Gypsy on tour and who with?

[Posner11]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 6:41am

 

With the rightly rave reviews for Gypsy it would be surprising if it doesn't go on tour next year 

If the remarks about a possible limited Broadway transfer for the original cast prove correct theres no chance of any of the original cast touring so who have we got who would be brave enough to follow Imelda 

Its also interesting that despite the raves its easy to get good seats for most nights even if it sells out each performance time - this maybe down to the inflated premium £99 charge for so many seats - the seat I was in for a May Sat Matinee is now £30 more for the same seat in July sat matinée and they had extended the premium range several rows back to seats which really don't deserve that charge

 

 

[theeatah]

Posted: 6/15/15 at 5:22pm

Caroline O'Connor's the most obvious choice, but I think she's tied up with "Anything Goes" Down Under.

It would be interesting to see what Sarah Lancashire might bring to it but she probably considers herself "above" touring.

It would be kind of fitting to see Bonnie Langford join other former Junes in subsequently playing Rose.

I'd quite like to see Ruthie Henshall have a crack at it but I'm not sure if it would be a good match vocally.

I suppose Lorna Luft is a possibility.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 6/16/15 at 11:44am

Ruthie can't sing it anymore but Lorna was pretty good 13 years at Richmond... I'd love to see Tracie Bennett or Kathryn Evans doing it.

[Out In The Sticks]

Posted: 6/17/15 at 5:33am

Ouch on the Sarah Lancashire comment.  I know people who have worked with her and she is not star struck at all, she is a delight and very considerate of the people she works with.

[sparepart973]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 7:08pm

I really doubt this would tour. If it never toured in the US, where Gypsy is by far more of a staple than it is in the UK, I can't imagine it touring in the UK.

Furthermore, and most importantly, this is a vehicle for Imelda, and Imelda will not tour with it.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/20/15 at 3:20am

I would love to see Tracie Bennett's take on the role. Also Caroline O'Connor.

[kp]

Posted: 6/20/15 at 10:38am

"I really doubt this would tour. If it never toured in the US, where Gypsy is by far more of a staple than it is in the UK, I can't imagine it touring in the UK.
Furthermore, and most importantly, this is a vehicle for Imelda, and Imelda will not tour with it."

Productions of Gypsy have toured the US with Ethel Merman and Angela Lansbury and I think others. A production of Gypsy with Ruth Madoc toured the UK.  I don't think the current London production will tour either but it isn't correct to say that Gypsy hasn't toured.

 

[Posner11]

Posted: 6/21/15 at 5:09pm

Do like the Tracie Bennett idea - Taking nothing away from Imelda I do think the whole show and production is a strong one and deserving of a wider audience even even without the London leads.

With them announcing the tour for Guys and Dolls which opens after Gypsy it does cast some doubt on it but we can hope.

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/28/15 at 1:39pm

The Tyne Daly production of "Gypsy" actually toured somewhat extensively BEFORE it hit Broadway. 

Caroline O'Connor's Rose might have been definitive in Leicester if A) the rest of the show hadn't have bee so cheap and slight and B) I saw Imelda do it at Chichester.

Was in Melbourne OZ last month and Caroline is giving a brilliantly hammy performance (and I mean that in a great way) as Reno in "Anything Goes".  Added to the fantastic turns I've witnessed, her Phyllis in "Follies" at Chicago Shakespeare (given she was so miscast) and Sarah Jane Moore in Milwaukee Rep's "Assassins", this woman is really a wonder and should be a bigger star.

[candydog2]

Posted: 6/28/15 at 7:58pm

Yes, but Tyne Daly's production toured the US extensively, where Gypsy is far better known. It's not really a well known musical in the UK.

It would need a big name in the lead to sell, but I suppose that's true of every production of Gypsy. Even though the show is fantastically written and considered possibly the greatest musical, it is still something of a "star vehicle" and needs a powerhouse actress in the lead who can also sell tickets.