Carolee Carmello as Mama Rose in "Gypsy"

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/16/18 at 11:36pm

http://www.playbill.com/article/carolee-carmello-will-star-in-gypsy-at-sacramentos-music-circus

[msmp]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 4:58am

Very curious to see how this goes. I loved her Mrs. Lovett so another classic Broadway leading lady will be interesting to see from Carolee. Wish I lived closer to California.

[nealb1]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 10:43am

Would love to see her as Mama Rose.  She is just so unbelievably talented.  Saw her as Mrs. Lovett, and her Donna in "Mamma Mia" was extraordinary!  First time I ever saw her was in the National Tour of "Chess" in 1990 when it came to the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  She was Florence.  

Updated On: 7/17/18 at 10:43 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 12:08pm

Title needed a fix, I think.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 3:11pm

HA! I lurv you Newintown.

 

I nearly planned a trip to Sacramento to see this.  I adore Carmello. Rose has been on her bucket list for a while. Her Lovett was definitive.  Hope we have posters in the area to report back! 

[SacPsych]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 10:42pm

I'll be there for the closing performance!  The Music Circus has really been knocking them out of the park these last couple of seasons.  I can't wait to see what Carmello does with the role.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 10:53pm

Please report back! I hope we get some press footage of it.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 11:12pm

Carolee gave an interview on CapRadio Insight yesterday. Her charm comes through, even when the interviewer asked her about how audiences have responded when the show is still in rehearsal, and he was surprised it's not a tour. Really? Yes, there is a separate and very popular Broadway tour season in Sacramento, but Music Circus is, uh, a fairly iconic Sacramento tradition going back decades. Carolee graciously corrects him. 

Beth Ruyak is a much better interviewer, but I'm biased because she used to work with my brother and I've had the pleasure of meeting her a few times. 

 

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 12:23am

Oh.

My.

God.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Curtain-Up-Carolee-Carmello-Prepares-to-Take-the-Stage-in-GYPSY-20180723

Kicking myself for not booking a trip to see this. Breathtaking.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 12:36am

I prefer Lupone's craziness and belted take, but I think she's probably gonna nail this role. 

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 12:37am

That wasn't belted?

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 2:39am

She sounded incredible, of course, as did the orchestra. I hope someone finally produces a worthy vehicle for her on Broadway soon.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 10:38am

Not gonna lie, but I'm not terribly impressed with that clip.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 12:52pm

I rather see a non rehearsal clip to form a better opinion. I will say I prefer Patti’s manic and completely lost in delusion take on the number. Also, Carolee is using the original tempo like Merman and Bernadette, while it sounds lovely, I prefer the the faster and more intense tempo (Patti and Tyne.)

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 1:00pm

I so wish I could see her in this. Her performance as Lovett last season proved to me that she can do anything.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 1:20pm

She proved that long before Lovett.

I found that clip to be plenty manic. And the tempo fits her vocal style perfectly. I think anything faster would sacrifice the nuances in her voice.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 2:36pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "I so wish I could see her in this. Her performance as Lovett last season proved to me that she can do anything."

I learned that back when I saw her somehow find depth and subext in the character of Donna Sheridan- she managed to make that show work (the only Donna that I saw who was able to do this).

I think I do prefer Patti's vocals, but I'm not going to judge her based on a 30 second rehearsal clip.  She may very well have been holding back.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 3:13pm

Her Donna was a revelation. She managed to bring substance and depth to a show severely lacking in both. Her “Winner Takes it All” is pretty definitive.

I also wish someone would write something new for her. Scandalous is the only star vehicle that’s been tailored around her, and it wasn’t worthy of her talents even though she managed to rise above the material. From Lucille Frank to Kate to Pennywise, she has constantly proven she has versatility and is able to sing anything. She even managed to mine gold from Lestat.

It’s great that she’s constantly working, but she deserves much more than a one week summer stock run.

[sacteach]

Posted: 7/24/18 at 3:43pm

I'm going to see it tonight. This season at Music Circus has been amazing so far - we didn't get to see Singin' in the Rain, but I heard it was great. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers had some of the best dancing I've seen on that stage and Newsies is one of my favorite shows and it was so much fun! Tonight is Gypsy and we still have Little Shop of Horrors and Mamma Mia left in this season! I don't get to NY much, so I've never seen Carolee perform (and honestly I didn't know of her until now) but I'm excited to see her performance tonight

[Up In One]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 8:03am

She’s sounds pretty close to perfect here...

https://twitter.com/caroleecarmello/status/1021319162050723841?s=12

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 10:48am

She really does bring back an Ethel Merman-like quality to the role.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 10:51am

That sounded great!   I wish I could see her: she's going to knock it out of the park.

[sacteach]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 11:42am

We saw it last night and Carolee was amazing! The entire cast was great, but she was by far a stand out. I love seeing performances at Music Circus and last night was no exception. There should be some video coming out today or tomorrow - they always film the first performance and make a compilation video. 

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 5:11pm

I saw the final dress Monday and she's FANTASTIC!  The production is wonderful and the cast is great! Deidre Goodwin as Mazeppa!! Cory Lingner as Tulsa is a highlight too!

Here are some photos: album

Updated On: 7/25/18 at 05:11 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 5:24pm

She sounds fantastic in that second clip. The resemblance to Merman is uncanny!