Carolee Carmello as Mama Rose in "Gypsy"- Page 2

[adamgreer]

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

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

[SFCowboy]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 5:40pm

Thanks to all for the notice, the clips, and the comments. I got my tickets and will be taking the train from San Francisco to Sacramento to see this Friday night. I would never have known about this if it weren’t for this board! I saw Carolee Carmello in Sweeney Todd and was blown away by her performance then. Can’t wait to see her again!

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 6:38pm

Here’s a press video from the final dress: https://youtu.be/gNKGw0xI3Qg

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 6:41pm

She sounds INCREDIBLE. Why aren't people writing her new roles every season!?

Updated On: 7/25/18 at 06:41 PM

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/25/18 at 7:04pm

Anastasia_Beaverhausen said: "Here’s a press video from the final dress: https://youtu.be/gNKGw0xI3Qg"

I'm not crying you're crying!

[Skip23]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 2:10am

Not for nothing, but she has absolutely no resemblance to Merman, physically or vocally.

 

Loved her in Mamma Mia and Parade.  These clips...not so much.  That's getting to be a mighty piercing voice.

 

 

[binau]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 2:21am

When I listen to the press video I can definitely hear the Merman inflections, but to me overall she sounds more Betty Buckley piercing than Merman. To me her voice hasn’t changed dramatically in 20 years so I’m also surprised you’d say it is only getting piercing now though. Hasn’t it always had that quality? Nice for her to find a stage to perform this piece. I would have liked to see her.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 2:48am

SFCowboy said: "Thanks to all for the notice, the clips, and the comments. I got my tickets and will betaking the train from San Francisco to Sacramento to see this Friday night. I would never have known about this if it weren’t for this board! I saw Carolee Carmello in Sweeney Todd and was blown away by her performance then. Can’t wait to see her again!"

If that train from SF to Sacto actually leaves/returns from Amtrak in Emeryville wave up to the 7th floor of the adjacent parking garage/condo complex (The Terraces) and I might just see you out of my picture window and wave back!  Sorry I can't make the Music Circus this season.

 

Posted: 7/26/18 at 9:02am

She is utterly thrilling .

[ActorGuyIL]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 11:33am

I think this is the first time I've ever seen a Mazzepa NOT in gladiator costume. I suppose they'll have to change the line about her "gladiator ballet." Can anyone who's seen it confirm what it was changed to? 

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 1:11pm

...And this week, Beth Leavel ALSO stars as Mama Rose at the Muny in St. Louis!

Studio rehearsal video on their FB page that I can't seem to get a direct link of


I don't imagine there's anyone seeing both?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 3:20pm

ActorGuyIL said: "I think this is the first time I've ever seen a Mazzepa NOT in gladiator costume. I suppose they'll have to change the line about her "gladiator ballet." Can anyone who's seen it confirm what it was changed to?"

They are using the costumes of the 2008 revival.

http://images.playbill.com/photos/nemetzdiva200c.jpg

Updated On: 7/26/18 at 03:20 PM

[ActorGuyIL]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 3:25pm

ljay889 said: "They are using the costumes of the 2008 revival.

http://images.playbill.com/photos/nemetzdiva200c.jpg"

 

FCOL I guess I never noticed that at the time. It certainly stands out.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 4:33pm

Not be pull an Arthur Laurents here, but it's MADAME Rose. She is never referred to as Mama Rose in the script.

[binau]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 4:42pm

Arthur Laurents be like from the grave "STILL better than Sam Mendes", taking a new literal meaning to having the musical "in his bones".

[loliveve]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 12:23am

I rarely post "reviews" because I feel like I can never adequately express things or break down elements of shows, but since this production is at Music Circus and only runs for 6 days, I figured I'll try since I had the opportunity to see it. 

The production is gorgeous, despite a simplistic set design. I was a little disappointed with the staging, as at times they did not treat the stage as a theater in the round. I think I saw the backs of the actors for a few minutes straight, which is pretty unusual there. I actually wondered if the stage was supposed to be rotating a couple times because of the staging. At other times, they used the theater in the round very well, having scenes around the theater.  (So, for example, if you imagine a clock and were sitting at 6 o'clock facing the stage, there were some entrances/exits/small scenes at 1, 5, and 10. Hopefully that makes sense.)

The choreography was wonderful, and I loved how you could see Carolee Carmello doing the choreography just off stage completely mirroring the kids during the scenes where Baby June and the Newsboys were performing or auditioning. 

Carolee was phenomenal in the role and commanded the stage. She received entrance applause from some of the audience (yay!) which is absolutely unusual at Music Circus. She was engaging both with the audience and those with whom she was sharing the stage.  And her "Everything's Coming up Roses" and "Rose's Turn" gave me goose bumps-- I'm not quite sure the audio in the video posted does her justice.  (There were some audio issues during the show, including an actor's mic completely going out, so depending on how they recorded it that may be way I feel like something is slightly off in the video compared to her live performance.)  

Austen Danielle Bohmer (Louise) was great as well, and I was very impressed with her navigation as a the mellow/ submissive Louise and transformation into Gypsy Rose Lee. You can tell she is having a blast. 

Really, I have been thoroughly impressed this season with the cast members who have done back-to-back shows. With the Music Circus schedule, that means, for example, a performer in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" was rehearsing "Newsies" during the day, and while "Newsies" was running, rehearsals for "Gypsy" were held during the day. 

One performer totally made me grin after the show because he said something like, "I'm in the show six minutes. SIX minutes! And I don't care because I get to hear Carolee sing every day." And if I got to hear her sing this score every day, I think I'd feel the same way :)

Also, @ActorGuyIL: I *think* they still called it a Gladiator Ballet and didn't change it, but it has been a couple days now so I'm not positive.

Updated On: 7/27/18 at 12:23 AM

[msmp]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 1:58am

Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? Everything I've read in this thread makes me wish I had the ability to get out to California to see it, but that's not realistic.

But from the sounds of things, it sounds like Carolee nailed the role and wishful thinking makes me want a full-mounted production for her out here.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 10:44am

msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? "

Correct. Carolee is an amazing talent and should be known and recognized by more people, but as it is there is no producer in their right mind who would put up the money to revive Gypsy on Broadway starring her.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 11:14am

msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? Everything I've read in this thread makes me wish I had the ability to get out to California to see it, but that's not realistic."

Zero. But maybe it would spark the interest of another regional theatre if she wanted to do it again?

Paper Mill would be ideal, and even someplace like Arena Stage, Huntington, Long Wharf, or Williamstown could attract NY audiences.

[JBC3]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 11:24am

I wonder if it would work for/at Chicago Shakespeare or Goodman as both have fairly large subscriber bases.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 12:35pm

Honestly, as good as this looks, this doesn't look like something that NEEDS to be on Broadway. It really does have an air of being a regional production.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 12:50pm

ive been to a lot of music circus productions,,they are very good most of the time for regional productions, and are a LONG ways from a broadway level production. The head of music circus is a great guy and really fills a need in the sacramento area and the theatre in the round there is well constructed and delivered a lot of musicals to folks that dont get much quality except for touring broadway shows...

i would subscribe if it wasnt a 2 plus hour drive.

would like to see carolee this weekend, and when you add the 5 hour drive round trip you gotta really want it so i will just wish her well on this one....

[msmp]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 2:59pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? "

Correct. Carolee is an amazing talent and should be known and recognized by more people, but as it is there is no producer in their right mind who would put up the money to reviveGypsyon Broadway starring her."

Thanks. It's sad but true; I've loved her in everything she's been in (even the bootlegged recordings of Lestat) and I wish this could work. The property really does need a "name" to sell.

SomethingPeculiar said: "msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? Everything I've read in this thread makes me wish I had the ability to get out to California to see it, but that's not realistic."

Zero. But maybe it wouldspark the interest of another regional theatre if she wanted to do it again?

Paper Mill would be ideal, and even someplace like Arena Stage, Huntington, Long Wharf, or Williamstown could attract NY audiences."

Agreed--I'd certainly, and very happily, make the trip for anything in the Northeast. California was just way too much of a reach for me. Here's hoping someone decides to take the chance on mounting it out here!

[binau]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 3:27pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "msmp said: "Someone bring me down to earth: there's zero chance of this ever transferring out to Broadway, is there? "

Correct. Carolee is an amazing talent and should be known and recognized by more people, but as it is there is no producer in their right mind who would put up the money to reviveGypsyon Broadway starring her."

The only chance this would have at transferring is if some very wealthy people sat in the audience and thought this was an unmissable event that is worth them losing a ridiculous amount of $$$ to present on Broadway, with the small hope that It'd gain word of mouth and find an audience. I just do not see this ever happening ever given we already had LuPone fill this vision just 10 years ago (who - without seeing Carolee is probably arguably a little bit stronger vocally), and we had Bernadette try to fill the vision with more commercial prospects just 5 years earlier to financial failure. 

Someone, somewhere thought Staunton would fit this vision but has seemed to have the wise sense and/or inability to get anyone to pay for it. 

If someone really wants to see Carolee in the role, now is your chance. This is it.

Updated On: 7/27/18 at 03:27 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 3:36pm

The production isn’t what interests people here. It’s the performance.

Of course this will never go near Broadway. I’m sure if she wanted she could play it regionally elsewhere. I’d love for Papermill to bring her in to do the show, but they seem to want to only do out of town tryouts for shows that claim to be “Broadway bound” these days.

I doubt this will be the last time Carmello has the opportunity to play this role, but her next chance certainly won’t be on Broadway.