music Man” is still in the elementary and high school and regional world, it’s wholesome family fun and its reputation is still wholesome family fun. Absolutely FOR the masses

Music Man is at this point more recognizablewith American society than “Oklahoma” or “King and I” is.

Non theatre moms and dads said “Oh! I know The Music Man!”

and then they cast Hugh and it was a done deal"

I disagree. Music man wouldn’t have sold itself on its own either. It’s a show that a lot of people feel like they’ve already seen to your point about it being done to death in schools and regionally. Fiddler has that problem too. It’s solely the name above the title that matters for all 3 of these shows. Danny at the time was very much positioned as the draw for Fiddler at the time in 2015.